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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. Despite the complexity of A Children's Tragedy what striking aspect is the most widely known about this play?

2. What does Melchior tell Wendla about his belief in people who enjoy doing charity work?

3. In what form does the play begin?

4. What excuse does Moritz give in order to escape the discussion about sex?

5. How does Moritz discover the information in Act 1, Scene 4 that cheers him up?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why was this play frequently repressed after the initial publication?

2. How was "Spring Awakening" treated in Germany during both World Wars?

3. What does Moritz do in Act I, Scene 4 that nearly gets him in trouble? Why?

4. Why is Mrs. Bergmann concerned about Wendla's old dress?

5. According to Bentley, what are some possible identities of the masked man at the end of the play?

6. How do Mrs. Bergmann and Wendla deal with the girl's maturation in Act I, Scene 1?

7. What are Melchior's beliefs about good deeds, as related to Wendla?

8. What is significant about the number sixty in relation to Moritz?

9. In the introduction, why is this play deemed as widely disliked by feminists?

10. What thought does Wendla have that offends her mother? Where does it come from?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Choose one of the following topics to write about:

- Discuss Hanschen's relationship with "Venus."

- Discuss Ilse's story of the artist who kept threatening to kill her.

- Discuss the names of the professors.

Essay Topic 2

Hanschen and Ernst find happiness together at the end of the play while delivering a scathing critique of their society. Compose a brief essay on this statement in the following format:

Part 1) Discuss the town and school's impressions of Ernst and how he is able to get along despite them.

Part 2) Discuss Hanschen and Ernst's beliefs in comparison to the rest of their town.

Part 3) Discuss the two boys finding love out despite their extremely repressed society.

Cite specific examples from the text to support your answers.

Essay Topic 3

In the final scene of this play, Melchior comes across Moritz's ghost, who begs his friend to join him in suicide. Compose a strong thesis about the nature of suicide in Spring Awakening: A Children's Tragedy and write about it in the following format:

Part 1) Discuss Moritz's reasons for suicide.

Part 2) Discuss Melchior's consideration of suicide.

Part 3) Discuss the reaction of the people to Moritz's suicide.

Part 4) Discuss the school's reaction to Moritz's suicide.

Part 5) Discuss the masked man saving Melchior from killing himself.

Cite specific examples from the text to support your answers.

(see the answer keys)

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