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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 is the name of the protagonist's daughter in Next to Normal?

2. Who takes some of Diana's medication in Act 1, Scene 8?

3. What song does Diana's doctor sing in Act 1, Scene 9?

4. What tender ballad does Gabe sing in Act 1, Scene 10?

5. In Act 1, Scene 7, Gabe appears and sings with Natalie about "the son of steel and the daughter of" what?

Short Essay Questions

1. What song is performed by Diana and Gabe in Act 1, Scene 10? What does Gabe encourage Diana to do?

2. What triggers Diana's memory flashback in Act 1, Scene 4? What is the memory of?

3. Describe the central themes in Next to Normal. What does the story of the play revolve around?

4. What is symbolized in Gabe's comment "I own you," in Act 1, Scene 8? What is revealed in this scene regarding his character?

5. How is the music used in expressing the inner thoughts of the characters in Act 1?

6. What does Dan sing about in the song "It's Gonna Be Good"? Where is he?

7. Describe the structural elements which stand out in the first scenes of Act 1. How is musical improvisation used as a literary technique?

8. How is the Goodman family portrayed in the first scenes of Act 1?

9. What does Dr. Madden reveal after Diana's song in Act 1, Scene 10? What treatment does he suggest?

10. What is revealed about the character of Gabe in Act 1, Scenes 4 and 5?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Describe and discuss the character of Henry in the narrative and the motif of drug use. How does Henry's character differ from the characters of the Goodman family?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the relationship and correlations between Diana and Natalie in the opening of Act 2. How does this intercut scene reflect their similarities?

Essay Topic 3

Describe and analyze the role of Gabe in Next to Normal. With what characters does Gabe interact and what is symbolized through Gabe's character?

(see the answer keys)

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