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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. In what American city did Jolly Chand live for a period?

2. Through what nearby country does Cacciato tell Berlin he intends to pass on his way to Paris?

3. Who first informs the Lieutenant that Cacciato has gone AWOL?

4. Who falls in love in Delhi?

5. When do the the events of Chapter 2 occur in relation to Chapter 1?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Paul Berlin hope regarding Cacciato?

2. How does Third Squad end up on a cart with three Vietnamese women in Chapter 6?

3. What surprise announcement does the Lieutenant make to Third Squad in Chapter 26?

4. What difficulty arises when Lieutenant Corson tries to leave Li Van Hgoc's tunnel in Chapter 15?

5. Describe some ways that the men of the Paul Berlin's platoon organize themselves.

6. What decision does Paul Berlin make at the observation tower in Chapter 8?

7. What finally prods Third Squad to consider killing Sidney Martin?

8. How do two men from Third Squad die in Chapter 9?

9. How does Cacciato toy with the Third Squad in this chapter?

10. How does Paul Berlin succeed in keeping Sarkin Aung Wan with Third Squad?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Write an essay about the juxtaposition of the two Lieutenants of the novel. What does Sidney Martin value above all int he War, and what does Lieutenant Corson value? How does the difference in age between these two men lead to these differing values? Explore the way the men of Third Squad respond to these two men. Which is beloved by the men and which is merely obeyed for a period?

Essay Topic 2

Write an essay about the character of Sarkin Aung Wan. How does she first appear to the reader in the narrative, and what are her origins as a fictitious creation? Why does Paul Berlin feel the need to add her to his war story? What purpose does she serve in his life? Analyze their final debate determine her function in Paul Berlin's delusion.

Essay Topic 3

In many ways, Going After Cacciato is a rumination on the idea of desertion. Paul Berlin longs to walk away from the war, and his fantasy of Cacciato's flight to Paris offers him a window into a desertion scenario. Write an essay about the agonized decision to desert, focusing on three moments in the novel:

Part 1) Why do the men of Third Squad choose to hold a vote on whether to continue the pursuit after they cross into Laos? What arguments are made, and who among the Squad cannot brook the idea of continuing on?

Part 2) When Third Squad is arrested for desertion in Tehran, how does Doc Peret defend them to Captain Rhallon? Why do they personally believe that they have not abandoned their greater mission?

Part 3) Sum up the Paris debate held between Sarkin Aung Wan and Paul Berlin. How does Paul Berlin defend his decision not to leave Third Squad? What temptation does he overcome?

(see the answer keys)

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