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This test consists of 5 short answer questions and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What is Eugene doing at the beginning of the scene?

2. How long does Daisy have to talk to a boy at the dance?

3. What lesson does Eugene say he's learned?

4. How do the boys feel about Toomey after four weeks with their new sergeant?

5. Why does Daisy resist Eugene's advance on her?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

BILOXI BLUES is a story of soldiers in boot camp, and so it is a primarily male story. However, there are two significant female characters, and women play an important role in the soldiers' lives. Discuss the play's portrayal of women.

1) Compare Rowena to Daisy. What aspects of womanhood do they represent?

2) Why does Eugene fall for Daisy? What characteristics does he admire in her?

3) Are the portrayals of women in the play realistic? Are the women well-developed characters? How do the soldiers view women?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the culture of the army in the play.

1) What does the army expect from its soldiers? What type of discipline, regulations, and values does the army promote?

2) Why is army food bad, and why are the soldiers required to eat all of their food?

3) The army brings together many different men from different cultures. How does the diversity of soldiers contribute to the culture of the army? Does it cause conflict? Does it have any benefits?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss humor in the play.

1) How do the characters use humor in their interactions? How do they use humor as insults? How does humor form part of their friendship?

2) In what ways does the author use humor in the play? How does the author combine serious issues such as prejudice and war with humor?

(see the answer keys)

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