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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 sense suddenly gives Kien a memory of his wartime experiences?

2. What was Kien’s father’s job before the war?

3. Why did the American government go to War in Vietnam?

4. What political position did the North Vietnamese Hold?

5. When does Kien start writing about the war?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does the Market Place at the beginning of Part 2 disturb him so much?

2. Why does Kien and Phuong's relationship turn sour after they reunite?

3. Why does the transport truck driver wake him up at the end of Part 1?

4. What is Kien warned against by his parents in this section?

5. What job do we find Kien doing at the start of The Sorrow of War?

6. Who was Tranh?

7. What was the most traumatic sight for Kien at Saigon Airport?

8. Who is Lan?

9. What is the significance of where the Mute Girl lives?

10. What is the Jungle called that Kien finds himself outside of

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The character of Kien is looking to be saved from his war trauma. In what different ways does Kien look for this kind of salvation?

Essay Topic 2

What is meant by the term writing style? What is the author’s writing style in this novel? How might the reader be impacted by the author’s style?

Essay Topic 3

What is a muse? Who was the muse in Kien’s story? Explain your reasoning.

(see the answer keys)

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