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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. Why does Mandella find it difficult to understand his troops?

2. What kind of people now inhabit Earth?

3. What planet is Mandella's brother living on?

4. What happens to the metal rod when Mandella passes it through the shield?

5. What is the pill called that the troops take in this chapter?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is Mandella's mother's condition when he arrives back in Washington in Chapter 11, Part 2?

2. Why are there no Help Wanted ads in the newspaper?

3. Summarize The Forever War story.

4. What is Mandella's problem with Hilleboe in Chapter 3, Part 3?

5. How does Graubard die?

6. What does Mandella do immediately upon arriving at Stargate?

7. What do Marygay and Mandella decide on the phone in Chapter 9, Part 2?

8. How has Mandella's mother's life changed since he last saw her?

9. Why can Mandella's company be called test tube babies?

10. How do Marygay and Mandella think the war has changed the world?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The Forever War is written in the first person and with Haldeman as narrator. Why do you think Haldeman chose to write the story in the first person? How do you think the meaning of the story would have changed if it were written in the third person? What difference does it make it make to the story that Haldeman is one of the characters?

Essay Topic 2

The Forever War is part of the science fiction genre.

1) What are the conventions of the science fiction genre in terms of character, language and plot?

2) In what way did The Forever War help to set the template for similar novels? Do modern novels still use the ideas used in The Forever War?

Essay Topic 3

Look at the structure of the novel.

1) How does Haldeman use character and dialogue to drive the narrative?

2) Discuss elements of the narrative structure: exposition, conflict, complication, climax, resolution and conclusion. Do all the elements make for a logical and linear story? How does the story's structure express the novel's themes?

3) Aside from the main character, examine the way Haldeman uses the other characters in the story. When does he introduce and take them away from the story? What effect does it have?

(see the answer keys)

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