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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 is essential to the rat project?

2. What does Marlowe offer the King after eating King's eggs?

3. Who is Lt. Grey summoning?

4. How does Lt. Grey think of his wife?

5. Why does the King thank Sgt. Masters?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe Col. Kennedy's reactions to Steven.

2. Describe Steven.

3. What secret does the King leak to the Australians and how does Marlowe react to the news?

4. How does Marlowe demonstrate the part of his personality that might be labeled risk taker or thrill seeker?

5. Describe The King.

6. Describe Flt. Lt. Peter Marlowe.

7. Who does Col. Brant reprimand and for what reason?

8. What does Vexley teach and how does it help the rat business?

9. Describe the first meeting between The King and Marlowe.

10. What are Lt. Grey's thoughts after being assigned new duties?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Part of understanding the way the POWs behave is thoroughly understanding the conditions at Changi Camp. Using information from throughout the text, discuss the following:

1. Describe the physical surroundings of the Changi Camp. What dangers are inherent in a tropical jungle setting? (You may need to research this). What are the sleeping quarters like? The waster facilities? The places for cleaning one's body or clothes?

2. Describe the food situation in the camp. How much food do the Japanese allot each man? What ways are there to supplement the camp rations? How nutritional is the men's diet?

3. Describe the medical situation in the camp. Who provides medical care? How much medicine is available? What type of diseases are the men prone to in a tropical jungle setting?

4. Describe the entertainment/psychological aspects of the camp. Do the men have ways to pass the time that are stimulating? How much psychological pressure is there on the average man with trying to survive?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss one of the following:

1. Trace and analyze the theme of power in KING RAT. Consider the following questions as you write: What characters are most concerned with power? Why? What are some symbols of power? Symbols of powerlessness? What characters seem powerless?

2. Trace and analyze the theme of survival in KING RAT. What characters are most concerned with survival? Why? What are some symbols of survival? Symbols of resignation? What characters seem determined to survive? Which ones seem not to care about survival? What is the difference between how the two types live?

3. Trace and analyze the theme of nationalism/patriotism. How does the POWs from each nation view patriotism/nationalism? Is patriotism important to the POWs? What about the Korean guards? The Japanese?

Essay Topic 3

Lt. Grey feels in a moral quandary about using paper from a Bible to roll cigarettes. Discuss the following:

1. Discuss several moral quandaries in which various characters find themselves. What usually wins out: morality or survival?

2. Are all the moral choices about survival? Are there other moral choices the characters have to make that has nothing to do with their survival--or are all choices in a place such as Changi linked to survival?

3. Discuss five characters and the limits they put upon themselves as far as their choices between right and wrong. In other words, do the characters have a point at which they will not go beyond even to ensure their survival?

(see the answer keys)

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