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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. Why does Richie think that Roger would understand problems associated with being homosexual?

2. According to the stage directions, what song begins playing at the end of Act 1?

3. Who are the two black characters in the play?

4. Why is Cokes sent home from battle?

5. What does Carlyle pull out of his pocket after catching Roger in Richie's footlocker?

Short Essay Questions

1. What action does Richie make to cause Billy to realize what is about to happen between him (Richie) and Carlyle?

2. Why does Billy have such a hard time with the sexual relationship that Carlyle and Richie are alluding to happening in the bunk house and not somewhere else?

3. What does Roger mean when he says to Billy, "every black man in the world ain't like me"?

4. Why is Carlyle jealous of Billy, Richie, and Roger?

5. Why does Richie think that Roger would understand the problems associated with being homosexual?

6. Why is Richie afraid of the Vietcong and war?

7. Why does the lieutenant's actions towards Roger speak to the stereotypical assumptions regarding the crime scene?

8. What happened when Billy was sixteen that made him want to become a priest?

9. Why does Martin try to commit suicide?

10. As Billy, Roger and Richie are discussing going out, Richie calls going to a whorehouse "disgusting." Billy's replies to Richie with "look who's talking." What do both men mean?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Choose one of Richie's "tall tales." Discuss why you believe Richie tells the story. Is there any truth behind the story? Why do you think Richie feels he must stretch the truth?

-What goes on in war: snakes and elephant dung

-The story about his dad leaving and being on TV

Essay Topic 2

Roger claims that Richie never told him that he was a homosexual. Go back through the play and note all of Richie's references to his homosexuality. Once finished, choose one statement that could be a masked admittance to his homosexuality and one that is a blatant. Compare and contrast the meaning/understanding behind each of the statements.

Essay Topic 3

Discuss Cokes' reaction to finding out that Richie is a homosexual. What does Cokes say about Richie's homosexuality? Why is Cokes' answer ironic? What would one expect from Cokes given hie military ranking? Does Cokes' leukemia have anything to do with his reaction? Why?

(see the answer keys)

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