Brighton Beach Memoirs Test | Mid-Book Test - Hard

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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. How old is Nora Morton said to be in Act I?

2. Who played the role of Kate in the original cast of Brighton Beach Memoirs?

3. What are the names of Kate’s brothers whom she says drove her mother crazy as they were growing up in Act I?

4. What is Kate carrying in Act I when she walks out of the kitchen and says to Eugene, “On my kitchen floor? Do you want me dead, is that what you want”?

5. Who is the Broadway producer that Nora says came to her dance class in Act I?

Short Essay Questions

1. What concerns Jack Jerome during dinner in Act I? What does the family discuss?

2. How does the historical context of the play relate to its themes?

3. What news does Stanley relate to Eugene in their room before dinner in Act I?

4. How is the character of Kate Jerome described in Brighton Beach Memoirs?

5. What dream does Eugene describe to Stanley in Act I? What is Stanley’s response?

6. How is the Jerome house described in the stage directions for Act I? What comprises the first floor of the house?

7. What is Eugene doing as the play opens in Act I? How is his neighborhood described?

8. How does Blanche Morton respond to the news that Nora Morton relates to the family before dinner in Act I?

9. What are Eugene’s principle concerns in Act I? How does his character evolve in the narrative?

10. What is Eugene Jerome’s role in the play? How does his character stand out in Brighton Beach Memoirs?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the character of Laurie Morton as though you were casting a production of Brighton Beach Memoirs. What actresses in entertainment today would you consider to play this role? Why? How would you like to see the character costumed?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the theme of coming of age in Brighton Beach Memoirs. Where is Eugene in the process of growing up in Act I? How do you foresee his character evolving in the play? How has Eugene become an adult in some ways by the end of the story?

Essay Topic 3

Sexuality in Brighton Beach Memoirs

a. Discuss the differences and similarities between male and female sexuality in the play. How do Eugene and Stanley view the women and girls of their household?

b. How are the characters of Kate and Blanche similar? How are they different? How does the playwright illustrate gender expectations and roles in the narrative?

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