View a FREE sample

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

Short Answer Questions

1. What does Joe do when he sees Christ in the desert?

2. What month and year was Joe injured?

3. What occurs to Joe about vibrations and moving?

4. What does Flannigan say will happen if Joe sticks with her?

5. Joe loses track of everything but what?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Joe feel a dread about time and what does he think he needs to do?

2. What happens to Joe in his third year in the hospital?

3. Why does Bonham lose track of everything and what does he do?

4. How does Joe think of Kareen and what does he wonder about her?

5. What does Bonham realize he wants?

6. How does the prostitute that Joe thinks he loves handle the situation?

7. Why can't Bonham stand the train and what does he do when he sees Christ?

8. What is the response to Joe's offer and Joe's reaction?

9. What does the little guy waiting for the train with Joe say? How does Joe answer him? What do they do then?

10. What is Bonham's initial thought when asked what he wants and why do you think this is so?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

War is one of the most common occurrences in the history of humankind. Discuss one of the following:

1. Analyze how Joe feels about WWI. Are his feelings typical of others in the book? Are his beliefs about the war justifiable? Explain with examples.

2. Does your belief about WWI change as you read this book? What about your beliefs about war in general? Explain with examples from the text and your own experience.

3. Many resources throughout the ages have been used in the pursuit of war-related activities. Does the war in this book justify the loss of life and resources? Why or why not? Does any war justify the same?

Essay Topic 2

One of the obvious themes in this book is that of helplessness. Obviously, in Joe's condition, he is totally helpless in a way that most cannot even imagine. Discuss one of the following:

1. Trace and analyze the theme of helplessness throughout the book, using examples from the text.

2. The opposite of helplessness is power--personal power in this case. Compare and contrast the theme of helplessness to the theme of personal power as it appears in the book.

3. How do you think you might be able to gain personal power in a situation such as Joe's? Is there a situation in your life in which you feel helpless? How can you gain some personal power in that situation?

Essay Topic 3

Bonham recalls much of his life, and in a sense, writes a "memoir" in his mind. One aspect of a memoir is the idea of memory. Discuss the following:

1. How accurate do you think Joe's recall is about specific incidents in his life? Explain.

2. Do you think Joe is more or less likely to remember his past considering his present situation? Explain your reasoning.

3. Does recalling his life help Joe remain self-aware? Why or why not? Why would he want to remain self aware?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,182 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample