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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. In Dallas, who convinces Lee that his destiny is to kill Kennedy?

2. Why does Lee's mother initially dislike Marina?

3. What does Lee worry about going to Minsk at the end of the Moscow chapter?

4. Why does the post office become suspicious of Lee in Fort Worth?

5. How high does the captured U-2 pilot claim he was flying when shot down?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Lee Oswald decide to kill General Walker?

2. On October 4th, what does Branch learn about Kennedy's Miami visit?

3. How do Lee and Marina settle into Fort Worth?

4. What do Frank and Raymo commiserate about on July 2nd?

5. What does Oswald do in Dallas prior to killing Kennedy?

6. Why does Carmine Latta help with the assassination attempt?

7. How does the move to Fort Worth affect Lee and Marina's marriage?

8. What strange items has the CIA curator provided Branch with?

9. What new plan is Frank Vasquez hatching on September 6th?

10. Why is Oswald brought back to Moscow?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The political world of the book world is one of interlocking yet competitive covert interests. Write an essay about how these interests affect the life of Lee Oswald. What are each of these interests' objectives, and what role is Oswald supposed to play in these objectives? Which of these covert groups gives up on Oswald and which places nearly all of its hopes on him?

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

Write an essay about the value of intelligence in Libra. How does the life of Lee Oswald reflect the way information is monetized? Why is Lee Oswald given a flat and a job in Minsk by the Soviets? Why do both the CIA and the FBI express interest in Oswald after his return to the US? Discuss how Oswald, because of his faulty understanding of his intelligence, proves useless to these agencies.

(see the answer keys)

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