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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. Who is the Blue Baron that the patrol was searching for?

2. Who is Pickering's aide that has slept with several men?

3. Who does Pickering thank for the pictures at his house?

4. What kind of planes does Galloway encounter while he is flying?

5. Who was away on a secret mission, leaving Dunn as Acting Commander?

Short Essay Questions

1. Who is Easterbrook and what is his initial assignment on the Solomon Islands?

2. Who were the Coastwatechers and why are they important to American security at Guadalcanal?

3. What is the significance of sources in intelligence for Banning and Vandergrift?

4. Why does Krinski change his opinion of McCoy after he receives a call?

5. What does McCoy want from Stecker when they meet on the beach that Stecker is reluctant about but agrees to?

6. Why does Roosevelt ask Pickering to intercede on behalf of Donovan with MacArthur?

7. How is Dunn described in Chapter 1?

8. What is Stecker's experience abroad and what does he think the Japanese will attack?

9. Why does Pickering think that MacArthur is the biggest violator security protocol?

10. Why does Pickering feel grateful to the men who arrive in Oahu and come to his estate with a report?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

"Close Combat" is written primarily in the third-persona and omniscient point of view. Is this point of view more or less effective than telling the story from the first-person perspective of Pickering?

Essay Topic 2

Love and sexuality between different characters is a recurring theme in "Close Combat". How does Jake's feelings about love change from the beginning of the novel to its end? In what ways has he expanded his awareness and beliefs? Is sexuality connected to love for Jake? How does his feelings develop for Veronica and change and how does his relationship with her contrast with that of other women that he has had romantic feelings for or an idealized relationship with?

Essay Topic 3

Griffin employs bold and and effective language with some powerful symbolism. Choose an example of symbolism, briefly describe it, and identify the technique which it embodies.

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