View a FREE sample

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

Short Answer Questions

1. Why does Eugene say that his moment with Daisy is important?

2. How does Eugene feel about Daisy?

3. How does Eugene feel about not going into combat?

4. Where is the U.S.O. dance located?

5. Who objects to reading Eugene's personal papers?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss friendship in the novel.

1) The soldiers are thrown together from different backgrounds and with different personalities. To what extent do the soldiers develop friendships with each other? Which soldiers develop the closest friendships?

2) Is friendship different than mutual respect and reliance as soldiers? In what way?

3) How do the soldiers' differences from each other stand in the way of friendship? Does being in the army together forge friendship? How?

Essay Topic 2

Toomey's method of teaching the soldiers is one of cruelty and punishment. Discuss this methodology and its portrayal in the play.

1) Why does Toomey use cruel methods to train the soldiers? What does his method have to do with his experiences in the war? What is Toomey trying to accomplish?

2) How do Toomey's methods forge and change the relationships between the soldiers?

3) What kind of relationship does Toomey develop with the soldiers? Why do they miss him after he's gone?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the play as a coming-of-age story.

1) How does Eugene mature during the course of the play? What knowledge, experience, and understanding about the world does he gain?

2) In what ways is boot camp a rite of passage that serves as a transition from childhood to adulthood?

3) How is Eugene's visit to the prostitute a rite of passage? What other rites of passage are there in the play?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 349 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample