Question 7 • Hopkins FA American Literature (2026-2027)
Read the excerpt from “Ambush.” He was a short, slender young man of about twenty. I was afraid of him—afraid of something—and as he passed me on the trail I threw a grenade that exploded at his feet and killed him.The excerpt is an example of
Answer
A
flashback, because the narrator is remembering a conversation with his daughter.
B
flashback, because the narrator is recalling an event that occurred during the Vietnam war.
C
frame story, because the narrator is describing an action that he deeply regrets.
D
frame story, because the narrator is explaining why he feels he must tell his daughter what he did.
Explanation
The narrator describes throwing a grenade and killing a young man during the Vietnam War, then recalls that event while telling the story. A flashback is a scene that takes the reader back to an earlier event. The excerpt is not a frame story; it focuses on the remembered event itself, not on the larger story structure around it.
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