Some words and phrases in the book may be unfamiliar to students. Take a moment to pause and define the following words and phrases to deepen student understanding:
- Bordereau — the torn pieces of handwritten letters allegedly written by Captain Dreyfus in 1894 (page 25).
- Cross-curricular idea for History/French class: explore this document as a primary source. The document can be accessed in French and English.
- Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité — the national motto of France that first appeared during the French Revolution (page 33). The English translation is “Liberty, Equality, Fraternity”.
- J’Accuse — a French term that means “I accuse!”. Emile Zola’s open letter titled “J’Accuse …!” accused the French military of framing Alfred Dreyfus for a crime he did not commit and for a miscarriage of justice (page 33).