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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 does Linh try to teach Darrow?

2. What did Linh's father do for a living in Hanoi?

3. What does Bao require Linh to do?

4. What do Helen and Curt talk about on the way out of the field?

5. What does Helen give Chuong?

Short Essay Questions

1. What was Linh's life like before he was drafted into the army?

2. How does Helen survive in Saigon without Darrow?

3. How does Helen meet Annick and what happens when she does?

4. What happens to Linh after Helen leaves him and what does Linh think about the events of the day?

5. Who does Helen meet at the river and what do they discuss?

6. What happens when Linh meets his first American?

7. What does Helen do with her bags in the motel and why does she do it?

8. Why did Helen's brother go to Vietnam?

9. What happens when Helen and Linh arrive at the embassy?

10. What happens when Helen and Linh board a medical helicopter?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Often, authors will write about "what they know," and sometimes knowing a little about the author makes the books more interesting. Discuss the following:

1. Research and give a brief biographical sketch of Tatjana Soli.

2. What in Soli's background may have helped him in writing The Lotus Eaters? What may have influenced the way he depicts various characters and scenes?

3. Do you think there is always some of the author's own life in his/her novels? Why or why not? Give examples.

Essay Topic 2

Oftentimes, a book has more of a character-driven plot rather than action driven, and oftentimes the other way. Some books seem to balance the two. Discuss the following:

1. What do you think it means to say that a plot is character driven? Action driven?

2. How do you think a plot differs if it is character driven versus action driven?

3. Which type of plot do you find more interesting? Why?

4. Do you think it is possible to have a plot where action and character development share equal time? Why or why not.

5. What type of plot do you think The Lotus Eaters is? Explain your response.

Essay Topic 3

The Lotus Eaters belongs to the historical fiction genre. Discuss the following:

1. Define the literary term "genre" and give several examples of three other genres in addition to the historical fiction genre.

2. Discuss two reasons why it might be useful to label a text by genre and two reasons it might be disadvantageous to label a text by genre.

3. What do you think is the difference between a historical fiction and a mystery?

(see the answer keys)

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