What were the horses used for during the first battle? They were used as calvary to carry soldiers in battle during the war.

MAJOR THEMES: War Horse touches on many themes including love, loyalty, the human-animal bond, loss, grief, anger, pain, bravery, desire for revenge, the uselessness of war, separation, excitement, survival and identity, leaving a small town to fight in another country, and universal suffering.

This book’s simple vocabulary makes it accessible to kids from age 10, but there is a good deal of violence and death in War Horse.

a veteran, as a soldier or politician, of many struggles and conflicts. a musical composition, play, etc., that has been seen, heard, or performed excessively.

The Sunday Times points out: “The star of Spielberg’s film [War Horse] is fictional. The horse, Warrior, remains the true equine hero of 1914-1918.” The true story is more epic than the Spielberg feature film.

The movie War Horse is a 2011 American war film directed and co-produced by Steven Spielberg, based on Michael Morpurgo’s 1982 novel of the same name. The Sunday Times points out: “The star of Spielberg’s film [War Horse] is fictional. The horse, Warrior, remains the true equine hero of 1914-1918.”

It conveys the appalling destruction and waste that happen in war without implying specific blame. Of course, there is some sentimentality in the book because the bond between the boy and his horse is very loving and because a good story about war always carries a wealth of emotion around survival.

A warhorse is often called a battle steed. They are typically large, strong horses with good stamina. The first War Horses were bred in England during the Middle Ages. The primary use of these horses was as cavalry mounts for heavily armored knights.

Speed, alertness, endurance, and intelligence are the desired traits of a warhorse. Arabian horses were bred to have all of them. Services in War: Arabian horses were used for hunting, carrying warriors, and pulling chariots in war.

Emilie (played by C’eline Buckens) is a weak little girl who is ill. She lives only with her grandfather on their farm in France after her parents and brother are killed in the war. Unfortunately, Emilie dies in the end due to her terminal illness.

Because somebody else wanted the horse and he wanted to prove that he could buy it. Why did Albert name his horse Joey? What did Joey do to Albert’s father that could have gotten him shot or sold? He kicked him because he was going to whip him.

Give each student an index card. Instruct groups to work together to summarize the play War Horse in writing, one sentence on each index card. Groups will have to work together to determine how to summarize in a specific number of sentences. Allow them to use the lesson for guidance.

Originally published in 1983, War Horse was a runner up for the Whitbread Award. Michael Morpurgo lives in Devon, England with his wife, Clare. For more information, visit: www.michaelmorpurgo.com. BOOK STATS Grade Level Equivalent: 5–8 Ages: 10+ Lexile Measure®: 1090L Pages: 176 Genre:

Joey’s first duty is in a cavalry division but with new technologies and warfare practices, the armies on both sides begin to use the horses differently. Joey experiences the harsh realities of war just as the soldiers do on the front line.

Originally published in 1983, War Horse was a runner up for the Whitbread Award. Michael Morpurgo lives in Devon, England with his wife, Clare. For more information, visit: www.michaelmorpurgo.com. BOOK STATS Grade Level Equivalent: 5–8 Ages: 10+ Lexile Measure®: 1090L Pages: 176 Genre: Historical Fiction