War Horse

Questions

Chapter 1
1. Describe Albert’s feelings when he saw the new horse. What did he wish for him?
2. How did Albert treat Joey that night he was brought?
3. Why had father brought the colt?
4. Why was he called Joey?
5. What were the ideas of the father about horses?

Chapter 2
1. Where on the farm did Albert begin training Joey?
2. Which hobby was Albert proud of?
3. Why did Joey lash out at Albert’s father?
4. What did dad say that he would have done to Joey?
5. What bet did Albert’s father’s friends have?
6. What news did dad hear from the postman?
7. Why was Albert away on Tuesday?
8. What did he do to Joey before he left home?
9. What were the two reasons why father wanted to train Joey to plough?
10. Why was Albert so thrilled about the war?

Chapter 3
1. What had Joey noticed during his last summer on the farm?
2. What was causing Albert’s father to worry?
3. Why wasn’t Albert’s father soldiering in France?
4. Why was Joey suspicious of Albert’s father when he came to the farm?
5. Why was Albert complaining against father?

Chapter 4
1. Why was Joey happy to be led out?
2. What did Joey see in the village for the first time once he was with Albert?
3. Who bought Joey for the army?
4. Where was Joey led for his examination?
5. How much was he sold for?
6. Why did Albert want to join the army?
7. When did Joey see Albert’s father as a likeable man? Why?
8. Why couldn’t Albert join the army? What did he promise Joey?
Chapter 5
1. Why did Joey miss the work back at home though it was hard?
2. Describe Joey’s new rider and why do you think Joey hated him?
3. Why did Captain Nicholls meet Joey often?
4. What did Joey want to tell Captain Nicholls?
5. What did Joey and Captain Nicholls have in common?
6. What advice did Captain Nicholls give the Corporal Samuel Perkins about training
Joey?
7. How did Joey feel about Topthorn at first?

Vocabulary
Chapter 1

Scampered - run with quick, light steps, through fear or excitement.

Gangling - tall, thin and awkward in movements.

Auction - a public sale in which goods or property is sold to the highest bidder.

Wrenched - pull or twist

Rumbled - make a continuous, deep sound.

Hauled - pull.

Deliberately - intentionally/on purpose.

Intrigued - arouse the curiosity.

Obstinate - stubborn.

Bidding - the offering of particular prices for something.

Chapter 2

Yearling - an animal that is an year old.

Gawkishness - dumsy, awkward, ungainly, graceless.

Thistly - prickly plant.

Lunging - jump/rush.

Stuttering - spoken in a hesitant or irregular way.

Mollycoddled - treat in an overprotective way/pamper.

Brook - Noun: a small stream.

Rudiment - basic skills.

Thatching - cover with straw or similar material.

Chapter 3

Foreboding - a feeling that something bad will happen; feaeful apprehension.

Mortgage - an agreement between you and a lender that gives the lender the right to
take your property if you fail to repay the money you’ve borrowed plus
interest.

Vehemently - a forceful, passionate or intense manner with great feeling.

Pique - a feeling of irritation or resentment resulting from a slight, especially to one’s

Arbitrating - judgement or settlement.

Sows and gilts - Gilts: young adult female pigs that have not yet produced or litter of
piglets. (called furrowing)
Sows: adult female pigs that have furrowed one or more litters.

Inevitable - certain to happen, unavoidable.

Conceded - admit or agree that something is true after first denying or resisting it.

Inquisitveness - curious.

Piggery - a farm where pigs are bred or kept.

Chapter 4

Pounding - repeated and heavy breathing.

Exaggerating - represent something as being larger/better or worse than it was.

Fetlocks - a tuft of hair on the back of the leg above the hoof of a horse or a similar
animal.

Recruiting - to enroll/hire/employ.

Pronounced - declared.
Cavalry - soldiers who fought on horseback.

Artillery - large caliber guns used in warfare on land.

Placid - calm/not easily upset or excited.

Yeomanry - a group of men who held and cultivated small landed estates.

Chapter 5

Resented - hated/feeling bitterness or indignation of.

Manoeuvres - military training/a movement or series of moves requiring skills and

Snagged - a catch or tear (something) on a sharp projection.

Trepidation - a feeling of fear or anxiety about something that may happen.

Instinctively -automatically, spontaneously.

Consolation - comfort.

Sabres - a heavy cavalry sword with a curved blade and a single cutting edge.

Unerring - unfailing/always right or accurate.

Bugle calls -military signals.

Plodded - walk with heavy steps/work slowly and perseveringly at a dull task.