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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What happens when a German comes out from behind a curtain?

2. What does Charlie refuse to do?

3. What do Charlie and Thomas find when they return from work one day?

4. Where does Thomas go after putting on his gas mask?

5. How old does the Army think Thomas is?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Thomas wait for for a night and day and what is the outcome?

2. Who is in the bunker and what does Sergeant Hanley order his men to do?

3. What happens to Thomas in the German bunker and who pulls him out?

4. How does Charlie bring Sergeant Hanley's wrath down on the regiment?

5. What happens when they encounter a German soldier in the German trenches?

6. What happens when Thomas is writing a letter home and how does Thomas respond?

7. What news does Molly announce and how does Charlie respond?

8. Why is Molly at Charlie and Thomas' house one day when they return from work and what has she brought with her?

9. What is the front line like?

10. Where are Charlie and Thomas sent and why are they glad at first?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Oftentimes, a book has more of a character-driven plot rather than action driven, and oftentimes the other way. Some books seem to balance the two. Discuss the following:

1. What do you think it means to say that a plot is character driven? Action driven?

2. How do you think a plot differs if it is character driven versus action driven?

3. Which type of plot do you find more interesting? Why?

4. Do you think it is possible to have a plot where action and character development share equal time? Why or why not.

5. What type of plot do you think Private Peaceful is? Explain your response.

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the following:

1. Who is/are the protagonists of the story and why?

2. Who is/are the antagonists of the story and why?

3. Which 3 secondary characters have the greatest impact on the plot?

4. Are any of the characters dispensable and which ones? Why or why not?

5. Do you think this is a character-driven plot or an action-driven plot? Explain.

Essay Topic 3

Choose one of the following to discuss:

1. Choose two significant symbols and trace and analyze their appearance in Private Peaceful. Are these universal symbols? Would they be understood in any culture? Are there other symbols that would portray the same idea? What are they? Why do you think Morpurgo chooses the symbols he does?

2. Choose two important metaphors and trace and analyze their appearance in the novel. Are these universal metaphors? Would they be understood in any culture? Are there other metaphors that would portray the same idea? What are they? Why do you think Morpurgo chooses the metaphors he does?

3. Discuss Morpurgo's use (or lack ) of literary device (such as foreshadowing, clifthangers, deux ex machina, etc...), and how they add or detract from the story. Does Morpurgo use too many or too little literary techniques? State which of the five major elements of fiction the literary device is related to (style, character, plot, setting, theme).

(see the answer keys)

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