The Silver Sword

Summary Chart

Author-Ian Serraillier
Type of Literature-Novel/Historical Fiction
Fiction/Non-Fiction-Fiction
Setting-World War II, Europe
Major Characters-Ruth, Edek, Bronia, Joseph, Margrit Balicki, Jan
Minor Characters-Jimpy, Bistro, Joe, etc....

Plot-This is the story of four childrens struggle to stay alive during World War II.
Theme-Never Give Up Your Dream
-War is very damaging to people, places, and things
-Families have to stick together and support and be loyal to one another

Conflict-The Balicki children were separated from their parents for many years during
the Nazi occupation.

Conflict Resolution-The children finally made their way to Switzerland to be re-united

with their parents.

Year that the novel was first published-1956

This novel is about the triumph of hope over despair.

Terms
Author-The writer of a composition
Setting-Where and when a story takes place
Historical Fiction-A story that is made up (fiction) but is centered around historical
events
Conflict-a problem in a story
Conflict Resolution-how the problem is resolved
Theme-What lesson or moral that the story is teaching
Plot-An outline of a story
Non-Fiction-A composition based upon facts and the authors opinions.
The Silver Sword
This novel is set during the time of World War 2. World War II began on
September 1st, 1939, when Germany attacked Poland. By 1942, all the major countries of
the world were involved in the most destructive war in history.

The war killed more persons, cost more money, damaged more property, affected
more people, and probably caused more far-reaching changes than any other war in
history. It ended in 1945.

The three major causes of World War II were:

1. The problems left unsolved by World War I.

2. The rise of dictatorship.
3. The desire of Germany, Italy, and Japan for more territory.

This novel, The Silver Sword, is about four children trekked across Europe, from
Poland to Switzerland, to find their parents after World War II.

This type of novel is called Historical Fiction because it is based upon historical fact
(the War), but the characters, incidences, etc. are fictional. (Untrue).
Chapter 1
1. Where and when does the story begin?

2. Identify the members of the family in the novel.

3. What was Josephs occupation?

4. Who had come for Joseph and when?

5. What did the Nazis order Joseph to do?

6. What would you have dome if you were Joseph?

7. In an atlas, locate Warsaw, Poland.

8. Describe Zakyna prison under the following headings.

a. Location

b. Prisoners

c. Size

d. Food

9. Why was Joseph Balicki put in solitary confinement?

10. How did Joseph escape from prison?

Chapter 2

1. Describe the appearance of the Village of Zakyana.

2. When Joseph escaped into Zakyna a German soldier demanded cigarettes. Joseph
did not respond to the soldier. Why?

3. Why did the German call Joseph, Karl? Did he know him?

4. The cart without wheels, Josephs hiding place, turned out to be what?

5. List three possible dangers that Joseph was facing in Chapter Two.

6. Vocabulary: A) Copy the sentence, from the novel, in which the word is found.

B) Choose the appropriate dictionary meaning.

i. tarpaulin-page 10

ii. aerial-page 10

iii. giddy-page 10

iv. revolver-page 10

v. holster-page 10

vi. descending-page 11

7. Give an example of comic relief (something humorous) from this chapter.

(Comic relief is used by authors to relieve tension experienced by the reader
during stressful scenes.)
Chapter 3
1. Who discovers Joseph?

2. What mark does Joseph bear?

3. How does he escape the soldiers?

4. Why didnt they search up in the fireplace?

5. How long did Joseph spend with the couple?

Chapter 4

1. How many days did it take Joseph to walk to Warsaw?

2. Describe Warsaw when he returned.

3. What simile is used here to describe the City of Warsaw?

4. What information did Mrs. Krause give Joseph?

5. What did she encourage Joseph to do?

6. What does Joseph find in the rubble? Describe it.

7. Describe the boy that Joseph meets.

Chapter 5 & Chapter 6
1. Vocabulary

a. Nazi-Pg. #36

b. Barracks-Pg. #38

c. distraught-Pg. #42

d. swine-Pg. #43

e. billeted-Pg. #43

2. What is the reason(s) Jan wont give Joseph his last name?

3. Why is Jan so protective of the kitten?

4. What promise did Jan make to Joseph?

5. Describe what had happened to Josephs family the night the Storm Troopers

arrived.

6. What happened to their home?

Chapter 7
1. Describe the childrens new home.

2. What simile is used to describe Edek?

3. How did the children manage to get their food?

4. What would happen if Edek let his age be known?

5. What does Ruth do to keep Bronia occupied?

6. Edek was one of the chief smugglers. Describe his activities.

7. What happens to Edek at the end of this chapter?

8. What will happen to Ruth and Bronia?

9. Compare the childrens city dwelling to their summer dwelling.

Vocabulary
A) Copy the sentence, from the novel, in which the word is found.
B) Choose the appropriate dictionary meaning for each.

1. sorely (pg. 35)

2. disclosing (pg.35)

3. scrounged (pg. 35)

4. queuing (pg. 36)

5. urchins (pg. 36)

6. wary (pg. 39)

7. cinders (pg. 40)

Chapter 8

1. What happened to Warsaw in January 1945?

2. How did the children meet Jan?

3. What was Jans cocks name?

4. What do you think is in Jans wooden box?

Vocabulary

1. defensive (page 42)

2. flogging (page 44)

Chapter 9

1. What do we learn about Ruth as a person when she goes to the Russian control

post?

2. What request does she make at the control post?

3. What kind of welcome did Ivan receive when he went to the bombed cellar?

4. What news did Ivan bring?

5. What do they call a truck?

6. Define-ragamuffin-page 67.

Chapter 10
1. What does Ruth now decide to do?

2. How far away is Posen?

3. What is Ivan like?

4. How does Ruth teach Jan a lesson?

5. What is a synonym for the word sentry?

Chapter 11
1. What season of the year was it when the Baliciki children left Warsaw?

2. Why do you suppose the author chose this season? What might the season

represent?

3. What did the children take with them?

4. Describe the appearance of the refugees.

5. How many days did it take them to reach Posen?

6. What news did they receive about Edek?

7. Write the sentence that contains the following words:

a. Haggard-p.60

b. Refugees-p.60

c. Derelict-p.61

8. Give dictionary meanings for the above words, as well.

9. How does chapter eleven conclude?

Chapter 12
1. How did Jan find himself in the middle of a scrum?

2. What happened to Jimpy the rooster?

3. Describe how Jan must have felt regarding the loss of his beloved Jimpy?

4. Have you ever lost a pet? If so, describe the experience.

5. Who appears at the end of the chapter?

Chapter 13 and Chapter 14
1. Give three reasons why you think that Jan is hostile towards Edek.

2. Do you think that Edek likes having Jan around? Why or Why not?

3. Where are the children living in chapter fourteen? Describe the living conditions

at the transit camp.

4. What caused an unexpected commotion at the camp?

5. Describe Bistro.

6. Why is Frozen Journey a good title for chapter thirteen?

7. Write the sentences from the chapters and find the appropriate meanings from the

dictionary.

a. Sniper-p.72

b. Monotonous-p.74

c. Encased-p.77

d. Dispersed-p.81

e. Antics-p.80
Chapter 15

1. How did Jan win over Bistro?

2. What did Bistro do as a sign of friendship towards Jan?

3. Who is the mother figure between the four children? What qualities best describe

this person?

Chapter 16
1. Why had they (the children) been held up for half a day?

2. Describe the action of the many soldiers that Ruth had seen?

3. How did Jan get a ride? What did he do?

4. Who picked up the other three children?

5. What did Jan receive as a reward for recapturing the chimp?

Chapter 17

1. Explain how you know that Edek is still sick?

2. How long id they plan to camp in the meadow by the millstream?

3. What did the two (Ruth and Jan) do to earn money?

4. What mystery was Edek trying to clean up?

5. What did Edek do to get himself into a scary situation?

Chapter 18
1. Who is Captain Greenwood?

2. What was Edek accused of doing?

3. Who appeared in the courtroom?

4. What request did Ruth make to the judge and why?

5. Why did Jan try to stop the train?

6. Explain what the line on page 114 if you steal it, you are robbing your own

people mean?

7. What sentence was placed on Jan? What terms did he accept?

Chapter 19
1. Where did Ruth, Jan, Edek and Bronia spend the night?

2. What reason did they give for not asking permission?

3. What did they offer, to the farmer, as pay for their nights lodgings?

4. What is a BURGOMASTER?

5. How did the farmers wife learn to speak Polish?

6. Explain why the farmer decided to make them work and not have a day of rest?

7. Do you think Ruth, Jan, Edek and Bronia will get caught and sent back to Poland?

Vocabulary Exercise Chapter 18/19

Instructions:

1. Copy the sentence from the novel.

2. Guess the meaning of the word.

3. Check the dictionary to see if you were correct!

DEFIANT-P.101
SULLENLY-P.102
CLOUT-P-104
INTERVENED-P.105
BOGEY-MAN-P.120
SPANNER-P.114
CASCADES-P.114
Chapter 20-The Silver Sword Questions
1. Where was the farm located?

