Study Questions & Essay Topics
Study Questions
1. How do Richie's
beliefs about war change throughout his tour of duty in Vietnam?
2. How do war
movies perpetuate the romantic ideals of war? How does
Fallen
Angels criticize these movies and myths?
3. How do the
soldiers cope with the horrors that they see? Contrast the coping
mechanisms of Richie, Peewee, and Lobel.
Suggested Essay Topics
1. Compare Fallen Angels to All
Quiet on the Western Front, Erich Maria Remarque's famous
antiwar novel from World War I. What themes do these novels have
in common? How are they different? Would you characterize Fallen
Angels as an antiwar novel? Why or why not?
2. How does Fallen Angels address
matters of race and class in America? How does the novel portray
the effects of the war on race and class issues, and the effects
of race and class issues on the war? Why is it ironic that so many
war protesters are college students?
3. Trace Richie's attitude toward
the war through his letters to his family. What is the significance
of his longtime inability to write an honest letter? What is the
significance of his eventual ability to write a truthful letter
to Kenny?
4. Explain the different styles
of leadership of Captain Stewart, Sergeant Simpson, Lieutenant Carroll,
Lieutenant Gearhart, Corporal Brunner, and Sergeant Dongan. What
is the novel's attitude toward each of their styles?
