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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. Who is the last man Banning meets in his group?

2. Whose funeral does Koffler attend?

3. What is missing from Koffler's car when he goes looking for Daphne?

4. To what rank is Lewis about to be promoted?

5. On what situation is Holcomb given a briefing?

Short Essay Questions

1. What do Barbara and Ernie do the day before Barbara ships out? What are Barbara's plans and how do they change?

2. What happens when Galloway meets Ward and Schneider at the Officer's Club at Quantico?

3. What does Jane Marwood tell Barbara her new orders are and how much does she know about them?

4. Why does Banning meet with Eric Feldt and what happened at that meeting?

5. What about the military does MacArthur and Pickering discuss when they first meet?

6. Who does Barbara see when she goes into Pickering's sitting room? What does Pickering suggest?

7. What does Pickering ask of Knox for Banning's group and what does he forbid Banning to do? Why does he forbid it?

8. To what is Ellen promoted and what happens when Pickering comes to her hotel room?

9. How does the jump with Koffler and Howard go?

10. Where does Pickering see his son and what do they talk about?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Griffin is masterful in his description of battles and life in general for a soldier during the second world war. Discuss one of the following:

1. Trace and analyze Griffin's descriptive passages about life as a soldier. How does he use descriptions of the five senses to make the reader feel s/he is there? Do you find his descriptions compelling? Seemingly accurate? How would Counterattack be different if Griffin did not include such descriptive passages?

2. Analyze Griffin's descriptive passages about the social structure of the times and discuss what you think it would be like to be a person of wealth and/or privilege such as Pickering, or Fowler. Contrast that to the lives of those who are in a lower social strata such as Koffler or Howard to one in service to someone of wealth and/or privilege.

3. Describe and analyze Griffin's descriptive passages about the topographical setting and the physical descriptions of the people. Does Griffin do an adequate job of actually making the reader "see" the land or sea where the action is taking place? How about getting a visual image of the characters? How does the descriptions of the setting add to the novel? Do you like having an idea of how a character looks? How would the novel be different without such descriptions?

Essay Topic 2

The military way of life is in and of itself similar to a distinct culture. Understanding how the military is organized, how it operates, and its basic rules of conduct will make any novel that centers on the military more understandable and enjoyable. Discuss one of the following:

1. Describe and analyze the military structure during the time of Counterattack. What is rank? What is the difference between officers and enlisted men? How serious is it to disobey an order? What happens if one decides he does not like being in the military and walks away? How are men drafted?

2. Compare the infantry of Counterattack to that in modern times in for the United States. What are the similarities? The differences? Are the changes from those times improvements? Why or why not? (This question will require some research).

3. Discuss why you think the military has the following: uniforms, a rank structure of Officers and Enlisted, strict discipline, training for new recruits, court martial, and different types of companies (i.e., rifle, Cavalry, artillery, etc). Discuss why you think men (and nowadays women) choose to become professional soldiers.

Essay Topic 3

Though this novel is probably more action driven rather than character driven, obviously there are several characters who make the novel what it is. Discuss one of the following:

1. Compare/contrast the characters of Koffler and Howard. Include their goals, sense of honor, abilities, and social skills.

2. Compare/contrast the characters of Stecker and Pickering.

3. Thoroughly analyze the character of Knox discussing both his strong and weak points and how both affect the outcome of the plot.

(see the answer keys)

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