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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 does Joe need most?

2. Who is afraid for her baby?

3. What does the man tell Joe when the man returns?

4. What does Joe ask of God?

5. Who announces that it's time to board the train?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Joe think is the key to knowing time and how does he plan to use the key?

2. Why does Bonham lose track of everything and what does he do?

3. What is Bonham's initial thought when asked what he wants and why do you think this is so?

4. Why does Joe think he's in England?

5. What does the nurse think Joe wants at first when Joe starts tapping?

6. What obstacle does Joe see in their granting his request and what is his solution?

7. Describe Bonnie Flannigan and what does she tell Joe?

8. What does Bonham realize he wants?

9. How does the prostitute that Joe thinks he loves handle the situation?

10. What is the response to Joe's offer and Joe's reaction?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

It is obvious even in the first few chapters that Joe Bonham is severely injured. Later, the reader learns the extent of his injuries. Discuss one of the following:

1. What is the extent of Joe's injuries and is it realistic that he would have survived such a situation in the early part of the 20th century? Does this lack of realism make a difference in reading the book? Give examples to support your thesis.

2. Would you have preferred death over an existence such as Joe's after his injury? Why or why not? Would it be moral to end Joe's life if he makes it very clear that is his wish? Explain fully.

3. Discuss the concept of quality of life over quantity of days, using examples from the text and your personal experience.

Essay Topic 2

When one is unconscious, there is no such thing as time, and when fading in and out, people feel time bunch up--like women in labor for three days saying it seems like ten hours. Considering he may have been like this for two years, Bonham feels a panicky dread. He needs to "trap" time and get back into the world. Discuss one of the following:

1. How does Joe Bonham think of time and eventually "trap" time?

2. What are the ways humans measure time and why does Bonham have such difficulty figuring out a system to measure time? Why do you think he wants to know about the passage of time?

3. What are the advantages and disadvantages of the construct of time? Use examples both from the text and your own experience.

Essay Topic 3

When Joe is boarding the train to go to boot camp after being drafted, he describes a scene of bands playing, flags waving and women and children calling out to their beloved husbands, sons, and brothers who are leaving for war. Discuss the following:

1. Why do you think men (and now women also) are often sent off to war in an almost-festive-like atmosphere?

2. Does this send off make it harder or easier for Joe Bonham to march off to war? Explain.

3. If sending men and women off to war were treated like a funeral, do you think it would impact those leaving in a positive or negative way? Explain.

4. How would the political powers be impacted if war were viewed differently by a funeral-like send off?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,366 words (approx. 5 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample