Using Moonshiner's Son in the Classroom

Background information

This story is about a clash of cultures the independent mountain people who think it's their own business whether they use their corn crop to make corn whiskey or corn bread versus the preacher who comes into the hollow, committed to turning the people away from "the evils of drink," and the revenuers intent on carrying out the law of the land.

Moonshine is illegally distilled liquor and probably got its name because it was made secretly, often by moonlight. Making moonshine is illegal because it evades the federal tax due on all alcoholic beverages. Bootlegging is transporting liquor illegally. During the prohibition era (when it was illegal to make, transport, or sell any kind of alcoholic beverages), bootlegging became an "industry" dominated by gangsters.

Prohibition came into effect in 1920, established by the 18th amendment to the Constitution, and it was repealed in 1933 by the 21st amendment because it was impossible to enforce and because it had resulted in organized crime and increase in violence in American society.

After Chapter 7:
Read aloud from (or have the students read) some of the Jack Tales, by Richard Chase. (Richard Chase has written or edited other books you might find useful.)

After Chapter 23:
Read aloud (or have the students read) some of Aesop's Fables.

An interesting assignment would be to have students rewrite a fable (or other well-known tale) making it "fit" their time and place, as Tom did in the story he told.

To discuss after finishing the book:
Why did Tom—and others in the community—respect Pa so much?

Tom, Pa, and the other people in the hollow have few possessions and none of the conveniences we take for granted, but they seem satisfied with their lives. Why do you think this is?

What are some of the questions or problems Tom wrestles with in his own mind?

Compare the effect that moonshine had on the mountain community to the effect that drugs have on some city neighborhoods today. (Are there "parallels" to the competition and distrust between rival moonshiners, violence to bystanders, difficulty in stopping illegal practices, etc.?)

What caused the people to finally accept the preacher even though he was an outsider? How was Mrs. Taylor's attitude toward the mountain people different from her husband's?