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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. Who is the antagonist in the story of Carl's time in Vietnam?

2. Why was Carl not in his wheelchair by the window when Joe came to see him toward the end of the novel?

3. Where does Joe get new clothes to wear on his date with Lila?

4. Where does Lila pick Joe up after his ordeal with Doug?

5. What do the scars on Lila's shoulder reveal about her past?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is discovered about Lila while they are at the bar after the play?

2. What two mistakes does Doug make when he kidnaps Joe?

3. What is Lila's story?

4. How is Doug Lockwood's house symbolic of the man himself?

5. What does Joe say his new goal is while talking to Max Rupert in Chapter 30?

6. What is the rest of Carl's story from Vietnam, specifically, how his and Gibbs' relationship ended?

7. What does Carl do that causes Gibbs to want revenge?

8. How is Joe able to survive the night lost in the woods and snow?

9. How does Doug Lockwood incapacitate Joe?

10. What does Carl say is the real reason he ended up saving Virgil that day in Vietnam?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Each time Joe is presented with a threatening male figure his first instinct is to use violence to express his anger, yet when he is confronted by both Doug and Danny he is unable to defend himself. Why might the author have written the character of Joe in this way? What does Joe's ability to fight say about him? In what circumstances does he usually resort to violence? Why is it that when it comes to defending himself, as opposed to someone else, he is not able to do it?

Essay Topic 2

When Joe finally becomes the person responsible for Jeremy, he does not view it in the same negative way he did at the beginning of the story. Why has Joe's outlook changed? How has his involvement with Carl changed the way he looks at life? How does Joe feel about taking care of Jeremy now?

Essay Topic 3

Carl Iverson and Joe Talbert assume quite a bit about each other when they first meet. What are some of the assumptions and judgements they make about one another? How does Joe feel about Carl in the beginning? How does Carl feel about Joe? What might make them change their minds about each other?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 956 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample