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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. What best describes the relationship between Weller and his children?

2. Weller cheats in the first hand by doing what?

3. What does Weller blame his relationship with his children on?

4. According to Weller, the Welfare Department allows people to keep how much money?

5. What is the first move of the gin game?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Fonsia win the last hand of Act 1, Scene 1, and what might this foreshadow?

2. What do you think is Weller's opinion of the other residents of the home after reading Act 1, Scene 1?

3. What is it that you think is bothering Fonsia in Act 1, Scene 1?

4. What does the moment of faintness that Fonsia suffers in Act 1, Scene 2 reveal about the two characters?

5. What confession does Weller make about himself as it relates to his interaction with the family of Gladys Mayes?

6. What 'admiral... minor virtues' did Fonsia's father personify, and how do you think they might contrast with Weller's character?

7. In Act 1, Scene 2, what according to Weller "seems to happen quite a lot to [Fonsia]," and how could this be seen as helpful to the writing of the play?

8. How does Weller's choice of profanity conform to the opening action in Act 1, Scene 2?

9. What new and combative aspect in the interaction between the two characters takes place upon Fonsia winning the hand with Queens in Act 1, Scene 2?

10. In what way, according to Weller, does the Home promote theft of its residents by the staff?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What role does luck have in the play? For whom is the luck good and for whom is it bad? Please take the context of the characters' histories into account.

Essay Topic 2

Is Fonsia vindictive? Is Weller a failure? Please support your responses with examples from the play.

Essay Topic 3

Fonsia relates her phobia of misspelling words when she was an apartment manager. What does this story say about her, and is there any truth to Weller's criticism of her for holding this fear?

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