ben and me
Page numbers are approximate and may vary between book editions.
Section 1: Forward–Chapter 4
- What does Amos think of Ben's intelligence?
pg. 4
- What is the first thing Amos remembers clearly after traveling through the cold winter night?
pg. 6
- Which room does Amos settle on, and where does he decide to sleep?
pg. 6
- What is Amos' inspiration for the Franklin stove?
pg. 11-12
- What were some of the materials Ben gathered to make the prototype stove?
pg. 12-13
- What does Amos think about Ben's use of "we" regarding the stove?
pg. 16
- How does Ben agree to compensate Amos for his services?
pg. 18-19
- How is Amos able to help Ben while in his cap?
pg. 20
- Why does Ben always wear a cap?
pg. 22
- What does Amos think of swimming?
pg. 23
- Why does Ben chase after the dog?
pg. 25
- When the yokels find Ben's watch on the riverbank what do they think has happened to him?
pg. 26
- Why is Ben despondent after the crowd from Philadelphia arrives?
pg. 30
- How does Ben discover Amos is safe and sound?
pg. 30
Section 2: Chapters 5–8
- According to Amos, what does Ben think is man's highest calling?
pg. 31
- What accident had Amos had in Ben's print shop?
pg. 33
- Who is Poor Richard?
pg. 34
- What "improvements" does Amos make to the almanac?
pg. 34
- What is the result of Amos' changes to the Almanac?
pg. 35
- How is Ben inspired to study electricity?
pg. 40
- What does Ben claim he will do with lightning?
pg. 41
- How does Amos help Ben prepare for his electrical demonstration?
pg. 44
- What happens to the Governor as a result of Ben's demonstration?
pg. 46
- How does Ben respond to the lightning storm?
pg. 53
- How does Amos determine lightning is electrical?
pg. 61
- Why does Ben agree to give up his electrical experiments?
pg. 62-63
- What "sacred cause" does Ben ask Amos to join him in fighting?
pg. 63
- Why does Ben sail to England alone?
pg. 65
Section 3: Chapters 9–11
- How does Amos describe the War of the Revolution?
pg. 67
- What is the most important committee's task?
pg. 67
- Who does Amos say really controls Ben Franklin and Thomas Jefferson?
pg. 67
- Why was Red in a fury?
pg. 69
- Who was the man that impressed Amos the most?
pg. 71
- Why does he like this man?
pg. 71
- How does Amos persuade Ben that he should appeal to France?
pg. 72
- Why does George Washington want Ben to go to France?
pg. 72
- How do Ben and Amos fair on the voyage to France?
pg. 74
- How do the French people receive Ben?
pg. 77
- What kind of people are Ben and Amos surrounded by in France?
pg. 77
- How does Ben gain a reputation as a brilliant diplomat?
pg. 78
- Why are Amos' nerves on end at Madame Helvetius's house?
pg. 79
- Who lives in the towering headdress of Madame Brillon?
pg. 80
Section 4: Chapters 12–15
- What news do Amos and Ben receive?
pg. 85
- How does Amos feel about the foreign ways of the French?
pg. 85
- What do the King and Queen do in honor of the 4th of July?
pg. 86
- Why is Ben sad that Thomas Jefferson is coming to France?
pg. 87
- Why was Amos happy?
pg. 87
- Why are the Slum Mice and Sewer Rats ripe for revolution?
pg. 89
- How many of the peasant mice occupied Ben's fur cap?
pg. 95
- What signal does Amos give to get his regiment to attack?
pg. 97
- How do the King, Queen and court respond to the mice?
pg. 97
- Who is in Ben's cap at the end of the evening?
pg. 102
- Why is the guard rude to Ben?
pg. 105
- How can Amos tell he is getting old?
pg. 107
- What does Amos give to Ben for his eighty-first birthday?
pg. 110
- Why is Ben worried about the hat?
pg. 113