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

Short Answer Questions

1. What reason does Jessie give Harry for not wanting to go to Janet's funeral?

2. Why does one of Janet Ziegler's son's not attend her funeral?

3. In what city is Inez Victor when the new media finally locates her in 1976?

4. What object does Inez demand be removed from the hall when she returns to Dwight's house in this chapter?

5. What is Frank Tawagata's wife's maiden name?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In DEMOCRACY, calculated deception is necessary to the survival of political families. As such, Didion pointedly juxtaposes the reality of her characters' lives and the image they attempt to project to public. Write an essay, examining this juxtaposition in three parts:

Part 1) How is the Christian family viewed as a liability in the '72 presidential run of Harry Victor? How does the neo-colonial attitude of the Christians undermine the image that Victor is trying to cultivate?

Part 2) How does Billy Dillon's reaction to the Paul Christian shootings reflect a sense of desperate deception? In what ways does he attempt to spin the story to make Paul Christian seem like a victim after her murders his own daughter? What does this indicate about Billy Dillon's compassion?

Part 3) In what respect is Inez's abandonment of the Christian family with Jack Lovett represent the shattering of the PR illusion created by Billy Dillon? How does he react to this final betrayal?

Essay Topic 2

The world of DEMOCRACY - focused on the political and the military - is contingent upon reliability. As such, people like Harry Victor, Jack Lovett, and Billy Dillon fear nothing more than a wild-card. Write an essay about the wild-cards of DEMOCRACY, figures whose unpredictable choices render the best-laid plans of these power-brokers moot. How do the following characters throw a spoke in these plans and what are the consequences?

Part 1) Janet Ziegler

Part 2) Paul Christian

Part 3) Jessie Victor

Essay Topic 3

Jack Lovett is - far beyond anyone else in the novel - an ambiguous figure whose actions and intentions are unknowable. Write an essay examining the overwhelming strengths and fatal weaknesses of Lovett's character. What is his role in prosecuting and resolving the conflict in Vietnam? How does his life represent absolute control? What mistakes does he make at the end of the novel? Is his death suspicious in any way?

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