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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 are Max, Tex and Marlowe doing at the opening of Chapter 9?

2. Why can't Marlowe sleep the night after the King talks with him about going outside the wire?

3. What does Marlowe ask of King?

4. What is Grey to check in the ditch by Hut 16?

5. Why is Lt. Grey summoning the person?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Lt. Grey arrest two of Larkin's men and what is Larkin's response?

2. Why is Lt. Grey happy at the beginning of Chapter 6?

3. Describe the visit between the King and Sgt. Masters.

4. What message does Grey get and how does he respond?

5. Describe the raid on Hut 16 and how Daven reacts.

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

7. What does Lt. Grey think should happen to the diamond and what does Larkin reply?

8. Why are Marlowe's bungalow mates upset that Marlowe refuses the King's offer of a percentage of the tobacco profits?

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

10. Describe Flt. Lt. Peter Marlowe.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Lt. Grey accepts the principle of the lesser evil and that the ends justify the means. Discuss the following:

1. Define and discuss the phase "the ends justifies the means"?

2. What is the "ends" for the men in Changi? What is the means of obtaining that end? Is the means always good? Moral? Justified?

3. Can someone in such a situation as Changi choose to always take the "high road" and still survive? Do any of the characters do so? Discuss with examples.

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

"Politics" and manipulation influence much of what happens in KING RAT. Discuss one of the following:

1. Describe the political situation in KING RAT and how it impacts the actions of three of the major characters.

2. Discuss and analyze several people who try to manipulate others and their responses to the manipulators.

3. Do you think the Politics of a group of civilians in a similar situation would be different from that of the military, which has a system of rank that in some ways limits politics? Or does a military structure limit politics?

(see the answer keys)

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