Inherit the Wind | Short Essay Assignments

Short Essay Questions

The 60 short essay questions listed in this section require a one to two sentence answer. They ask students to demonstrate a deeper understanding of the text. Students must describe what they've read, rather than just recall it.

Short Essay Question - Act 1, Scene 1

1. What is significant about the opening interaction between Howard and Melinda?

2. Describe the character, Rachel.

3. When Rachel visits Cates in jail, what does she urge him to do, and why?

4. What does Rachel's conflicted loyalty between her father and Cates symbolize?

5. Cates reveals to Rachel that he taught Darwinism in his classroom because he "thought he was right". What does this tell the reader about Cates' character?

6. Why does Rachel want Cates to apologize?