Question

Reflect on the central ideas presented in The Dark Game. Then, write a two- or three-sentence summary of the text in your own words.

Answer 1

Sample Response: In the Civil War era, spy work was done by amateurs without training or a professional network. Elizabeth Van Lew was one woman who started working as a spy for the Union because she believed slavery was wrong. Eventually her responsibilities as a spymaster grew to the point where she helped organize structures and systems that helped spies do their work. 

Answer 2

This book contains a wide collection of stories regarding spies and agents that have worked both for and against their country.  The content here spans from the formation of the United States in the Colonial Era to the more modern day spy stories.  Even double agents (and sometimes triple agents) are discussed, in addition to the straight-up stories of spies and what they did.  In one of the chapters, the author explains Benedict Arnold's story.  He agreed to spy for the British because he felt wronged in his career by the Americans, as he thought he wasn't getting paid as much as he deserved.  Arnold spied by pretending to still be on Washington's side and then capturing his "own" fort.  There was also Elizabeth Van Lew, who spied for the Union by acting as a nurse in the prisoner camp. She would then get info from gossiping spies.  Rose Greenhow also spied for the Confederates by sewing messages into the cuffs of dresses she made. The main purpose of writing this novel was to inform readers of how our government obtained information in the past, and how it still does today. Throughout the book, the author explains events throughout history that involved spying. This is because he wants to make the readers think about how spying was such a big part of our success as a nation.