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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 does Kien recognise about the driver of the tram on his return home from the bar?

2. Where do Phuong and Kien run off to whilst they are at school?

3. What 'peaceful' memory of the war does Kien think about in this Part?

4. What does Phuong finally say to Kien?

5. Who else frequents the Balcony Cafe?

Short Essay Questions

1. What happens to the train that Kien and Phuong eventually catch so that he can return to his unit?

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

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

4. Why is Kien ridiculed by his fellows in the post war period?

5. Why does Kien almost kill himself?

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

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

8. Why is the letter that Kien receives important?

9. What is symbolic about the farm that Kien and his comrades visit?

10. Describe Kien's parents

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Examine the author's use of flashbacks 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

This story told from the North Vietnamese side. Explore what this might imply about the author’s agenda.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 418 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample