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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. About what does Thomas feel guilty?

2. What does Thomas realize when he and Charlie are caught on the Colonel's land?

3. How does Grandma Wolf feel about Big Joe's favorite animal?

4. Where are Thomas and Charlie separated?

5. What does the Colonel demand when he comes to the cottage in the morning?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. What future does Molly read in the gravel for her and the boys.

3. Where do they bury Bertha and why kind of funeral does she receive?

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

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

6. What do Charlie, Thomas, and Molly do when one of the mice is caught and killed?

7. How does Thomas and Charlie get rid of the food they do not like?

8. Why is Thomas glad to be working at the same farm as Charlie?

9. What does Charlie do when he sees Thomas in a fight with Jimmy Parsons and what happens to the boys who are fighting?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Private Peaceful belongs to the war novel genre. Discuss the following:

1. Define the literary term "genre" and give several examples of three other genres in addition to the war novel genre.

2. Discuss two reasons why it might be useful to label a text by genre and two reasons it might be disadvantageous to label a text by genre.

3. What do you think is the difference between a war novel and a historical novel or a mystery?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss one of the following:

1. Thoroughly analyze how the setting informs the plot in Private Peaceful.

2. Trace and analyze one major theme of Private Peaceful. How is the theme represented by symbolism? By the characters' behaviors? By the action?

3. Trace and analyze two secondary themes of Private Peaceful. How are the themes represented by symbolism? By the characters' behaviors? By the action?

Essay Topic 3

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.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,135 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample