Private Peaceful
Published on Nov 18, 2015
Plot , characters and conflicts shown throughout the novel Private peaceful by Michael Morpurgo.
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PRESENTATION OUTLINE
Private Peaceful
Michael Morpurgo
This image is when Tommo and Charlie first hear about the war. This is relevant to Conflict number 1 because the war has started and this image represents that.
Plot
Tommo and Charlie Peaceful both fall in love with a girl names Molly.
Molly ends up with Charlie. This creates a conflict with Tommo and Charlie.
World war 1 starts and Charlie must go to war to keep their family cottage. Tommo, in anger of Charlie decides to join himself even when he doesn't have to.
Tommo gets injured in an explosion and Charlie saves him.
Because Charlie was saving Tommo he didn't follow the instructions of the Sergeant, in result the Sergeant gives him a punishment that breaks Tommos heart as him and his Brother now created a strong bond.
Characters
Tommo Peaceful
Youngest Brother, Soldier
Protagonist
- Shy compared to Charlie
- Loves his Big brother Charlie
- Not very Mature (changes throughout book)
Ally
" I learned soon enough that if you don’t want to get hurt you keep your head
down and you don’t answer back, particularly if the other fellow is bigger. But one day I
discovered that sometimes you've got to stand up for yourself and fight for what’s right,
even when you don’t want to"(Morpurgo 22).
Charlie Peaceful
Middle Brother, soldier, father
Protagonist
- Very mature
- Stands up for his family and friends
- Strong, never afraid
Hero
Mentor
“Piggyback?” says Charlie. He sees my eyes full of tears and knows how it is. Charlie
always knows how it is. He’s three years older than me, so he’s done everything and
knows everything. He’s strong, too, and very good at piggybacks"(Morpurgo 8).
Big Joe peaceful
- Eldest brother
- Protagonist
- Innocent
- Loves nature and Animals
- Mentally disabled
- Ally
"Big Joe doesn’t have to go to school and I don’t think that’s fair at all. He’s much older
than me. He’s even older than Charlie and he’s never been to school. He stays at home
with Mother, and sits up in his tree singing Oranges and Lemons, and laughing. Big Joe is
always happy, always laughing. I wish I could be happy like him" (Morpurgo 8).
Molly
Wife to Charlie, friend to the peaceful family
Protagonist
-Strong
- Friendly
- hard working
Ally
"So while she calls the roll Molly kneels down in front of me and does up my laces. She ties laces very differently from Charlie, delicately, more slowly, in a great loopy double
knot. She doesn't look up at me while she’s doing it, not once, and I wish she would. She
has hair the same colour as Billyboy, Father’s old horse chestnut brown and shining "and I want to reach out and touch it. Then she looks up at me at last and smiles:(Morpurgo 12).
Colonel
- Mayor of Iddesleigh, Devon, England
Antagonist
- disrespectful
- Stubborn
- Mean
Rebel
Big Joe always said hello, loudly, to everyone. It’s how he was. So when the Colonel rode by that evening, Big Joe called out hello, and proudly held up his trout to show him.
The Colonel trotted by as if he hadn’t even seen us. When he’d passed Charlie blew a noisy raspberry after him, and Big Joe did the same because he liked rude noises. But the
trouble was that Big Joe was enjoying himself so much blowing raspberries that he didn’t stop. The Colonel reined in his horse and gave us a very nasty look"(Morpurgo 21).
Sergeant Hanley
British Army Sergeant
Antagonist
- unfair
- Cruel toward everyone else
- disrespectful
Rebel
"As you can see, Sergeant, he’s been wounded. He can hardly walk, let alone run. I’m not leaving him. I’ll be staying with him. Don’t you worry about us, Sergeant, we’ll make our way back later when it gets dark. We’ll be all right.” “You miserable little worm, Peaceful.” The sergeant is threatening Charlie with his rifle now, the bayonet inches from Charlie’s nose and trembling with fury. “I should shoot you right where you are and save the firing squad the trouble"(Morpurgo 172).
Conflict 1: Molly
Person vs. Person
Charlie vs. Tommo
Charlie and Tommo fall in love with the same girl. This causes a conflict in between the Brothers. Eventually the conflict will get worse.
"Both of them being older than me, Molly by two years, Charlie by three, they always ran
faster than I did. I seem to have spent much of my life watching them racing ahead of
me, leaping the high meadow grass, Molly’s plaits whirling about her head, their laughter
mingling. When they got too far ahead I sometimes felt they wanted to be without me" (Morpurgo 43).
I think, without knowing it, I had always charted my own growing up by constant
comparison to Molly and Charlie. Day by day I was becoming ever more painfully aware
of how far behind them I was. I wasn’t just smaller and slower than they were — I had
never liked that, but I was used to it by now. The trouble was that it was becoming
evident to me that the gap between us was more serious, and that it was widening.
This conflict wasn't very apparent when both Charlie and Tommo were kids, but as they grew it became worse and worse. Molly was starting to be with Tommo, and Tommo quickly realized this. He partially understood because Charlie was three years older then him but still there was something in him that he couldn't explain because he still loved Molly. When Tommo and Charlie were all grown up, Tommo finds out that Molly is pregnant with Charlies baby. At first he doesn't talk to Charlie then he totally dislikes him.
comparison to Molly and Charlie. Day by day I was becoming ever more painfully aware
of how far behind them I was. I wasn’t just smaller and slower than they were — I had
never liked that, but I was used to it by now. The trouble was that it was becoming
evident to me that the gap between us was more serious, and that it was widening.
This conflict wasn't very apparent when both Charlie and Tommo were kids, but as they grew it became worse and worse. Molly was starting to be with Tommo, and Tommo quickly realized this. He partially understood because Charlie was three years older then him but still there was something in him that he couldn't explain because he still loved Molly. When Tommo and Charlie were all grown up, Tommo finds out that Molly is pregnant with Charlies baby. At first he doesn't talk to Charlie then he totally dislikes him.
Conflict affecting Tommo
The conflict between Tommo and Charlie affect Tommo in different ways as he ages. When Tommo was young he first realized how Molly loved Charlie more than him, this made him feel jealous, with a bit of anger. As he aged this began to make him very angry. In anger he decided to join Charlie in the army to fight against Germany. This decision made him a more mature as he learned to follow strict orders.
"“Those that are left, and there are not many now, have turned and are stumbling back, some throwing away their rifles. I feel a surge of triumph welling inside me, not because we have won, but because I have stood with the others. I have not run. ‘Y’ain’t a coward, are you?’ No, old woman, I am not, I am not” (Morpurgo 140).
relates to the old women that called him a coward and chicken early on in the book
Suddenly someone prodded me hard in the small of my back. It was a toothless old
lady pointing at me with her crooked finger. “Go on, son,” she croaked. “You go and fight.
It’s every man’s duty to fight when his country calls, that’s what I say. Go on. Y’ain’t a
coward, are you?”
All the anger and jealousy in Charlie eventually made him mature throughout the book. Chalie has to go to war to keep the Peaceful's cottage. Since Tommo was angry at him, he decided to join to, even when he didn't have to. In the war he get punished with orders and he learn to be more independent.
Suddenly someone prodded me hard in the small of my back. It was a toothless old
lady pointing at me with her crooked finger. “Go on, son,” she croaked. “You go and fight.
It’s every man’s duty to fight when his country calls, that’s what I say. Go on. Y’ain’t a
coward, are you?”
All the anger and jealousy in Charlie eventually made him mature throughout the book. Chalie has to go to war to keep the Peaceful's cottage. Since Tommo was angry at him, he decided to join to, even when he didn't have to. In the war he get punished with orders and he learn to be more independent.
Conflict 2:WW1 starts
Society vs. Society
This conflict is between England and all the other country's in the war
" Only one question to ask yourself about this war.
Who would you rather see marching through your streets? Us lot or the Hun? Make up
your minds"(Morpurgo 94).
This quotation are the words of the Colonel as he took a speech talking about the war. He explains that if they don't gather men to fight against the enemy. The enemy will come and attack them. This troubles people and causes many to join the war to fight.
I picked Society vs. Society as my conflict because wars are often between 2 or more(in this case) societies fighting because they couldn't agree on a certain thing amongst each other.
I picked Society vs. Society as my conflict because wars are often between 2 or more(in this case) societies fighting because they couldn't agree on a certain thing amongst each other.
Conflict affecting Both Charlie and tommo
When the War started tommo was first suprised because he thought War was something that you here but never believe that you'll witness. When Tommo and Charlie went to war they slowly became more mature. This mostly affected Tommo as he was not very mature before the war. Charlie, normally being mature really became a hero during the war, he did everything to make sure his brother would not get hurt or killed. resulting in a horrible punishement
The war didn't only affect Charlie and Tommo but all the soldiers that joined. It was cruel torture and in some cases suicide, but it had to be done to protect their own country.
Conflict 3:Charlies punishment
Person vs. Person
Sergeant Hanley vs. Charlie
"“Are you disobeying my order, Peaceful?” The sergeant is ranting like a man demented now.“No, I’m just letting you know what I think,” Charlie replies. “What we all think.”
“And I’m telling you, Peaceful, that if you don’t come with us when we go, it won’t just
be field punishment again. It’ll be a court martial for you. It’ll be the firing squad. Do you hear me, Peaceful? Do you hear me?” (Morpurgo 172).
This conflict really shows how cruel Sergeant Hanley was. Charlie dug up Tommo after an explosion, In the mean time Sergeant Hanley decided to make all the soldiers go up against large German machine guns, with their Lee-enfield rifles. In other words Sergeant Hanley sent out all the soldiers on a suicide mission. Since Tommo was injured from the explosion, Charlie decides to stay with him in a dugout. Sergeant Hanley sees this but still orders them to fight in this suicide mission. Charlie refuses as he wants to stay and help Tommo. The sergeant sees this as disobaying of orders and gives a horrible punishment to Charlie.
Conflict affecting Tommo
Near the end of the novel Tommo and Charlie become really good friends and Brothers, Tommo forgets about all the jealousy that he had for Charlie. But when Charlie gets his punishment, Tommo breaks down because of the strong relationship they made throughout the war.
Since Charlie stayed in the dugout to help Tommo, he got a horrible punishment, this causes Tommo to break down as he really respects his brother for saving him, this also causes Tommo to bcome more independent as he learned alot from his brother.
Conflict by the end
By the end of the novel the author seems to resolve one of the three conflicts. By for the other two, their unresolved in a way that really gives the reader a feeling of sadness and anger, which i think very good, as people are very used to happy endings.
"We grip hands across the table, put our foreheads together and close our eyes. I
manage to say what I've been wanting to say.
“You’re not worthless, Charlie. They’re the worthless ones. You’re the best friend I've
ever had, the best person I've ever known”( Morpurgo 181).
Theme statement
"Being fair will give one justice, But being unfair will give one consequences"
1.“Yes, Sergeant,” says Charlie. “I hear you. But the thing is, Sergeant, even if I wanted
to, I can’t go with you because I’d have to leave Tommo behind, and I can’t do that. As
you can see, Sergeant, he’s been wounded. He can hardly walk, let alone run. I’m not
leaving him. I’ll be staying with him. Don’t you worry about us, Sergeant, we’ll make our
way back later when it gets dark. We’ll be all right.”
“You miserable little worm, Peaceful.” The sergeant is threatening Charlie with his rifle
now, the bayonet inches from Charlie’s nose and trembling with fury. “I should shoot you
right where you are and save the firing squad the trouble.
2.Sixty-five minutes to go. How shall I live them? Shall I try to sleep? It would be useless to
try. Should I eat a hearty breakfast? I don’t want it. Shall I scream and shout? What
would be the point? Shall I pray? Why? What for? Who to?
No. They will do what they will do. Field Marshal Haig is God out here, and Haig has
signed. Haig has confirmed the sentence. He has decreed that Private Peaceful will die,
will be shot for cowardice in the face of the enemy at six o’clock on the morning of the
twenty-fifth of June 1916.
3.When I got back to camp yesterday afternoon I expected the sympathy and the long
faces and all those averted eyes I‘d been used to for days before. Instead I was greeted
by smiles and with the news that Sergeant Hanley was dead. He had been killed, they
told me, in a freak accident, blown up by a grenade out on the ranges.
The theme statement "Being fair will give one justice, But being unfair will give one consequences" relates the novel "Private Peaceful" because in the first quotation Sergeant Hanley is being unfair towards charlie, accusing him for court martial when all he was doing was helping his brother. Further on Sergeant Hanley gives a horrible punishment to Charlie even thought he was being unfair himself. As a consequence, Sergeant Hanley dies at the end of the Novel.
to, I can’t go with you because I’d have to leave Tommo behind, and I can’t do that. As
you can see, Sergeant, he’s been wounded. He can hardly walk, let alone run. I’m not
leaving him. I’ll be staying with him. Don’t you worry about us, Sergeant, we’ll make our
way back later when it gets dark. We’ll be all right.”
“You miserable little worm, Peaceful.” The sergeant is threatening Charlie with his rifle
now, the bayonet inches from Charlie’s nose and trembling with fury. “I should shoot you
right where you are and save the firing squad the trouble.
2.Sixty-five minutes to go. How shall I live them? Shall I try to sleep? It would be useless to
try. Should I eat a hearty breakfast? I don’t want it. Shall I scream and shout? What
would be the point? Shall I pray? Why? What for? Who to?
No. They will do what they will do. Field Marshal Haig is God out here, and Haig has
signed. Haig has confirmed the sentence. He has decreed that Private Peaceful will die,
will be shot for cowardice in the face of the enemy at six o’clock on the morning of the
twenty-fifth of June 1916.
3.When I got back to camp yesterday afternoon I expected the sympathy and the long
faces and all those averted eyes I‘d been used to for days before. Instead I was greeted
by smiles and with the news that Sergeant Hanley was dead. He had been killed, they
told me, in a freak accident, blown up by a grenade out on the ranges.
The theme statement "Being fair will give one justice, But being unfair will give one consequences" relates the novel "Private Peaceful" because in the first quotation Sergeant Hanley is being unfair towards charlie, accusing him for court martial when all he was doing was helping his brother. Further on Sergeant Hanley gives a horrible punishment to Charlie even thought he was being unfair himself. As a consequence, Sergeant Hanley dies at the end of the Novel.
