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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. How much does Charlie's mother give the Colonel for Bertha?

2. What is Thomas worried about in this first memory?

3. Why does Grandma Wolf ask an animal charmer from the village come to the house once?

4. Why do Molly, Charlie, and Thomas bury a mouse and sing a hymn over its grave?

5. Why does Thomas' father sometimes take Thomas into the woods?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why is Charlie upset by the Colonels plans for Bertha and what does he do to thwart those plans?

2. Why is the punishment not so bad and how do the boy mark the end of their punishment period?

3. What does Big Joe do after Bertha's funeral and why isn't anyone worried?

4. How do Molly and Charlie gradually become distanced from Thomas and what is Thomas' response?

5. What happens when the Colonel arrives at the cottage the morning after Charlie steals Bertha?

6. What punishment does the Colonel mete out to the boys and how does their mother amend the punishment?

7. What is the story of the harvest mouse?

8. Of what does the dead crow remind Thomas?

9. At the novel's opening, who is Thomas Peaceful with and why is he determined not to sleep?

10. At the novel's opening, what does Thomas Peaceful want to remember this night?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The men and officer of the firing squad do not want to kill Charlie, but they know their orders. After Charlie's death, everyone mourns him. Thomas is glad to find that Sergeant Hanley was killed, but his happiness is short lived. That horrible man has finally gotten what they all felt that he deserved, but Thomas is upset that it came too late to save Charlie. He hopes that Charlie knows that Hanley is dead, as it might give him a slight comfort. After saying good bye to his brother for the last time, Thomas feels as if a part of him has died with Charlie.

1. Do you think the men in the firing squad should have obeyed the order to kill Charlie? Why or why not? Use examples from your own life and Private Peaceful to support your answer.

2. Do you think Hanley being killed was a just exchange for the sergeant basically being responsible for Charlie's death? Why or why not? Use examples from your own life and Private Peaceful to support your answer.

3. What do you think is the difference between socialization in the early 1900s and the present time that a soldier would be shot and killed for disobeying a dangerous and stupid order? Use examples from your own life and Private Peaceful to support your answer.

Essay Topic 2

Characters are an integral and important part of almost all novels. Discuss the following:

1. Compare/contrast the characters of Thomas and Charlie. How are they similar? How are they different? Is there a flaw in each of their personalities? Be specific and give examples.

2. Compare/contrast the characters of Charlie and the Colonel. How do they seem different? Which do you like more? Why? Which one seems a more well-rounded character?

3. Thoroughly analyze how three of the secondary characters in Private Peaceful help drive the plot and identify their contribution is to the story line. Are any of the secondary characters unnecessary? Indispensable? Which of the secondary characters are likable? Which are either unlikable or even despicable? Be specific and give examples.

Essay Topic 3

Many novels, and perhaps a majority, of novels ends on a happy note. Discuss the following:

1. Why do you think many (most?) people want what they perceive as a happy or good ending to a novel? Explain your opinion. Do you? Why or why not? Did Private Peaceful ending on a less than happy note affect your perception or enjoyment of the book? Why or why not?

2. What are three reasons to read fiction? Discuss each one in light of Private Peaceful and whether or not it fulfills all three, two or one of the reasons you mention. Give examples as to why Private Peaceful is or is not successful in fulfilling the reasons you discuss.

3. Do you think reading solely for entertainment is as good a reason to read as any other? Why or why not? Can any work of fiction or non-fiction, no matter how poorly written, enlighten, teach, stimulate thought? Why or why not?

(see the answer keys)

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