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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. What is in Xa?

2. What does Helen tell Darrow?

3. What does Linh talk Helen into doing?

4. What seems to fade into the distance for Helen?

5. What offer does Linh refuse from Robert?

Short Essay Questions

1. Where do Linh and Helen go and what is happening with Darrow?

2. What happens between Darrow and Tanner at the party and what does Darrow tell Helen about Tanner?

3. What happens to Darrow and Anderson?

4. What happens to Helen that has Darrow telling her she is better off without belief?

5. What does Darrow's wife win the right to do?

6. Describe Helen and Darrow's visit to a Red Cross camp.

7. What did Linh do while away from Helen and Darrow?

8. What does Darrow tell Helen he has in Saigon and what does he say about his life?

9. What do Annick and Helen discuss when she has dinner with Annick?

10. What trip does Linh talk Helen into taking with him?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the following:

1. Who is/are the protagonists of the story and why?

2. Who is/are the antagonists of the story and why?

3. Which 3 secondary characters have the greatest impact on the plot?

4. Are any of the characters dispensable and which ones? Why or why not?

5. Do you think this is a character-driven plot or an action-driven plot? Explain.

Essay Topic 2

Discuss one of the following:

1. Trace and analyze the theme of trust in The Lotus Eaters. Consider the following questions as you write: What characters are most concerned with trust? Why? What are some symbols of trust? Symbols of distrust? What characters seem trustworthy? Untrustworthy?

2. Trace and analyze the theme of courage in The Lotus Eaters. Which characters struggle with this issue? Why? Which characters seem to possess courage? Why?

3. Trace and analyze the theme of death in The Lotus Eaters. Consider the following questions as you write: What characters are most concerned with death? Why? What are some symbols of death? Symbols of life? What characters seem to want to die?

Essay Topic 3

There are a number of interesting questions raised by The Lotus Eaters. Questions that Soli most likely want readers to consider and think through carefully. Discuss the following:

1. What does the term "author agenda" mean?

2. Name one idea/concept you think may have been a part of the Soli' agenda. Analyze that idea throughout the book and discuss Soli' probable agenda concerning that idea.

2. Do you think writers who have an agenda for writing should point it out in a preface?

3. How often do you think fiction is written with a clear agenda in mind by the author?

4. Research the life of Soli and see if/where his life may have influenced his writing.

(see the answer keys)

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