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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. Chapter 12 What kind of a childhood did Phony have?

2. What do four hippies sitting outside a restaurant call Gilliland?

3. Why does Goodrich decide to be in Bagger's team?

4. Which member of Snake's platoon loses his leg?

5. What news does the patrol read about in a newspaper from home?

Short Essay Questions

1. How do Senator's college friends find ways to avoid the draft?

2. What is the main reason Ronnie enlists in the Marines?

3. What does Speed suggest to Senator when Senator asks where he should go to resign from the Marines?

4. Describe Dan's family and what becomes of them?

5. What does Gilliland tell Hodges about the attitude of the civilians back in the States?

6. What does Major Otto tell Hodges about the bush?

7. What is the Black Shack used for?

8. Explain the circumstances when Bagger enlists in the Marines.

9. What does Hodges consider unfair when he confronts the enemy in the village?

10. What kind of childhood did Phony experience?

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) Interpret examples of human weakness and heroism depicted in the novel.

2) Cite examples of how each is valid with regard to the fear and danger each character encounters.

3) How realistic is Webb in his descriptions of these human qualities?

Essay Topic 3

1) What role does racism play in the novel?

2) Explain the relevance of the Black Shack and the effect it has on both the white and black soldiers.

3) Describe the unrest that racism causes between white and black men fighting and relying upon one another in battle.

4) Specifically, analyze the moral dilemma that Cannonball faces because of racism during the war.

(see the answer keys)

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