Challenges faced by the characters (mr.

kilmer)

Additional points:
 Challenges are part of the one’s existence in the world.
 To face life obstacle, we must be strong in mind and spirit.

Richard faces many challenged from the beginning. Firstly, he is forced to go

hunting. His father wants him to shoot the first deer. But he dislikes killing
animals because he believes that he has no right to kill the deer. He then lifts
his barrel to miss the deer and let the deer escapes. When his father asks him
to do so, he told his father the truth and stand up by his principles. His father
knows his principles and says that he does not have to go hunting anymore if
he does not to do so.

Moreover, he also faces challenges as he sees discrimination and prejudice. He

sees discrimination in school when the students in school are mean to
Hannah, labelling her as a ‘Dirty Hun’. Furthermore, the people in the village
vandalise the Schermer’s tavern just because they are Germans. Richard
cannot support and tolerate this prejudice and injustice.

Furthermore, he also faces challenges in school. No one wants to be his friend

because he is willing to be different and sign the cards for Schermers. He also
declines the role of Doughboy because of Hannah’s decision. He also face
bullies in school. When faced with bullying, he shows the strength as he
physically overcomes both Abner and Harry in a fight. We see him as strong
and brave in this incident.

Besides, his other challenge is to let people know that he writes poetry. He
does not want other people to find out that he writes poetry. His family does
not support his idea to write poetry. His brother even goes as far as to tell him
not to let other people know about it. His father later says that poetry has
given him funny ideas. In his letter to Joyce Kilmer, he tells him of his
dilemma. Kilmer then advises him to be brave and let people know.