The Killer Angels: A Technique To Understanding The Killer Angels, written by Michael Shaara, is a classic novel depicting the

battle of Gettysburg. As a turning point of the Civil War and of American history, understanding Gettysburg is important to Americans. In many ways, Michael Shaara wrote this book for that very reason; to allow Americans to gain a fuller understanding of this event. However, Shaara wants readers to have a deeper understanding of more than simply a sequence of events. Michael wants to show readers . . .what it was like to be there, what the weather was like, what mens faces looked like. To Shaara cold history is not enough for true understanding or to draw our own conclusion from the events as they unfold. Michael Shaaras purpose of writing this book was to try to let his readers experience the battle of Gettysburg for themselves. There are several ways in which he goes about doing this. However, the main techniques he uses are: the use of various viewpoints, the exploration of individual characters thoughts, and the way in which he limits the readers perspective of the whole event. These techniques will be explored and deemed effective or ineffective in accomplishing Shaaras purpose. By the use of various viewpoints, Michael Shaara presents the battle of Gettysburg through the eyes of the men. Some of the men had high ranks such as General Robert Edward Lee and Lieutenant General James Longstreet. However, some had little to no ranking for example Longstreets spy Harrison. Shaara has avoided historical opinions and gone back primarily to the words of the men themselves, their letters, and other documents. Based on the research of Michael Shaara about the battle of Gettysburg and some of the men involved, Shaara portrays his idea of each of the men what they were like as people, what they were feeling, how they experienced the battle, and their personal thoughts. Shaara says the interpretation of character is (his) own. Another way Michael conveys these various perspectives is by titling the chapters with the name of the man it is about. Using this technique seems logical, helps support the thesis, and assists the reader in transition from character to character.

Another technique that Shaara uses is writing the story in third person narration. Through this voice, Shaara is able to get inside the minds of the men and attempted to portray what is was like to be in their position. This writing style leads readers away from visualizing themselves in a situation. Shaaras technique here is to not give the readers an opportunity to place themselves inside the story and keeps the focus on what it was like for the men. Through the way Shaara gives the readers a limited perspective readers see the story unfold from many different angles which at some points leaves the readers with a cliff hanger feeling so to speak. At the end of chapter two readers see this happen with John Buford. The battle went on without a commander. The men fought where Reynolds had placed them. Buford slowly withdrew his cavalry, as Reynolds had ordered. All the rest of that morning gray Rebel troops came. The line continued to hold. There did not seem to be anyone in command, but the line held. After a while Buford mounted what was left of his cavalry and rode slowly out that road to the north. He could not hold for long, but he could hold for a little while, and the yellowhaired lieutenant was out there alone. (Pg. 96) The above quotation is an example of how Shaara attempted to portray the anxiety of the men. Readers get the feeling of what is was like for Buford to follow Reynolds orders without any idea of what was going on, to sit and wait. Michael Shaara wants his readers to experience how battlefield situations like that feel. John Buford didnt know the ending of the story; Buford didnt know how or when the war was going to end. The way that Shaara limits the readers knowledge of what is going on in the story by giving bits and pieces of information allows readers to experience the events like the characters did. Shaara does not allow readers to see the big picture because of how he limits information. Not only does Shaara write in a way that limits the perspective but he also writes in a way that leaves the reader feeling anxious similar to how he imagines the men might have felt at times. The technique used here seems like a logical choice in supporting Shaaras thesis.

Shaaras technique of using various viewpoints, limiting the readers perspective, and exploring individuals thoughts by writing in a third person narration help him in accomplishing his purpose. The strongest of these techniques is the way Shaara limits the readers knowledge. By doing this Shaara gives readers that cliff hanger that men in war have. There is a lot of unknown along the way; during the battle. By conveying this Shaara gets a great deal closer to full filling his purpose of attempting to get his readers to have an understanding of what it was like to be there. The various viewpoints were the key to this book. A weak point of this book was that the reader was given little background information. I feel that more background information would have helped put the significance of the battle of Gettysburg into perspective it also would have helped the reader understand the seriousness of the battle and the impact it had on the United States. Ultimately readers would have understood why it is so important to have a true understanding of this event in our history. Overall Shaaras writing techniques accomplished his purpose of trying to give readers a deeper understanding of and feeling for the battle. Michaels writing style allows readers to experience the battle how the men did, which is the only way it should be experienced. The Killer Angles is a great book and a great depiction of the experience of the battle of Gettysburg, which is exactly what it was supposed to be.