1) Who are these uniformed men fighting at the beginning of the film? Why are they uniformed and what are they fighting for?

2) Who are Emon DeValera and Michael Collins?

3) What does DeValera mean when he says, "we defeat the British Empire by ignoring it"? How does he hope to achieve Irish independence?

4) Why does Collins say that next time, "we won't play by their rules, Harry, we'll invent our own"?

ON THE STUMP, AN INVISIBLE ARMY, CABINET MEETING

1) In the first of these scenes we see Collins on the stump trying to generate support for the cause; in the next we see him begin to create an army of insurgents that will employ guerrilla tactics. Why does he exhort the population if he is going to resort to an "invisible army" to fight the British? How do these two Collins's contradict or complement each other?

2) Why does DeValera counsel the members of the Cabinet to allow themselves to be arrested? Is he right to do so, or is Collins right to avoid arrest? Would your answer be the same if the issue, time or and place were different?

INTELLIGENCE, ASSASSINATION, PEACE AND QUIET

1) What do you think of Collins's "new rules" and new methods in practice?

2) Does he accept responsibility for his actions, or does he blame the British for his own failings?

GOING TO AMERICA [scene runs 44:23 through 45:13] Track 18

1) Again, we see Dev and Collins disagree as to approach. Who is right? Why? Do these men need each other in a deeper way than Collins seems to understand, or than Dev seems to believe Collins thinks?

A NEW REGIME, A NEW REGIME II, SUFFICIENT UNTO THE DAY IS THE EVIL THEREOF... , REPRISALS

1) These scenes further demonstrate the spiraling violence of an insurgency. The British, responding to the repeated assassinations of their officers at the Castle, retaliate against the Irish people for assisting and protecting the insurgents. Are they right to do so? Why or why not? Why do you suppose the British agree to talks? Why does Dev?

2) Collins tells Dev, "War is murder, shear bloody murder. Had you'd been here for the past year, you'd know that!" Yet, he goes along with the large-scale engagement Dev proposes. Why?

USED UP, A STATESMAN

1) What does Collins's comment to Dev about continuing to fight with "bows and arrows" indicate about these men? Why does Dev dismiss this idea as a flippant comment?

2) Why does Collins lie to Dev? What does it indicate about his skill as a negotiator?

3) What is Collins's opinion of himself as a statesman? Is he right to think himself unsuited to the job of negotiating with the British?

THE WAR IS JUST BEGINNING, MICHAEL COLLINS, PARLIAMENTARIAN

1) Was Collins right to compromise with the British for less than the republic? Why or why not? Do you credit his argument that the agreement gives them the freedom to achieve the republic peacefully?

2) Why does DeValera walk out? What good does he hope to accomplish in doing so?

THE PASSING OF POWER & STUMPPING FOR A REPUBLIC , I WILL NOT FIGHT AGAINST MEN I FOUGHT WITH , DIRTY WORK

1) Collins appears for the remainder of the film in uniform. Why? What does this suggest?

2) Collins says, "better anarchy than civil war." And considers letting Churchill do his own "dirty work". What is happening to his army? Why? Why does Collins ultimately choose to fight the men he fought with?

MY CHIEF ALWAYS

1) Why does Collins call Dev his chief?

2) Why doesn't Dev reply to Collins?

PAPER TOPICS

1) Does Michael Collins show that "genius" and morality in war are compatible or in irreconcilable tension?

2) What would our authors make of Collins's methods? How would each of the four praise or blame him? Or DeValera?

3) What would our authors make of Collins's as a Statesman? How would each of the four praise or blame him? Or DeValera?