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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 do Charlie, Thomas, and the rest of the trainees think of the war during boot camp?

2. Where are Thomas, Charlie, and their local friends sent?

3. What does Thomas do when he gets to a trench further back from the front lines?

4. On what day does Charlie say he was born?

5. What caused most of the casualties?

Short Essay Questions

1. While in Wipers, what does the company do for two whole days?

2. How does Thomas experience some of the gas and what happens when a German soldier sees Thomas?

3. What are Charlie and Thomas' company told to do one day?

4. How does Thomas react to Molly's being married to Charlie?

5. What news does Molly announce and how does Charlie respond?

6. What happens when Thomas is writing a letter home and how does Thomas respond?

7. Who is in the bunker and what does Sergeant Hanley order his men to do?

8. What happens when they encounter a German soldier in the German trenches?

9. How do Charlie and Thomas convince the Army that Thomas is old enough to join?

10. What does Thomas wait for for a night and day and what is the outcome?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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 2

Many novels, and perhaps a majority, of novels ends on a happy note. 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? Did Private Peaceful ending on a less than happy note affect your perception or enjoyment of the book? Why or why not?

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

(see the answer keys)

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