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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. How does the sister respond to Rat Kiley's letter?

2. How many monks are there to help the men with camp?

3. Who kills Tim Lavender's stray puppy with a Claymore?

4. What is the name of the area the men are in?

5. On what occasion does Rat Kiley write a letter to a man's sister?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why do you think Curt's sister gives the response she does?

2. How does Lieutenant Cross resolve his responsibility in Ted Lavender's death?

3. Why do you think Martha never married?

4. How would you describe Martha's "separate-but-together quality" her and Lieutenant Cross share? What does she send to represent this quality?

5. How did Tim see Curt Lemon's personality?

6. Who did you think was the victim as you read the chapter, and who did you think was the victim once you finished it? Why?

7. Why does the narrator he is a bad fit to be drafted into the war?

8. What is Henry's reaction to his girlfriend dumping him?

9. How does the narrator feel about the war in Vietnam?

10. How are the terms of the death pact ultimately carried out?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Can you identify with Kathleen's struggle to understand the war? She asks in the chapter titled "Field Trip" why her father had to fight in the Vietnam War, and what made everyone mad at each other? Do you think wars are generally started over clear issues of disagreement? In either case, do you think that affects the ability of the war to have a resolution?

Essay Topic 2

Most novels have critic blurbs on the cover or in media advertising for the book. Choose one critic's blurb about "The Things They Carried" and respond to the quote. Do you agree or disagree with the critic's assessment of the novel, and where is there evidence in the novel to support your point of view?

Essay Topic 3

Explain the moral you see in the story of Tim getting even with Bobby Jorgenson. How does the story handle the themes of revenge, forgiveness, and personal responsibility against the back drop of a war?

(see the answer keys)

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