War Horse

Comprehension
 Chapter 1

1. What is the narrative voice of the story? What clues tell you this?

2. Describe the horse’s earliest memories.

3. Why did the horse not call his new owner master?

4. How does the horse first describe his new owner? Quote from the
chapter

5. What two words does the boy use to describe the horse to his
mother?

6. Describe in detail the character of Albert

7. What reason did Mother have for Father buying the Horse?

8. Why did Albert decide to call the horse Joey?

9. How do you think Joey is feeling by the end of the chapter? What
do you think is going on in his head?

10. Without using a dictionary and making use of the text within
the chapter, define the following words and phrases:

 Hubbub (P3)
 ‘but you’ll be eating out of my hand quick as a twig’ (P5)
 recoiled (P6)
 ‘her words lacked conviction’ (P8)

Chapter 2
1. How do you know that time has passed since the end of the first
chapter?

2. How do you know that Joey trusts Albert?

3. Why was Joey never able to trust Albert’s father?

4. Why did Albert try and stay with Joey on Tuesdays?

5. Describe the incident between Joey and Father.

6. Why was Albert’s behaviour towards Joey different?

7. Describe how Albert behaved towards Joey.

8. Describe Albert’s mother’s reaction to hearing that war had been

declared.

9. Why do you think she reacted in this way?

10. What do you think will happen next?

11. Without using a dictionary and making use of the text within the
chapter, define the following words and phrases:

 pretext (P12)
 ‘ploughing straight as an arrow’ (P15)
 ‘That was devilish stupid’ (P16)
 abundance (P19)

Chapter 3

1. How do we know that Joey is leaving the farm soon? What tells us this?
 2. What clues in the chapter tell us that Joey and Albert have a close
relationship?

3. Why would Joey and Zoe be relieved that Albert had taken over the horse
work from the farm?

4. What do we learn about Albert’s father in this chapter>

5. Does this change your opinion of him? Justify your answer.

6. Describe in detail the relationship between Albert and his father. How do we
know this?

7. Why was Joey immediately suspicious of father when he came into the
stable?

8. What do you think is going through father’s mind at the end of the chapter?

9. Where do you think father is taking Joey?

10. Without using a dictionary and making use of the text within
the chapter, define the following words and phrases:

 foreboding ((P22)
 fit of pique (P24)
 inquisitiveness (P26)
 arbitrating (P27)

Chapter 4

1. Describe father’s behaviour at the start of this chapter.

2. Describe the events that were happening in the village.

3. What did Captain Nicholls look like?

4. What kind of person do you think Captain Nicholls is? Justify

5. How does the Vet describe Joey?

6. Why do you think father started to cry?

7. What does this show about him?

8. Do you think that Albert’s father was right to sell Joey? Justify
your opinion.

9. How do you think Albert is feeling at the end of this chapter?

10. Do you believe Albert’s promise to Joey? Why?

11. Define the following words:

 regiment (P29)
 apprehension (P28)
 specimen (P31)
 unconsolable (P32)

Chapter 5

1. How does Joey describe his transformation at the start of the chapter?

2. How does Joey describe Corporal Perkins? Use words and phrases from the
passage.

3. What kind of person is Captain Nicholls? How do we know this?

4. Why is Captain Nicholls worried about the machine gun?

5. What do the soldiers have to learn to do if they are to win the war?

6. Does Captain Nicholls think that it is a good idea to have horses fighting in the
war? Why

7. Why do you think Corporal Perkins was kinder and gentler towards Joey?

8. Describe the character of Tophorn? Do you think he will be kind to Joey?

9. In what way is the setting of the chapter about to change?

10. Imagine you are Captain Nicholls about to sail across to France. Describe in two
paragraphs how you might be feeling and what you think will happen.

Chapter 6

1. Why were the soldiers ‘buoyant with optimism’ at the start of the chapter.

2. Why do you think the horses did not enjoy the journey to France?

3. Describe in detail why the soldiers became ‘silent and sombre’ as they docked in
France?

4. How did Tophorn support Joey?

5. How does Joey describe his relationship with Captain Nicholls?

6. Why do you think the men had swords? Was this a good idea?

7. Why do you think that Joey kept on running after he lost Captain Nicholls?

8. How do you feel about the death of Captain Nicholls?

9. How do you think Joey feels about the loss of Captain Nicholls?

10. Define the following words and phrases:

 ‘extravagant reminiscences’ (P53)

 ‘an air of great exuberance and expectancy’ (P46)
 ‘jocular spirits’ (P48)

Chapter 7

1. How does Joey describe Trooper Warren’s riding ability? Provide evidence from
the chapter.

2. Describe how Trooper Warren treated Joey. What effect did this have on
Joey?

3. How did Trooper Warren end up joining the war?

4. What development had occurred in the war? Describe in detail

5. Who was Sally?

6. What was happening to many of the horses?

7. How does Joey describe the battlefield?

8. What does going ‘over the wire’ mean?

9. Why were the men cheering when the went into ‘no mans land’

10. What do you think will happen next?

11. Imagine that you are Trooper Warren about to go into no mans land. Describe in
detail how you are feeling and what you think will happen to you.

Chapter 8

1. What could be heard through the ‘eerie’ silence of no mans land?

2. Why do you think Trooper Warren panicked that the barbed wire was still
there?

3. Describe in your own words the battle.

4. Why do you think one of the troopers shot his horse that was trapped in the
wire?

5. Do you think he was right in doing so? Justify

 6. Why did Captain Stewart tell Trooper Warren to throw down his sword?

7. What were the last shots in the battle?

8. How did Captain Stewart describe the deaths of the horses? Quote from the
chapter.

9. How did Captain Stewart describe the horses after they were captured?

10. Why did Captain Stuart have his arm round Trooper Warren at the end of the
Chapter?

11. What do you think will happen to them both now that they have been captured?

Chapter 9

1. Why was Joey impatient?

2. Describe the character of Herr Hauptmann?

3. How did the officer describe Joey and Topthorn to the soldiers?

4. What job did headquarters decided Joey was to do? Do you think this was a good
idea?

5. Why was Topthorn alarmed?

6. Why did Herr Hauptmann describe the British as mad?

7. What luxury did Joey and Topthorn have for the first time since they were sent to
the war?
8. Why did Joey panic when he saw the dancing light?

9. Who came and visited them in the Stable?

10. Is there anything unusual about this chapter?

12. What do you think will happen next?

Chapter 10

1. Describe how Joey and Topthorn were feeling at the start of the chapter.

2. Why was the soldier so pleased to see them?

3. Why did the soldiers give them an iron cross?

4. Why do horses have a fondness for children?

5. What happened to Emily’s family?

6. What two things does Emily pray for each night?

7. Why is Emily’s Grandfather worried about her?

8. What does he ask the horses to do?

 9. What day is it at the end of the chapter?

10. How would you feel if you were a soldier fighting on Christmas morning?
Describe in detail

Chapter 12

1. How does Joey describe the developments in the war?

2. How does Joey describe the men he is working with?

3. Describe in detail what the conditions were like for the horses.

4. Describe the character of Coco?

5. What happened to Heinie?

6. When horses became ill what happened to them?

7. What did Joey say were killing the horses?

8. Define the following words from the passage. Write their definition then put them
into a sentence. Make sure each sentences has a conjunction and makes use of
interesting adjectives.
 excruciatingly (P101)
 recuperation (P102)
 intermittently (P103)
 Chapter 13

1. How did the arrival of spring help the horses and soldiers?

2. Why was Friedrich referred to as “mad”?

3. Which task did Friedrich supervise the horses to do?

4. How does Joey describe Friedrich?

5. Which job did Friedrich have before joining the war?

6. How did Friedrich feel about Topthorn?

7. What did Friedrich promise his best to do?

8. Find 6 words from the passage. Find their meaning and then write them into a
sentence.

Chapter 15

1. Where did Joey stay all that day and into the night?

2. What were Joey’s reason for staying next to Topthorn and Friedrich?

3. What did Joey see that frightened him? How did he describe the ‘monster’?

4. What forced Joey to lie down and sleep?

5. What woke Joey up and made him run again?

6. How does Joey describe what is going on around him? Write a paragraph and
quote from the chapter.

7. What happened to Joey’s leg?

8. How do we know the Solders are British? What clues are there?

9. Where does Joey end up?

10. What clues tell us this?

 Chapter 16

1. Which smell did Joey get as he wandered in no man’s land?

2. What did the soldiers wave as they cut through the wire for Joey?

3. What did the German soldier feed to Joey?

4. How did the two soldiers decide which one would take Joey with him?

5. How did the two soldiers feel about the war?

6. What did they expect to be doing again in an hour or two?

7. How did the soldiers react as Joey was led towards them?

Chapter 18

1. Why did Joeys describe the days that followed as ‘Euphoric’? What did he mean
by this?

2. Why did the war begin to fade from Joey’s memory?

3. Why do you think Joey was treated like a celebrity by the other soldiers?

4. Why didn’t Joey get better as he should have? Describe in detail what was wrong
with him quoting from the chapter.

5. How had Albert’s Dad changed after he sold Joey to the army? Does this change
your opinion of him?

6. Why did Albert fetch Major Martin?

7. Why did the Major say sorry to Albert?

8. What do you think is going through Albert’s mind at this point?

9. What did Major Martin once say to the soldiers about the horses? Quote from
the chapter?

10. Why do you think David reminded the Major of this?

11. Why was Joey put into a sling?

12.How did Joey show Albert that he was better?

13. Do you think that Joey and Albert will make it home together? Justify you
answer.

Chapter 20

1. What did Joey mean when he said ‘There was an air of determined conspiracy’ ?

2. Why were the horses jumpy the next morning?

3. Why was Sergeant Thunder passing a small tin box around among the men?

4. Whose idea was it to try and bid for Joey at the auction?

5. How do you think Joey is feeling before the auction? Describe in detail

6. Why did Albert whisper the words “Oh God, no”?

7. Who outbid the butcher of Cambrai?

8. How did the old man warn the butcher?

9. Why did the auctioneer delay in bringing down his hammer?

War Horse Summary and Analysis of Chapters Summary

Chapter 13 begins with a description of the arrival of spring. Topthorn gains some of
his strength back as the weather warms, and Joey notes that the season itself is
peaceful, with few battles facing the horses. Still, he, Topthorn, and the two
Haflingers find themselves performing tedious work pulling the artillery wagons—
although the burden is lightened, somewhat, by the presence of a new friend. This
companion is a soldier known as "Crazy Old Friedrich," a belittling nickname that
appears to hide Friedrich's true character.

Friedrich confides in the horses, explaining that he finds the entire war irrational and
bizarre. He also explains that he is a respected butcher in his hometown, Schleiden.
As the war progresses, Friedrich forms a special bond with Topthorn; the German
soldier does not neglect Joey by any means, but Friedrich's pride in the other horse is
unmistakable. He even tells the two animals that, if he is hated to die away from home,
then he would like to die beside Topthorn.

As Joey notes at the beginning of Chapter 14, the hostilities intensify once more and
the horses return to battle when autumn arrives. Joey, Topthorn, and Friedrich find
themselves in the company of a group of resting soldiers. Two of these men, Rudi and
Karl, spend time admiring Topthorn. Friedrich then takes the horses to a river to
refresh themselves; unfortunately, on the way back from the river, Joey notices that
Topthorn's movements have become sluggish and unsteady.

Joey watches as Topthorn collapses. The incapacitated horse looks once at his friend
and then his movements subside. Friedrich is overcome by this sad turn of events,
distressed both by the death of his cherished horse and by the destructive absurdity
that he perceives in the war. A veterinarian comes to inspect Topthorn; the large
horse is pronounced dead from over-work, poor nourishment, and heart failure. Joey
and his companions are not given long to mourn: a bombardment begins. Shells fall in
the vicinity of Joey and the soldiers, yet Joey is unwilling to leave Topthorn. Friedrich
attempts and mostly fails to drag Joey away, and then tries to run off and join the
other soldiers in some sheltering woods. He is killed before he can reach this
destination.

Chapter 15 finds Joey standing near the corpses of his two friends, fearing the
sensation of loneliness that would come if he were to leave them. Although he stays in
place until dawn, he is eventually frightened off when a tank—the first that Joey has
seen in action—appears. Joey cannot escape the gunfire and explosions that have
broken out. The terrain is also treacherous, full of pits that must be avoided. It is
Joey's misfortune to fall into one of these pits and, in trying to get out, to snag one of
his legs on barbed wire. Injured, tired, and disoriented, Joey hears the voices of
English soldiers and tries to seek solitude—only to find himself in the deadly war zone
known as "No Man's Land."

As Chapter 16 opens, Joey is still stranded in No Man's Land, with trenches, barbed
wire, and soldiers flanking him on either side. However, the fighting itself comes to a
halt. Both the German and the English soldiers have noticed Joey; they wave white
cloths, signaling a temporary truce, and send representatives to save Joey from peril.
The German representative is an older soldier who reminds Joey of Friedrich, while
the English representative is a small and energetic Welshman. They reach Joey at
roughly the same time. These two men are capable of negotiating (since the German
knows some English) and decide that the flip of a coin will determine which side takes
ownership of the horse. The Welshman wins the coin toss; the two men then part on
amicable terms, convinced that straightforward communication could solve problems
such as the brutal war that they are fighting.

Chapter 17 depicts Joey's transfer from the front lines to a veterinary hospital. He
is weary, hungry, covered with mud, and (due to his injured leg) in some pain. A gruff
officer notices Joey's condition and sends Joey off with a young man, who will make
sure that the new arrival is cleaned and cared for. Though still somewhat disoriented,
Joey listens to what this young man is saying and learns that his caretaker, in fact, is
Albert. The young man reveals—in the course of a conversation with another enlisted
man, David—that he had joined the veterinary corps in order to find Joey. David had
remained skeptical that Albert would succeed, but as Joey is cleaned, the two men
realize that they may be in luck. As the mud disappears, Joey's distinctive white
markings are revealed. Albert, astonished, uses one further measure—a distinctive owl
whistle call—to test and confirm Joey's identity. Finally, Joey and his master have
been reunited.
Analysis

Even in the midst of one of the most trying segments of his time at war, Joey finds a
new friend among his human handlers. This man, Friedrich, is something of an outsider
among the soldiers. Still, he develops a firm bond with the two horses, whom he
describes as "the only rational creatures I've met in this stupid war" (97). Such
comments call attention to the fundamental absurdity of the war; in fact, Friedrich's
entire demeanor is that of a man living in absurd times. True to this idea, he has
accepted his identity as "Crazy Old Friedrich," even though his kindly, peaceful
personality proves him to be anything but crazy.

Readers may sympathize with Friedrich's perspective even more after Topthorn's
death. This demise is not entirely unexpected: there have been signs all along that
Topthorn has been weakening, even as Joey has remained relatively strong. It is also
possible to take the death of Heine, another grand and powerful horse, as an event
that foreshadows Topthorn's own demise from over-work. Yet these facts do not
blunt the force of Friedrich's negative sentiments on war: war is a process that
destroys figures of nobility and beauty such as Topthorn.

Friedrich's death follows Topthorn's in extremely quick succession, offering a very

different comment on the pointlessness of war. The good-natured German is killed not
during battle, but rather at a time when he poses a threat to nobody and, in fact, is
trying to keep Joey out of harm's way. With this death, and with the events that
follow, War Horse explores the rapidity with which those involved in the war effort
can turn into unsuspecting victims. Joey's case, here, is especially striking. Abandoned
by the troops and deprived of his friends, he finds himself wandering a war zone
where his presence serves no purpose nor threat—and yet, he still is hounded by
danger.

Unlikely though Joey's odds of survival in No Man's Land may seem, he is saved by the
same impulse that has sustained him in other harrowing times—basic human decency.
When the two soldiers move to rescue Joey, they offer the strongest proof in the
novel that affection for horses transcends national and cultural differences. These
men also return to a theme that the departed Friedrich raised: the belief that war is
a matter of inhumane absurdity. As the German soldier who assists Joey notes, people
who communicate can arrive at arrangements by which "no one loses any pride, yes?
And everyone will be happy" (118). It is unknown whether either soldier survives, and it
is improbable that saving Joey caused the combat to truly abate: as the German also
observes, "In an hour, maybe, or two . . . we will be trying our best again each other to
kill" (119). Still, the scene of Joey's rescue is a reminder that War Horse is an
optimistic book: one that seeks to offer hope for human goodness even while recording
moments of brutality.

Hope of a different kind emerges when Joey, against all odds, is reunited with Albert.
This scene may seem improbable and wildly coincidental in a book that has mostly
detailed warfare in a hyper-realistic manner—one that was doing so only pages ago in
the nightmarish descriptions of No Man's Land. Still, it is a scene that is on-message,
indicating that some of the worst aspects of human nature—the savagery of a war
brought about by distant political calculations—are not all-powerful. Friendship has
sustained Joey and may get him home to England. In fact, there is still much suspense
left in War Horse: despite their reunion, Joey and Albert may