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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 25 September, what does Ferrie tell Lee to visit in Dallas?

2. In Mexico City, what embassy does Lee go to after the Cuban embassy brushes him off?

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

4. To whom does Oswald send his photos?

5. What does George de Mohrenschildt ask of Lee in exchange for better job?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why is Oswald brought back to Moscow?

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

3. How does Lee Oswald try to expedite his meeting with Soviet agents after his suicide attempt?

4. Why do Lee and Marina decide to return to America?

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

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

7. Why does Lee Oswald try to kill himself in Moscow?

8. How does Lee meet George de Mohrenschildt?

9. What role does writing play and Lee's life in Minsk?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In Libra, Oswald's existence and objectives seem to shift depending on what setting he inhabits. Write an essay about three locations and how Oswald lives his life there. What seems to be his goal in life? Who does he associate with, and what image does he project? Discuss how this persona of Oswald is different from the one in his previous home and in his future home?

Part 1) In Atsugi

Part 2) In Minsk

Part 3) In New Orleans

Essay Topic 2

Write an essay about the character of Dave Ferrie. What are the defining physical and psychological characteristics of this individual? What role does he play in the novel and in the plot to kill Kennedy? How does his relationship with Lee Oswald shift and develop over the course of the narrative? Discuss Ferrie's portrayal as a personification of perverted patriotism.

Essay Topic 3

The assassination passage of Libra is a harrowing and disturbing series of pages, but it clearly elucidates the reality of the day. In an essay, discuss how Don DeLillo frames the events on November 22, 1963 in this passage. Whose point of view does the author tell the assassination from? Is the passage linear in its chronology? How does the author eventually make clear who killed Kennedy?

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