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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. According to Oscar Johnson, what is the only lesson to be learned from Buff's death?

2. What clothing accessory does Paul Berlin recall vividly about a young,crying Vietnamese girl in Chapter 39?

3. What does the boy in Chapter 31 do involuntarily from time to time?

4. At the end of Chapter 40, Paul Berlin reasons that the root goal or the Vietnam War is to spread what?

5. What action does each man in Third Squad perform to signify his agreement in killing Sidney Martin?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Paul Berlin plan plan to cope with his fears in Chapter 31?

2. Describe Cacciato in Chapter 31.

3. How does Third Squad manage to depart the ocean liner at the beginning of Chapter 40?

4. What does Buff's body look like when Cacciato finds it in Chapter 41?

5. How does Third Squad gain control of the VW van?

6. What argument does Captain Rhallon make in Chapter 29 regarding the importance of a well-respected mission in War?

7. What news does Captain Rhallon bring Third Squad at the end of Chapter 33?

8. What implied ultimatum does Sarkin Aung Wan make to Paul Berlin in Chapter 43?

9. Why does Third Squad intensify its search for Cacciato in Chapter 44?

10. How does Lieutenant Martin precipitate his own murder in Chapter 34?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

One recurring theme throughout the full Tim O'Brien cannon is the war story. Write an essay about the idea of the war story and its function in the world of the combat serviceman. How is the war story a form of first-aid to the traumatized soldier? When do the characters in the novel bust out their well-developed war stories? How are war stories that are, perhaps, the least factual also the most truthful? Do they add meaning to the meaningless violence of war?

Essay Topic 2

The character of Cacciato in the novel exists on two different planes: the Cacciato that exists, and the the Cacciato that exists in Paul Berlin's mind.

Write an essay about Cacciato as he appears in three different points in the novel. It this appearance real or invented? What is Cacciato doing, and how does this further the story? Does Cacciato seem to have any major objective?

Part 1) Cacciato in Delhi

Part 2) Cacciato outside the prison cell in Tehran

Part 3) Cacciato in the World's Greatest Lake Country

Essay Topic 3

Throughout Going After Cacciato, both the author and the characters in the novel debate the reasons for American involvement in Vietnam. Write an essay about American interventionism, focusing on three instances in the narrative:

Part 1) In Tehran, Third Squad sits down for a drink with Captain Rhallon of the Iranian Savak. Why does he think America is having such a difficult time in Vietnam? How does Doc Peret respond to Rhallon's theory?

Part 2) Write a paragraph about Paul Berlin's promotion review for Spec Four. What reason does the unnamed major give for America's involvement in Vietnam? How does Paul Berlin respond to this?

Part 3) What hypothetical conversation does Paul Berlin hold with the young crying girl in a village Third Squad burned? What does he want to tell her about his reasons for coming to fight in her homeland?

(see the answer keys)

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