2. List 3 things that you know about the Burgomaster?

3. What were the orders given to the Burgomaster by the American Troops?

4. What nickname was Jan given by the farmer?

5. Who did Jan make friends with in this chapter?

6. What happened to the farmers two sons? What were their names?

7. Is there anyone whom you fear, or try to hide from? Explain.

Chapter 21-The Silver Sword Questions

1. Why does the Burgomaster envy the farmer?

2. What did the farmer who the Burgomaster to prove that their parents were still

alive?

3. Where have many refugees been hiding since the war ended?

4. Why did the Burgomaster warn them not to try to escape?

Chapter 22-The Silver Sword

1. What did the farmer sometimes do when he felt depressed?

2. What plan did the farmer finally come up with to get the children safely away

from the Burgomaster?

3. What advice did the farmer give to help get them through the waters safely?

4. How did the farmer carry the canoes down the river?

5. What further advice was given by the farmer prior to departure?

6. Who was the unexpected passenger who joined the children on their journey?

Chapter 23 Questions-The Silver Sword

1. Why did Ruth want to moon to stay away?

2. Why did the children believe the lorries were stationed in the village?

3. Why did Ruth not hear the footsteps on the bridge?

4. Who was the man who shouted to the children?

5. What did Bronia see that gave them hope?

6. How did chapter 23 end? Was it a happy ending? Explain.

Chapter 24 Questions-The Silver Sword
1. What were they able to salvage (save) from the wrecked canoes?

2. Where did Jan leave the sword? Explain.

3. Why did Ruth want Jan to make a fire?

4. Explain why Jan thinks they are doomed?

5. Why did Ruth not run after Jan?

6. Write a Summary.

Chapter 25 Questions-The Silver Sword

1. Why was Ruth to tired to do anything as they drove in the truck to Switzerland?

2. What does Joe say is in the back of the truck?

3. What or who is really in the back of the truck?

4. What did Joe give Jan to try to calm him down?

5. What was Jans reaction when he saw the beautiful mountains of Switzerland?
Chapter 26 Questions-The Silver Sword

1. Why were the children not allowed to cross over to Switzerland?

2. What was the I.T.S?

3. What great news does Ruth finally receive?

4. Describe the childrens reaction when they heard the news that their father was

alive?

5. What do you think will happen in the next chapter?

Chapter 27 Questions-The Silver Sword

1. Why had Joseph Balickis attempt to speak with Ruth been unsuccessful?

2. What did Jan use to get the tangles out of his hair when the comb wasnt working

and his hair continued to remain tangled?

3. What name was given to the storm that day when the children crossed the stream

and it startled to thunder and lightning?

4. Why was Ruths head numb?

5. Why does Ruth say that Jan is selfish?

6. What decision did Jan make to prove he was beginning to grow up?
Chapter 28 Questions-The Silver Sword

1. Whose voice did Ruth hear from the back of the crowd?

2. What did Ruths father promise to show her if she stayed awake?

3. What was the last and best surprise that Joseph Balicki had for Ruth?

4. How did Ruths father find Ruths Mother?

5. List the items that were in Jans treasure box. (11 Items)

6. What was around Jans neck? Who did he give it to? And under what conditions?

Chapter 29 Questions-The Silver Sword

1. What was being built on a bare hillside in the Swiss canton of Appenzell?

2. What was the main purpose of the village?

3. Joseph Balicki and his wife were chosen to do what in the Village?

4. Which of the children was able to quickly adapt to the new lifestyle?

5. Who was less fortunate and continued to suffer?

6. What allowed Edek to grow better and get healthy again?

7. Who was the only person that Jan would truly listen to and how was he able to be

reached?

8. Were you happy with the way this book ended? Explain.
Vocabulary Development Chapters 25/26/27

Instructions:

A) Copy the sentence from the novel.

B) Write down the dictionary meaning.

Mutton-head-p.153

Truss-p.154

Disheartened-p.158

Grimace-p.164

Floundering-p.165
Writing Assignment Chapter 27-The Silver Sword

Write Joseph Balickis journal entry as he waits to call Ruth.

The Silver Sword Review Questions

1. This book is an example of Historical Fiction. What is Historical Fiction?

2. Where and when (setting) is the novel set?

3. Give a brief plot outline.

4. What is a major problem or conflict in the story?

5. What lesson or moral is the author trying to put forth? (Theme)

6. Is this novel fiction or non-fiction?

7. Name the major characters.

8. Rate the novel on a scale of 1-10 and explain your score.

9. What did you like and dislike about the book? Would you have changed

anything?

10. Name a part that you particularly liked.

11. Which character would you choose to hangout with? Why?