Browse Items (50 total)
- Collection: After the First Death
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Wayne Kent's letter to Robert Cormier
In this short letter, Wayne Kent writers to Robert Cormier to ask him about where he found the information he used to portray the terrorist characters. He also compliments Cormier on the realism of the traumatic experiences he depicts. Kent concludes…
Virginia Beesley's letter to Robert Cormier
Virginia Beesley's typewritten two-page letter to Robert Cormier is an emotional epistle of her reading of After the First Death. She conveys both anger at Cormier for writing the book and admiration for writing it so skillfully. It is not clear…
Speech card on After the First Death's origins
In this short card, Robert Cormier alludes to an upcoming speech he will give wherein he will explore the origins of After the First Death. There is very little on the card itself - it merely suggests more to come.
Sally-Anne Whyatt's letter to Robert Cormier
In this hand-written letter, Sally-Anne shares with Cormier a number of quotes from After the First Death exploring the idea that Mark and Ben are the same character. She also asks a number of questions that are left obscured in the novel - having to…
Robert Cormier's response to Sally-Anne
In this letter to Sally-Anne, Robert Cormier discusses two of his novels. He talks first about the schizophrenic character in After the First Death and the guilt that arises from sacrifice. Additionally, he addresses patriotism, freedom, and…
Robert Cormier's response to Mrs. Anti's class
In this letter to Mrs. Anti's class, Cormier answers many questions posed by the students. First, he outlines how he got the idea for the novel. As in other letters, Cormier cites his life as a news reporter and his proximity to Fort Devens - as…
Robert Cormier's response to Jennifer Cowan
In his two-page "random" response to Jennifer Cowan, as one of several (or more) classmates who wrote, Robert Cormier reveals that After the First Death is told from the point of view of Ben's father. He refers to a pamphlet he enclosed and hoped…
Robert Cormier's letter to Kevin Prentice
Robert Cormier responds to Kevin's inquiries regarding the ideas for the novel, After the First Death. He cites three main sources of interest: 1) his home near Fort Devens and the possibility of a terrorist attack, 2) the Abraham-Isaac Bible story,…
Robert Cormier's draft response to Rebecca Pace
In this drafted letter, Robert Cormier thanks Rebecca for her correspondence. He shares how glad he is that the novel has helped her to understand different viewpoints and perspectives. He explains how seeing something from another person's point of…
Robert Cormier's draft response to Maxine Shosto
Robert Cormier's hand revised draft of his letter to Maxine Shosto addresses her questions regarding After the First Death. In particular, he talks about the ambiguity in the book and says that it is because life is ambiguous. He had mislaid the…
Robert Cormier's draft response to Hugh Agee
In this drafted letter, Robert Cormier responds to Agee's correspondence. He opens by sharing how impressed he is with the students' insights and interpretations. In a section that is largely penciled out and re-written, Cormier shares his…
Robert Cormier on After the First Death
In this piece, Robert Cormier reflects on the influences at work in After the First Death. He discusses the type of person who could commit a terrorist act, and yet who could still see himself or herself as a hero or a patriot. In such a case,…
Rachel Flynn letter to Robert Cormier
Rachel shares her enthusiasm for After the First Death and her curiosity regarding points of confusion in the novel, which she hopes he will discuss in a class visit. She mentions the fun the class had producing the newspaper project.
Pamela Carpenter letter to Robert Cormier
Pamela writes about how Robert Cormier's After the First Death was the best of the four summer novels assigned by Mrs. Anti. She mentions the newspaper project and despite their roles as investigative journalists, they still had points of confusion…
Mrs. Barbara Anti letter to Robert Cormier
Mrs. Anti writes of her students' interest and enthusiasm for Robert Cormier's book After the First Death. She invites him to speak to the class, promising a captivated audience, gas mileage, and school lunch.