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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 makes Thomas feel terribly empty while he is on leave?

2. What happens when the Germans go into retreat?

3. What does Hanley tell his men?

4. What is Sergeant Hanely's nickname?

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

Short Essay Questions

1. What is the new assignment at Wipers like?

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

3. What happens when Thomas arrives in France?

4. What happens to Thomas in the German bunker and who pulls him out?

5. What does Thomas do on his one day of leave and why does that leave him feeling empty inside?

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

7. Where are Charlie and Thomas sent and why are they glad at first?

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

9. Why is Molly at Charlie and Thomas' house one day when they return from work and what has she brought with her?

10. What happens to Charlie when they return to their own lines?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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?

Essay Topic 2

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 3

Often, authors will write about "what they know," and sometimes knowing a little about the author makes the books more interesting. Discuss the following:

1. Research and give a brief biographical sketch of Michael Morpurgo.

2. What in Morpurgo's background may have helped him in writing Private Peaceful? What may have influenced the way he depicts various characters and scenes?

3. Do you think there is always some of the author's own life in his/her novels? Why or why not? Give examples.

(see the answer keys)

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