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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. Why does Willy sit down at home to wait?

2. Why does Jordan want Willy to go with him to the woods near the fort?

3. What does Jordan have to avoid when he goes to warn the Americans?

4. About what does Lucy debate as she is walking?

5. What does Lucy beg Jordan not to do?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Willy describe her memory of the day before the battle at Fort Griswold?

2. What do Willy and her aunt Betsy discuss concerning New York?

3. Why does Willy wish her father were home. and what does her mother say to that wish?

4. What does Willy say about black men in the British army, and how do the two soldiers respond?

5. What prompts Willy to ride for the fort?

6. What does Willy do after leaving the fort?

7. Who is the boy whom Willy helps? What do they do?

8. Where is Fort Griswold, and what is significant about the Fort?

9. Why does Willy end up staying in the fort during the fighting, and what does she do?

10. Describe Willy's entry into the fort.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

War Comes to Willy Freeman might be considered a tale of good versus evil. Discuss the following:

1. What does it mean for a story to be a tale of good versus evil?

2. Is any one person, group, or country all good or all evil?

3. Identify three characters you would label as good and explain, using examples, your reasoning.

4. Identify three characters you would label as evil and explain, using examples, your reasoning.

5. Do you think most people prefer good to triumph? Why?

Essay Topic 2

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? Do you think War Comes to Willy Freeman ends on a happy note? Why or why not.

2. What are three reasons to read fiction? Discuss each one in light of War Comes to Willy Freeman and whether or not it fulfills all three, two or one of the reasons you mention. Give examples as to why War Comes to Willy Freeman 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?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss one of the following:

1. Trace and analyze the theme of power in War Comes to Willy Freeman. Consider the following questions as you write: What characters are most concerned with power and/or have the most power? Why? What are some symbols of power? Symbols of powerlessness? What characters seem powerless?

2. Trace and analyze the theme of fear in War Comes to Willy Freeman. Who is afraid? Why? Who provokes fear in others? How? Why? Is Willy a fearful person? Why or why not? Do you think she does things in spite of being afraid or because of being afraid? Or, sometimes one or the other? Give examples.

3. Trace and analyze the theme of change. Who changes in War Comes to Willy Freeman? Who seems to stay stagnant? What are the reasons the characters change who do so? Why do some characters not change? Do you think Willy's changes at the end of the book will last? Why or why not? What would it take to make Captain Ivers change? Do you think there is hope for Captain Ivers? Why or why not?

(see the answer keys)

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