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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 newsman does Kovic hope to speak to?

2. What state was home to the now deceased Corporal referred to by Kovic?

3. Kovic was often pushed aside by which group?

4. Kovic and others are locked out of what event?

5. What was the woman's name?

Short Essay Questions

1. What was a typical daily ritual for Kovic in regards to religion?

2. Where does Kovic often go for entertainment? What did he do there?

3. Explain Kovic's interaction with police when he is arrested at Nixon's campaign headquarters.

4. Describe Kovic's choice to move to California. Who went with him?

5. Discuss Kovic's attempts to catch the attention of the media. Who was the target? Who responded?

6. Describe the readings at the rally and how the crowd reacted to the speakers.

7. Briefly describe the conversations at the parade about other veterans.

8. How do the people react to the arrival of Nixon? How is the crowd's reaction different from Kovic's reaction?

9. What memory does Kovic share with his mother upon his return home to New York to visit?

10. Discuss how Kovic prepares for the Memorial Day Parade.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the impact of Kovic's birthday being on the Fourth of July. Do you think it is irony or destiny? How might being born on the Fourth of July affect your views on patriotism and war? Do you think a person born on the Fourth of July during wartime might differ from a person born on the same day during wartime? How would that birthday translate to other countries?

Essay Topic 2

Interview someone who served in Vietnam and write a 1000 word essay on the experience and how it affected the soldier's life. Be sure to include any traumatic events, real or imagined as well as post traumatic stress, involvement with the VA, and life before and after the war.

Essay Topic 3

Study the concept of flashbacks. What causes them? Are they based in reality or are they a sign of psychosis? What types of things might one see in a flashback? How are flashbacks used in the story? Does the use of flashback help you to understand more about the story and Kovic's character? Explain.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 765 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample