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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 Captain Ivers order Willy to do?

2. Who tells Willy to gather up her possessions and come to Granny's home?

3. Where is Freeman the cow kept?

4. What does Willy think about instead of her father?

5. Who tells Willy she cannot stay with her aunt and uncle?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. What questions does Captain Ivers ask Willy? What worries Willy about his questions?

3. What happens when a British soldier finds Willy?

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

5. What does Willy's father say about seeing the British ships in the bay?

6. What prompts Willy to ride for the fort?

7. Describe the first encounter between Willy and the Ivers.

8. How does the Freeman family obtain a cow, and what does it symbolize to Lucy?

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

10. Why are Jack and his family no longer slaves?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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 2

Characters are an important part of what makes War Comes to Willy Freeman interesting. Discuss the following:

1. Thoroughly discuss and analyze Willy. What are her strengths? Her weaknesses? How does she contribute to the plot? Is she a sympathetic character? Is she always likable? Never likable? Use specific examples to illustrate your ideas.

2. Thoroughly discuss and analyze the character of Horace. What are his strengths? His weaknesses? How does he contribute to the plot? Is he a sympathetic character? Is he ever likable? Never likable? Use specific examples to illustrate your ideas.

3. Thoroughly discuss and analyze the character of Captain Ivers. What are his strengths? His weaknesses? How does he contribute to the plot? Is he a sympathetic character? Is he always likable? Never likable? Use specific examples to illustrate your ideas.

Essay Topic 3

Willy Freeman is only thirteen when she witnesses her father brutally killed. She travels to New York in search of her mother. Discuss the following:

1. Does it seem possible that Willy could have done everything she does at her age? Explain using examples.

2. Do you think the children of Willy's age were more mature and independent then as compared to the children of the present? Why or why not? Use examples of Willy's actions from the text and compare how you think the typical thirteen year old would respond to the same situation today.

3. Does it seem possible that Horace could have done everything he does at his age? Explain using examples.

(see the answer keys)

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