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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 the Sergeant's reaction to Dan's opinion of the operation?

2. How do Mitsuko and Hodges spend the day before he leaves for active duty?

3. What does Hodges read into the look that Kersey gives him about the attack on the OP?

4. How does Goodrich pour out the agony he has felt for months?

5. What is the condition of Snake's mother's home?

Short Essay Questions

1. How do Goodrich's parents welcome him back home?

2. What is the reaction of Hodges' son when Mitsuko takes him to see his father's memorial?

3. What does Snake do when he sees Senator in the hole?

4. What does Hodges' mother do with the flag and gold medal she receives that Hodges earned while in the war?

5. What is Bagger's reaction to Senator's insulting song about Hodges?

6. What does Hodges do when he is released from the Japanese hospital?

7. What effect does sitting in the rain have on Hodges' men?

8. What does Goodrich see hanging from the helicopter that passes above him?

9. Why does a three star General arrive at Hodges' platoon?

10. How is Senator wounded in the cemetery?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

1) Analyze Bobby Hodges' personality and emotional changes throughout the novel.

2) What fears and emotions does he experience as he grows during his time in Vietnam?

3) How do his attitudes change as he develops from a civilian to an experienced soldier?

4) Cite examples of the character changes Hodges goes through from different scenes in the novel.

Essay Topic 2

1) Analyze Goodrich's final acts in the story.

2) Was his character still misunderstood in the end? Justify the answer with examples from the story.

3) What alternatives did he have at the climax of the story?

Essay Topic 3

1) Write an introduction to the novel discussing James Webb's writing style, use of dialogue, irony, imagery, and point of view of the characters.

2) How do these literary elements affect the story?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 575 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample