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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 Kien's definition of sacrifice?

2. What does Phuong taunt Kien about becoming?

3. Why is it lucky that Kien and Phuong miss their first train?

4. What does Phuong urge Kien to do after they hear the siren?

5. Why does Kien remember his comrade Tu?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Kien hallucinate about his nurse in Hanoi?

2. Describe Kien's parents

3. Why does Kien kill the Sailor on the Train?

4. Where do Kien and Phuong go to escape when they hear about the war?

5. Why does Kien discover about his father's paintings?

6. How many times does Phuong's memories come back to Kien during the war?

7. Why does Kien not kill the commandos responsible for the farmhouse massacre?

8. Why does Phuong want Kien to be more like his father?

9. Why is the image of the storm symbolic for Kien?

10. Why is the letter that Kien receives important?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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

Essay Topic 2

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 3

Was Kien an unwilling participant of the Vietnam War? Did Kien support the war?

(see the answer keys)

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