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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 Marlowe believe about the war?

2. Why does Larkin make a batch of blachang?

3. What day is it at the opening to Chapter 6?

4. Who confronts the King and Marlowe after they go away from the MPs?

5. What does the King promise if Marlowe will go bury the money in the jungle?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe the "birthday party" of the elite who are invited to a barbecue.

2. Describe Marlowe's visit with McCoy in the infirmary.

3. Who does the King invite to start up a rat breeding operation and what is the plan?

4. Describe the negotiations for the diamond.

5. Why isn't Marlowe successful in going after the money and how is he care for with the medicines Timsen gets?

6. Describe the scene where Marlowe acts as a go-between.

7. Who intercepts Lt. Grey as he goes to arrest Prouty and Marlowe, and why does Grey allow himself to be distracted?

8. What does Dr. Kennedy say about Marlowe's arm?

9. How do Marlowe, Larkin and Smedly-Taylor decide to pass on the news to the camp after getting the radio working and what is the result?

10. Why are King and Marlowe in the King's tent at the opening of Chapter 19 and what happens?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the following:

1. Give a brief statement of the plot of KING RAT

2. Thoroughly analyze how the setting informs the plot in KING RAT. How do you think KING RAT be different if this were a POW camp in Germany? In Italy?

3. Discuss thoroughly how you think a POW camp run by the Americans or British would differ from Changi. (This will require some research.)

Essay Topic 2

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 3

Japanese regard Westerners who surrender as dishonored and strip officers of their rank. Discuss the following:

1. After research, compare/contrast Japanese and Western views of surrender.

2. Discuss the ways the Japanese attitudes towards surrender and POWs impacted their treatment of the prisoners in Changi.

3.. Truman demanded and received unconditional surrender from Japan. How do you think this impacted the Japanese National psyche? How do you think someone such as Yoshima in King Rat would explain the Japanese willingness to surrender?

(see the answer keys)

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