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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 Point of View perspective is the first Part written from?

2. What terrain does most of the war take place in?

3. What is Kien's job at the start of The Sorrow of War, while he is in the transport truck?

4. What does Kien think writing will achieve for him?

5. What happens between Hien and Kien?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Kien do after burning the manuscript?

2. Why does the transport truck driver wake him up at the end of Part 1?

3. What side is Kien on during the War?

4. How does Kien’s writing help him psychologically?

5. Who is Hanh?

6. Why does Kien and Phuong's relationship turn sour after they reunite?

7. Why does Kien think about executing the North Vietnamese commandos?

8. What did Kien remember feeling before the onset of war?

9. Where is Hanoi?

10. What does Kien try to do to his manuscript that alarms his neighbors so much?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

It could be reasoned that Kien avoids, yet hungers for human contact. Explain with details.

Essay Topic 2

Identify three major themes of the story. How are they expressed in the character of Kien?

Essay Topic 3

Why does Kien write after the war? What does Kien hope to achieve with his writing? How is Kien’s writing helpful to him?

(see the answer keys)

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