Narrator's Dilemmas and Reflections

The narrator reflects on a pivotal moment in his life, recalling a surreal summer at the Tiptop Lodge. He grapples with a decision about fleeing to Canada to avoid the Vietnam War. During a fishing trip on the Rainy River, he faces an internal conflict, imagining an audience judging his actions. Ultimately, he returns home, feeling like a coward for going to war out of embarrassment rather than bravery.

What does the narrator sometimes wonder about the events of that summer?

• If they were someone else's memories

• If they happened in another dimension

• If they were a dream

• If they were a story he read

How does the narrator describe his younger self?

• Childlike and innocent

• Middle-aged and tired

• Young and fit

• Old and weary

What is the narrator doing while sitting on Elroy's dock?

• Writing a letter to his parents

• Fishing

• Reading a book

• Sleeping

What does the narrator feel during the fishing trip on the Rainy River?

• Boredom

• Fear and pressure

• Joy and freedom

• Excitement

What moral dilemma does the narrator face while on the Rainy River?

• Whether to write another letter or not

• Whether to confront Elroy or remain silent

• Whether to cross into Canada or go to war

• Whether to return home or stay at the lodge

Who does the narrator imagine seeing during his hallucination?

• Famous historical figures and people from his life

• Strangers he has never met

• Only his family

• Only his friends

Why does the narrator ultimately decide to go to war?

• Out of a sense of duty

• For financial reasons

• Because of embarrassment

• Due to peer pressure

What does the narrator do before leaving the lodge?

• Says a prayer

• Takes a souvenir

• Leaves money for Elroy

• Writes another letter