Johnny Tremain

by

Esther Forbes

Grandsire Silsbee Character Analysis

Grandsire Silsbee is Rab’s grandfather. He lives on a farm out in Lexington and hosts Minute Men militia training on his farm. When war finally breaks out, Grandsire Silsbee refuses to hide with the women and children, despite being too old to march with the Minute Men. So, he hitches up his horse and chaise and from the chaise, becomes Major Silsbee.
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Grandsire Silsbee Character Timeline in Johnny Tremain

The timeline below shows where the character Grandsire Silsbee appears in Johnny Tremain. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Chapter 5
Coming of Age Theme Icon
Pride vs. Humility Theme Icon
...come out of his shell twice. Once, while in Lexington with Rab’s folks, Rab’s grandfather, Grandsire Silsbee , puts on a post-harvest dance. Rab flings himself into dancing and is quite the... (full context)
Chapter 12
Patriotism and the Revolutionary War Theme Icon
Violence Theme Icon
Moral Integrity and Class Theme Icon
...names, so Johnny smiles. She says the Silsbee women hid, but all the men fought. Grandsire Silsbee sat at home. (full context)
Coming of Age Theme Icon
Patriotism and the Revolutionary War Theme Icon
Violence Theme Icon
...Rab tells Johnny to take the musket and go see if the Silsbee women and Grandsire Silsbee are safe. Rab smiles as Johnny leaves the room. (full context)
Coming of Age Theme Icon
Patriotism and the Revolutionary War Theme Icon
Violence Theme Icon
5. Johnny finds no Silsbees at Silsbee’s Cove, but he finds several farm animals, Grandsire Silsbee ’s favorite cat, and two hungry farm dogs. Picking up the cat, Johnny enters the... (full context)
Coming of Age Theme Icon
Patriotism and the Revolutionary War Theme Icon
Violence Theme Icon
Moral Integrity and Class Theme Icon
...will always be willing to fight. Then, Johnny notices a chaise coming after the men— Grandsire Silsbee is in it, as he’s too old to ride or walk. Johnny almost runs to... (full context)