Chasing Lincoln's Killer

How does the prospect of fame shape various people’s choices in the narrative? Identify one person and describe how they are able to use President Lincoln’s assassination for personal benefit. How does this speak to the larger theme of American Exceptionalism, Sensationalism, and Celebrity Culture?

Teaching Suggestion: This Discussion/Analysis Prompt invites students to consider their response from the Personal Connection Prompt within the context of Swanson’s text. Fame is an important motivator, and Swanson explores many of the perpetrators and observers’ reactions to the assassination through the lens of personal gain and popularity. The sensationalism is structural, as newspapers are eager to report on the news of President Lincoln’s death without necessarily presenting the facts correctly. In this regard, the celebrity culture of contemporary society can be linked to the attention-seeking individualism exemplified in Swanson’s accounts of the late-19th century.

Differentiation Suggestion: For an extended group discussion with advanced classes, the following question may be added to the above Prompt: How does the celebrity culture of the late 19th century compare to today’s celebrity culture? Based on the descriptions of reactions following Lincoln’s assassination in Swanson’s novel, are there any similarities following present-day tragedies?  If so, what are the similarities? What are the differences?