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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. As of April 17th, how many years have passed since the Bay of Pigs failure?

2. How old is Lee in New Orleans?

3. What topic does Konno become particularly interested in with Lee?

4. Who told George de Mohrenschildt to meet with Oswald?

5. What documentation does Parmenter provide Mackey with in 20 May?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why is Parmenter especially angry about the Bay of Pigs debacle?

2. How does Lee fair in the brig?

3. What does George de Mohrenschildt tell Parmenter about Oswald in this chapter?

4. What does Lee Oswald do on his base in Atsugi?

5. How is Lee isolated in the first chapter of the novel?

6. What confidential information does Lee reveal to Konno in Atsugi?

7. What is Lee's life in New Orleans like?

8. What does Win Everett decide about the assassination location in 26 April?

9. Describe the colorful conversation Bannister has at a bar on June 19th.

10. Why do Lee and Marguerite argue in New Orleans?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Libra's central topic is the Kennedy assassination, but he also incorporates connections to other military-political events of the time. Write an essay about three of these events. What is their Cold War significance? How, in Libra, do they connect to the story of Lee Oswald? Are these connections historically accurate or largely invented by the author?

Part 1) The U-2 Incident

Part 2) The Bay of Pigs

Part 3) The General Walker shooting

Essay Topic 2

In Libra, individuals resort to violence when they feel trapped and marginalized in their lives. Discuss this striking out that occurs when characters feel they have no other options in a three-part essay:

Part 1) What indignities and profession setbacks has Win Everett suffered prior to the events of the novel? Why does he feel he has no voice in the intelligence community? Discuss how he decides staging an assassination attempt will remedy these injustices.

Part 2) Discuss the dreams and hopes that Lee Oswald has throughout the novel, and how their failure leads him to consider murder as an alternative. What purpose does the assassination serve for him personally? How does he feel empowered?

Part 3) What personal challenges is Jack Ruby facing when DeLillo introduces him near the end of the novel? What tactics does he use to avoid complete failure? What role does the murder of Oswald play in his personal redemption?

Essay Topic 3

Throughout the novel Lee Oswald seems uncomfortable with the notion of his own sexuality. In a three-part essay, explore how Oswald tries and fails to explore his sexual being and falls deeper into his own darkness as a result.

Part 1) Discuss Lee Oswald's romantic life in Atsugi. What is the nature of the woman to whom he loses his virginity? How does she initiate him into the realm of sexuality? What must he give up to her companions as a result?

Part 2) How does Lee Oswald meet Marina, and how does their romantic relationship develop? Discuss the process by which their relationship deteriorates, and how they relate to each other by the end of the novel.

Part 3) Discuss Lee's relationship with Dave Ferrie. How do they first meet, and is it readily apparent that Ferrie wants Oswald? How does this relationship develop? How does the sexual ambiguity of both men become apparent?

(see the answer keys)

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