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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 does Jonathan notice about the weather on the way to the battle?

2. What happens when Jonathan starts to whistle on the way to the battle?

3. What has happened to Jonathan's clothes as a result of the battle?

4. What does the stranger tell Jonathan to do?

5. What does Jonathan want to be at the beginning of the story?

Short Essay Questions

1. What triggers the start of the battle, and how does this set the tone for the battle?

2. Does Jonathan have a realistic idea of what war entails at the beginning of the story?

3. How do the soldiers react to the woman in Rocktown when she runs away upon learning that enemy soldiers are on their way?

4. What new questions does Jonathan ask himself just before the battle begins?

5. How does Jonathan feel about his performance in the battle?

6. What happens when the Corporal orders the men to organize themselves into lines?

7. How do the local men react to the Corporal at the beginning of the story?

8. What do the men debate about once they have reached their destination for the battle?

9. How does the feeling of Jonathan's gun in his hands change as he prepares to fire upon the Hessians?

10. How do the American soldiers feel as they see the enemy soldiers approach?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Describe Jonathan's initial bonding with the young Hessian. How does this experience represent an initial turning point in Jonathan's view of the Hessians, and of war in general? What does Jonathan begin to understand about the enemy?

Essay Topic 2

Trace Jonathan's thoughts, feelings and reactions toward the Corporal throughout the book. At what points does Jonathan trust him, and at what points does he exhibit doubt and uncertainty? What part does the Corporal play in Jonathan's ultimate character shift at the end of the book?

Essay Topic 3

Much of the text consists of the silent inner workings of Jonathan's mind as he tries to figure out his own beliefs and wonders about his fate. As he spends time with his Hessian captors, what effect does his relationship with them have on his changing thought process, specifically on his thoughts about war?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 672 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample