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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. When Act II begins, in what location is the Colonel sitting as he writes?

2. When the Colonel enters the Round Room to meet with the Old Man, what instruction does he give to the Old Man?

3. What does the Old Man want the Colonel to do with his own "devoted servant" (25)?

4. Which member of the household is depicted as knowing the most about each inhabitant's secrets and truths?

5. Johansson marvels at the fact that which character is "itching to get in" the house "as if it were a paradise" (20)?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe the statue that is part of the Round Room's set.

2. What truth is eventually revealed about the connection between the Milkmaid and the Old Man?

3. What does the Colonel have in his hand when he first meets the Old Man and what is the object's significance?

4. Identify an instance of comic relief within the play and discuss its purpose.

5. How is the theme of authenticity linked with a particular character within Act II and for what purpose does Strindberg make this connection?

6. What events lead the Old Man to conclude that the "place is haunted" (21)?

7. In what way does the Old Man respond to the Colonel's claim that he has two things that the Old Man "cannot possess" (25)?

8. Which character is depicted within the portrait in the Round Room and what is the portrait's symbolism?

9. What does the Old Man mean when he tells Bengtsson that his visit to the house is "not unexpected," though he knows it is certainly "undesired" (21)?

10. Discuss a moment in the play when a character uses a literary device in conjunction with the topic of animals.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Analyze the interplay between the resolution of The Ghost Sonata and one of the play's main messages. How does Strindberg make connections between these elements and how does their juxtaposition help them get across one main message of the play?

Essay Topic 2

How do the themes of control and secrecy function within The Ghost Sonata and what is Strindberg’s message regarding these themes?

Essay Topic 3

How is the theme of desire portrayed in The Ghost Sonata? Examine Strindberg's treatment of and messages regarding desire throughout the play.

(see the answer keys)

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