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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. With which child does David feel most at ease?

2. What does David nearly fall over?

3. Why does David feel he should take off his shoes?

4. How does the mother say David hates Carlo?

5. What does Maria give to David?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does David cross into Denmark?

2. Why does David have such difficulty understanding the young boys he has come to live with?

3. Describe the individuals at the farm.

4. Explain why David doesn't like dogs, and how his friendship with King develops.

5. Why does Giovanni's wife want David to leave?

6. Explain what Sophie means by "someone has broken his spirit".

7. Describe how David escapes the stable.

8. Explain how being kept a slave on the farm is beneficial to David.

9. Why does David now believe the man kept him in the concentration camp, only to take care of him and eventually let him go?

10. Explain David's opinion about ruling over others.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Throughout the book, David shows himself to be clearly different than other boys. Pick two ways in which David is different, and discuss them in depth. What are these differences? How are they depicted in the novel? What do these differences stem from? Can David overcome them, or does he need to? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

There is heavy use of symbolism by Anne Holm within the novel. Discuss the use of and meaning of a king, "the man", and the compass in the novel.

Essay Topic 3

In the novel, the value of freedom and independent choice is a primary theme in the novel. Choose one of the following examples, and discuss it in detail. Explain not only the situation, but how the situation embodies the theme of freedom and value of independent thought.

• David's reaction to Angelo's dilemma of whom to marry

• David's decision to walk across the road on page 35.

• David's letter to Giovanni and his wife

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,036 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample