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

Short Answer Questions

1. What does Daisy resist Eugene doing?

2. What evidence does Wykowski cite to accuse Epstein of being the escaped soldier?

3. What fantasy does Toomey have?

4. What does Eugene say happened to his locker key?

5. Why does Eugene say he comes to dances?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss homosexuality in the play.

1) How do the soldiers view homosexuality, and why? Why do they use homosexuality as an insult?

2) Why does Eugene suspect Epstein is gay, and why does this make him reluctant to become close to Epstein? Why are the other soldiers quick to think that Eugene might be right?

3) Does Hennessey's experience as a homosexual man in the army change how he reacts to the other soldiers and instances of bigotry? What is the army's reaction to homosexuality, and why?

Essay Topic 3

Boot camp takes young men who are adapted to civilian life and attempts to adapt them for life in a war. Discuss this aspect of the characters' time in boot camp.

1) What makes a person a good soldier in the play? How good or bad are the same personality traits in civilian society? Which of the soldiers are well adapted to being in a war?

2) Which of the characters are best adapted for civilian life, and why? How well-suited are their characteristics in war?

3) Do the characters learn strategies for adapting their civilian behaviors to becoming soldiers? In what ways?

(see the answer keys)

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