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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 item has Luther gone in search of on the island?

2. What item does Bloody Mary sell to Americans?

3. What holiday is approaching in "Wine for the Mess at Segi"?

4. Why do the men create serious pranks during this time?

5. Who raids the Barzan plantation demanding the return of all American goods?

Short Essay Questions

1. What are the conditions that have the Seabees overworked and frazzled?

2. How does the chaplain compare the pig ceremony to some aspects of Christianity and how it goes against the American practices of consumption?

3. Who is Bloody Mary and how did she get her name?

4. What concerns does Lt. Pearlstein have about a ravine and a coral hill on Konora?

5. How is Captain Kelley compared to Captain Bligh of the Bounty?

6. Why do Bus and Tony want to make a stop on the island of Luana Pori?

7. How does Joe lie when the men talk about becoming intimate with native girls?

8. How does Dr. Paul Benoway decide on not censoring Timothy Hewitt's letters to his wife?

9. What is the sacred pig ceremony that the men partake in?

10. What outrageous situation do the men encounter as they attempt to make their final landing in the beat-up aircraft?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Michener is a master at dramatic devices. Choose an example of symbolism, metaphors, and irony, briefly describe them and identify the technique which they embody.

Essay Topic 2

Michener writes most of these stories with a subliminal theme of the fear of death. Choose three characters from any of the stories and give their views on death. Are they afraid? Do they live in denial? How do they approach it?

Essay Topic 3

What is the overall setting for the majority of the book? Be sure to include geography, time period and any pertinent popular culture events. Why did Michener feel compelled to tell the stories from this time and place?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,047 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample