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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. For what does the Colonel think Charlie should be held accountable?

2. What does Molly start doing after the fighting incident at school?

3. Why is Big Joe happy about Thomas and Charlie's conspiracy concerning food at meals?

4. What is Thomas doing when he makes a friend at school?

5. Who figures out where Big Joe is?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. What precipitates a fight at school between Thomas and Jimmy Parsons?

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

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

5. Describe Thomas and Charlie's poaching experience.

6. What is the story of the harvest mouse?

7. Of what does the dead crow remind Thomas?

8. How do Charlie and Thomas thwart Grandma Wolf's attempts to get rid of the mice?

9. How has Molly changed when she visits on Christmas Eve and how does Thomas feel about her?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the following:

1. What is a plot? What are the most important elements of a plot and their definition? Do all novels have a plot? Why or why not?

2. Write a brief synopsis of the plot of Private Peaceful, identifying where the various elements of the plot occur (Exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, resolution or denouement). Do you find it difficult to identify the plot? Why or why not? What about the various elements of the plot?

3. Identify the major sub-plots and their elements in Private Peaceful. (The subplots may not contain every element of a major plot). Do the sub-plots add to the main plot? Why or why not. Are the sub-plots interesting in and of themselves? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

Oftentimes, a book has more of a character-driven plot rather than action driven, and oftentimes the other way. Some books seem to balance the two. Discuss the following:

1. What do you think it means to say that a plot is character driven? Action driven?

2. How do you think a plot differs if it is character driven versus action driven?

3. Which type of plot do you find more interesting? Why?

4. Do you think it is possible to have a plot where action and character development share equal time? Why or why not.

5. What type of plot do you think Private Peaceful is? Explain your response.

Essay Topic 3

Over the course of Private Peaceful, Thomas grows as a person in both complexity and understanding. Private Peaceful might be considered a slice of Thomas's larger story of his "coming of age." It might be said that Private Peaceful is a "bildungsroman" of Thomas Peaceful. Discuss the following:

1. Define Bildungsroman, or "Coming of Age," and give several examples from literature you have read.

2. Trace and analyze the character of Thomas as he changes from a more carefree, innocent boy to a wiser, young man. What are the significant events that change Thomas?

3. After thoroughly analyzing Thomas's growth throughout Private Peaceful, do you think Private Peaceful could be considered Thomas's Coming of Age story? Why or why not?

4. Are there any other characters in Private Peaceful who go through a Coming of Age experience? Who? Why do you think so?

(see the answer keys)

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