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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What is Eugene hiding behind in the prostitute's room?

2. How long a march does Toomey say he's taking the soldiers on?

3. Who does the prostitute live with?

4. Who does Toomey confine to the barracks for the weekend?

5. What percent of Toomey's overseas outfit does he say died?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Carney decide not to visit the prostitute?

2. How does Eugene convince Daisy to kiss him?

3. What does Hennessey's fantasy say about his character?

4. What punishment does Toomey promise if Epstein doesn't complete his duty to Toomey's standards?

5. What does Daisy have to abstain from because of the religious holiday?

6. What does Daisy tell Eugene she will always know, if he winds up with another girl?

7. What does Epstein object to about Toomey's style?

8. What keeps Eugene from defending Arnold Epstein?

9. What does Eugene say about his feelings at the end of Act 2, Scene 8?

10. What does Toomey want from the soldiers?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss confrontation in the play.

1) Epstein isn't afraid to confront the other characters, while Eugene tends to be non-confrontational. Why do the two characters take these different attitudes? What are the dangers and benefits of Epstein and Eugene's attitudes toward confrontation?

2) Which of the soldiers are willing to be confrontational toward Toomey, in what circumstances, and why? What does this say about the soldiers?

3) How does being confrontational personally relate to one's ability to be a soldier in the play?

Essay Topic 2

BILOXI BLUES is a story of soldiers in boot camp, and so it is a primarily male story. However, there are two significant female characters, and women play an important role in the soldiers' lives. Discuss the play's portrayal of women.

1) Compare Rowena to Daisy. What aspects of womanhood do they represent?

2) Why does Eugene fall for Daisy? What characteristics does he admire in her?

3) Are the portrayals of women in the play realistic? Are the women well-developed characters? How do the soldiers view women?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the play as a coming-of-age story.

1) How does Eugene mature during the course of the play? What knowledge, experience, and understanding about the world does he gain?

2) In what ways is boot camp a rite of passage that serves as a transition from childhood to adulthood?

3) How is Eugene's visit to the prostitute a rite of passage? What other rites of passage are there in the play?

(see the answer keys)

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