Reading Guide for Sea Biscuit by Laura Hillenbrand.
Laura Hillenbrand has taken literary circles by a storm because her ability to bring to us a group of endearing, interesting and unique personalities and show us how they came to find each other in the theater of horse racing. The fact that that the central character is a horse only makes this story more inviting. It must be noted that Hillenbrand makes us like the other characters just as much and shows us how they could not have succeeded without each other. You will be excited for them when they are successful, and you will be saddened when they face tragedy and failure. Their failures only make us want success for them more. This makes them so representative of us during the time of the Depression.
The author uses the first four chapters to introduce us to the five main characters in this story.
Show how the author introduces us to what makes each one of them special. Why are they unique? Why do you think we will be attracted to them? Why do you think they are attracted to each other. Read the first four chapters before you work on each character description.
Part 1
Chapter 1 The Day of the Horse is Past (Charles Howard)
Chapter 2 - The Lone Plainsman (Tom Smith)
Chapter 3- Mean, Restive, and Ragged (Sea Biscuit)
Chapter 4 The Cougar and the Iceman (Red Pollard and George Woolf)
Chapter 5- A Boot on One Foot, a Toe Tag on the Other
This is easily the most significant chapter in the book for most who read Sea Biscuit. They are amazed and horrified at the conditions present in the career of a jockey.
Discuss the chapter through your reactions to what you read.
Gary Stevens is a current jockey who played the part of George Woolf in the movie. Search the internet for information on what happened this past year to Stevens in a race at Arlington Racetrack.
Chapter 6 Light and Shadow
How do all of these character begin to come together?
Chapter 7 Learn Your Horse
We really get to see the intuitive skills Smith has as a trainer in this chapter. How does he use his powers of perception to see through Sea Biscuit and help him recover his love of running?
In what ways do we see Sea Biscuits competitive instincts?
Chapter 8 Fifteen Strides
This is one of the parts of the book that the movie makers really took liberty with and may have changed the story for the sake of drama. If you have seen the movie, comment on this. If not, then comment on both Howard and Smith and their people skills in dealing with what happens here.
Chapter 9 This chapter deals with the role Sea Biscuit played for the people during the Depression, as well as the press. Comment on this.
How does Smith begin the play with the press in this chapter? Can you think of examples where professional athletes do the same today?
Chapter 10 War Admiral
Write a description of an athlete that you know of today who would take on the role War Admiral played during that time period. Have fun with this be descriptive of their personality, gifts and skills.
Chapter 11 No Pollard, No Sea Biscuit
A recurring theme throughout the book is the Biscuit Team against the world. In what ways do we begin to see the teams fight against the authorities?
against bad luck and odds?
Chapter 12 All I Need is Luck
Sea Biscuit lost, but the world saw an amazing horse. This is also a common theme in the book. What happened? Comment on this.
Chapter 13 Hardball
Chapter 14 The Wise Boys
Comment on the constant game between the press and Smith.
Does the public have a right to know what is going on?
Can you make a comparison with a professional sport today (other than horse racing)?
Chapter 15 Fortunes Fool
Chapter 16 I Know My Horse
Chapter 17- The Dingbustingest Contest You Ever Clapped an Eye On
Chapter 18 Deal
Chapter 19 The Second Civil War
Chapter 20 All Four of his Legs Are Broken
Chapter 21 A Long, Hard Pull
Chapter 22 Four Good Legs Between Us
Chapter 23 One Hundred Grand
Epilogue