Six Degrees of Separation Test | Mid-Book Test - Hard

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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 first item in the room that Flan checks in Act 1?

2. What percentage commission does Ouisa theorize Flan is giving Paul?

3. Where in New York did the schoolteacher who is the initial subject of Paul's thesis work?

4. How does the Hunan Wok misspell its sign?

5. What is the second prized item that Flan checks at the top of the play?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Geoffrey call at the end of this section?

2. Why does the Detective now have a case against Paul at the end of this section?

3. How does Trent and Paul's relationship end?

4. Describe the accusations Doug hurls at his father?

5. Why does Flan repeatedly try to silence his wife's narration throughout this section?

6. How does Ouisa lose Paul?

7. How does Paul describe his father?

8. What do the parents ask their children to do in this section?

9. Describe the dish that Paul prepares.

10. Why is the dinner with Geoffrey so important to the Kittredges?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The very title of Guare's play indicates that it is concerned in large part with the interconnectedness of our world. Write an essay about the theme of interconnectedness. How does Paul's arrival into the Kittredges' lives draw attention to their place in society? How does this lead Ouisa to consider the six degrees? What connections create this meeting and what new connections does it create?

Essay Topic 2

Paul has a strange relationship with sex. Though clearly a homosexual by orientation, he does not pursue sex in the same way other people do. Write an essay on Paul's relationship with sex in two parts:

Part 1) Why does Paul have sex with Rick after their dance in the Rainbow room? Is sex a pleasure for him or a weapon? Does Paul think about how the experience will affect Rick when he propositions him?

Part 2) How does Paul explain his decision to bring a prostitute to the Kittredges' condo? Do either Ouisa or Flan understand his reasoning? How does the reasoning also explain why he will not have sex in prison?

Essay Topic 3

The Kandinsky in the Kittredge condo is the central symbolic image of the play. Write an essay about the significance of this image. What theme do its opposite sides symbolize? How does the opposing control and wildness of the painting manifest itself in the action onstage? How do you interpret Paul's cryptic final words?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 901 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample