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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. On what does Stott place the rock?

2. What is Mandella's rank in the opening chapter?

3. What do the troops have to build on darkside?

4. What is Mandella's role within his team?

5. Where are Mandella and the other troops building a bridge?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does the novel open?

2. What does the company do on the third day?

3. How have things changed at the beginning of Chapter 1, Part 2?

4. How can the suits be dangerous to its user?

5. What has happened to Marygay at the beginning of Chapter 4, Part 2?

6. Why are the heating mechanisms turned off in the opening chapter?

7. What do squad leaders think are the reasons for low morale on the ship?

8. What is Mandella's feeling about killing the animals in Chapter 12?

9. What problems does Mandella voice about Potter at the beginning of Chapter 7?

10. What is the company's job on darkside?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The Forever War is written in the first person and with Haldeman as narrator. Why do you think Haldeman chose to write the story in the first person? How do you think the meaning of the story would have changed if it were written in the third person? What difference does it make it make to the story that Haldeman is one of the characters?

Essay Topic 2

Look at the structure of the novel.

1) How does Haldeman use character and dialogue to drive the narrative?

2) Discuss elements of the narrative structure: exposition, conflict, complication, climax, resolution and conclusion. Do all the elements make for a logical and linear story? How does the story's structure express the novel's themes?

3) Aside from the main character, examine the way Haldeman uses the other characters in the story. When does he introduce and take them away from the story? What effect does it have?

Essay Topic 3

The Forever War is the first and main part of the Forever War series.

1) What is the overall theme of the series? What part does the Forever play in developing that theme?

2) What ideas and characters does the author develop that can be used in forthcoming books? How do you think these ideas and characters will develop through the series?

(see the answer keys)

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