Montana 1948 Lesson Plan

Were you surprised that Frank killed himself? Why do you think he did it?

Encourage students to consider whether Frank’s suicide suggests a guilty conscience, despite his apparent lack of remorse in his confession to Wes, or whether it is a self-serving move to avoid punishment. They may question whether Frank, understanding that his death would spare his family and the larger community from the painful ordeal of prosecuting him, sacrificed himself for their benefit. They may reasonably suspect that Frank never expected to be confronted about his behavior, however well-known it might have been in the community.

Why does Wes tell David the story about the Highdog...