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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 Kien's only companion as he starts these remembrances?

2. Where does Kien live in the present day?

3. In Kien's memories, why had the man 'reverted to the wild'?

4. What is Kien's primary method to exorcise his guilt about the Vietnamese War?

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

Short Essay Questions

1. How do we think the Mute Girl feels for Kien?

2. Who was Tranh?

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

4. Who lives above Kien’ s apartment after the war?

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

6. Who is Lan?

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

8. During what years did the Vietnam War take place?

9. What happened to Can?

10. Why does the transport truck driver say it is no wonder that Kien is having bad dreams?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What is a tragic figure in literature? Does Kien fit the definition? Why or why not? Explain in detail.

Essay Topic 2

One theme of the novel is survivor guilt. Discuss how this theme is presented in the story.

Essay Topic 3

Kien was never in love with the real Phuong. Is this statement true or false? Explain your answer with details from the text.

(see the answer keys)

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