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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. Who does Val say killed Jessie Smith?

2. What is Vee carrying when she enters in Act 1 Scene 1?

3. What is written on Val's guitar?

4. What does Carol remove from her trench coat pocket in Act 1 Scene 1?

5. What was "the mistake" Lady's father made that caused the vineyard to be burned?

Short Essay Questions

1. Compare the characters Val and Sheriff Talbott. How are they alike? How are they different?

2. Why does Lady feel disappointed in Val in Act 2 Scene 3? Why does he feel disappointed in her?

3. What did Lady's father come to America with?

4. What conversation does Lady have with the Nurse about Jabe's illness in Act 3 Scene 3?

5. How is Lady shot? Who shoots her?

6. Who has signed Val's guitar?

7. How does Carol describe herself to Val?

8. Where do Val and Lady go in the end of Act 2? What does this imply?

9. Describe the character of Uncle Pleasant. What does he look like? What does he say when he enters in Act 1?

10. Why does Lady enter panicked at the beginning of Act 3?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the theme of Rebirth in Orpheus Descending. What symbols represent this theme? What motifs exemplify it? What imagery?

Essay Topic 2

Describe the imagery that Lady uses to define herself. How does the monkey relate to Lady? How does the fig tree?

Essay Topic 3

Compare and contrast the characters of Beulah and Carol. How are they similar? How do they differ? How do these characters feel about each other?

(see the answer keys)

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