1 What could the border symbolize for O’Brien? 2 How does the story O’Brien constructs express his feelings and internal conflict more effectively than a factual retelling of events would?

3 Elroy Berdahl is not real. What, then, could he represent? Near the end of the story, O’Brien notes how he had a feeling that Elroy wouldn’t be back. Figuratively, what could this mean?

4 How does O’Brien dispel romantic notions of war, heroism, and patriotism through this story?

5 Water is an archetype that often represents birth or rebirth, such as in baptisms (spiritual rebirth). The wilderness is another archetype often representing a difficult or trying time, sometimes when a character is unsure of themselves and their purpose. How do these archetypes fit into this story? How do they contribute to O’Brien’s purpose?

What does the author see as the main cause for why students don’t really see shakespeare as a real, flawed human being? we shouldn’t shy away from discussing our literary heroes’ flaws. if nothing else, the knowledge of their failures us appreciate what success and greatness these authors did achieve. often our hero-worship keeps us from truly seeing the complexity of a great author. thus, i would argue, nothing would be better for high school students than to take shakespeare down a peg or two. a) the fact that students never learn enough about shakespeares biography b) the fact that students only read shakespeare’s comedies while in school c) the fact that students are never assigned to read any shakespeare while in high school d) the fact that students only read shakespeare’s greatest works in school and thus never see his weaknesses

If this were a fictionalized account, instead of a memoir, which might be the opening sentence? a) i am not your prisoner. b) i find myself in prison. c) you have taken me prisoner. d) black hawk had been taken prisoner.

Which description provides the best objective summary of the article in the passage?