I Am David

Answer the following questions on a separate sheet of paper in as

complete answers as possible.

Chapter 1

1. List 3 things we learn about life in the camp.

2. How is “the man” described?
3. How does David feel about “the man”?
4. Why do you think “the man” doesn’t have a name?
5. What are the man’s instructions to David?
6. What is the one thing that David asks the man for?
7. What is significant about this request?
8. What items are contained in the bundle left for David?
9. Why did David decide to walk rather than run away from the camp?
10. Why do you think the sailor did not take David to the captain?
11. Does Johannes remind you of another character in another book?
12. Why must David not allow himself to think?

Chapter 2

1. What does David do in the first few pages of Chapter 2?

2. What thought gives David a “good warm feeling of strength
And freedom”? Why does this make him feel so good?
3. Describe the hiding place that David finds.
4. What new food does David find?
5. What rule had the prisoners made for themselves regarding food?
6. List 3 things David feels are in his favour.
7. What does David realize he is ignorant of, that would be very helpful?
8. Why would a mirror be interesting for David?
9. What does David realize he must have.
10. What do we learn about who was put into the labour camps?
11. Whom can we assume ”they” is referring to?
12. What does David realize about people when he goes into the town?
13. What did David learn from his stay in the town?
 Chapter 3

1. Why did David change his mind and start travelling during the day?
2. What does David decide he must have? What precipitates this
decision? How does he make the choice?
3. What is one thing David prays about? What effect does saying this
prayer have on David?
4. Why does David not let the English couple know he spoke English?
What two assumptions had the man made?
5. How did David come to be offered money? Why does he refuse it?
6. Why did David think the English woman didn’t want to let him go?
Why do you think she didn’t?
7. Why is David interested in whether or not England has a king or
queen?
8. Why do you think people looked put out when David didn’t return their
smile?
9. What is significant about David finding a mirror?
10. Why did David try to forget that he wanted a new piece of soap?
11. p. 65 “Unless of course your wife thinks I want to keep her can…”
Why is this significant?
12. Why does the American couple go red in the face when David asks
them to watch his bundle?
13. What is David’s greatest fear? What is yours?
14. David mentions freedom a number of times. What does being free
allow you to do? Why would that be so important to David?
15. Can you find one example of symbolism in this chapter? Explain it……
 Chapter 4

Prereading: Happiness is……. (sounds like, looks like, feels like…).

Write a brief paragraph.

1. What two beautiful things does David encounter at the beginning of the
chapter?
2. Why does David refuse to fight with the boy?
3. Why is David more afraid of children than of adults?
4. Briefly describe the rescue.
5. Why does David not ask God for help when he’s rescuing the girl from the
fire?
6. What is the difference between joy and happiness?
7. Was God pleased with David? How do we know?
8. How do we know that Maria likes David? (a minimum of three things)
9. According to Johannes, why was politeness important? What do you
think? Is it important? Why/why not?
10. List three things in the house that fascinate David.
11. Discuss what seems to be very important to David. Are they important
to you?

Chapter 5

1. Why could David not be an ordinary boy? What was stopping him?
2. What was David’s assessment of Carlo? Was David right? What kind of
a boy/person was Carlo? Why did David not forgive or associate with Carlo?
3. Who is telling the story? What is the “point of view”? What impact does
this have on the reader?
4. What is David afraid of in this chapter?
5. Who is correct in their assessment of David…..Giovanni or Elsa?
6. How did David not let Elsa love him? What did he do to stop her?
7. How do you think Elsa and Giovanni reacted to David’s letter?
8. Who is David? Describe him the way you described yourself in “I am …”
9. Why did David not look back at Maria as he left? What does this show?
 Chapter 6

1. According to chapter 6, what does David say he learned from his stay in
the house?
2. Why does David think a church would be a friendly place? Who does he
think he might meet there?
3. While talking to the priest, what does David learn about God?
4. Why had David known all along that he was strange and wrong?
5. Why would David enjoy setting a table?
6. How would you have felt if you were David and you read the letter in the
newspaper? How did David feel?
7. Why does David no longer care? Does this new attitude have any
advantages? Disadvantages?
8. Why does Sophie not argue with David? Why does she not try to
convince him that “you always go on hoping that one day you’ll manage it”?
9. David realizes he was happier before he lived in the house. Why?
10. What does David learn while living with the painter?
11. What does it mean to have a “broken spirit”? Is David’s spirit broken?
12. p. 147 “sorrow” – explain how “sorrow” is personified.

Chapter 7

1. Why does David no longer want to die?

2. According to Johannes, why should one always assume
responsibility when things go wrong?
3. What is the difference between evil and stupid? Which is
worse…..to be evil or stupid? Why?
4. Black and white versus grey….what was David’s assessment of
a)“the man”
b)Carlo,
c) the farmer and his family?
*Support with examples from the book.
5. Write a letter David would write to Carlo. Use proper letter
writing format.

6. Responses: Choose one…..

a)being very cold…..
b)trapped,
c)huge coincidences.
d)your choice
Have a great intro followed by a connection from the book to your
response.

Chapter 8

1. p. 173 Why, after Graf asks David if he’s run away from his
parents, does he say, “The truth, David!”?
2. David lies. Is he a bad person because he lies?
3. Why does David speak politely and quietly to King?
4. p. 174 Explain how “David was to learn his mistake,” is an
example of foreshadowing.
5. Why, this time, did David decide he would run…..what would
make him run? What would the result be?
6. Why is David so tired?
7. Why is it even more important that David find the woman?
8. How do you think David’s mother recognized him so easily?
9. Write a response of your choice…noting the connection to the
book. (a paragraph)
10. Write a critique of the book. (a paragraph)

You are to answer the above questions in as complete answers as

possible.....explaining/supporting what you say. The questions will
help you think about what you’re reading, understand and analyse
various elements of fiction such as character and plot.

Answer on a separate sheet of paper, handwritten or typed. The

final copy will be typed. You do not need a rough draft. You will
be evaluated on the completeness and depth of your answers.

The assignment is due Wednesday, May 25.

The deadline has been changed to Thursday, June 2.