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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. Where on his body has Paul been stabbed when he enters the Kittredges'?

2. According to Flan in this section, Geoffrey has recently sold a print by what modern artist?

3. Flan is shocked that his son lets Paul call him what?

4. What twentieth century play does Paul quote in his thesis?

5. At the end of this section, who does Flan think Ouisa will say is God's name?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is Trent's ultimate plan for Paul?

2. What mistake does Ouisa make while trying to apply first aid to Paul?

3. How does Ouisa lose Paul?

4. How does Flan respond to Paul's calling Ouisa?

5. How does the Detective respond to the complaints of the Kittredges, Kitty, and Larkin?

6. How does Guare loop time in this first half of the play?

7. What new information does the Detective have when he calls Ouisa and Flan?

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

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

10. What information has Flan been keeping from Ouisa that he tells her at the end of this section?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The idea of the imagination resonates strongly throughout he play, beginning of course with Paul's "thesis" in the first passages. Write an essay on Guare's understanding of imagination in three parts:

Part 1) Compare Paul's conception of the purpose of imagination in his thesis with what he perceives to be society's new definition of imagination. How are they different? Why does Paul consider the latter reductive?

Paul 2) How doe Ouisa, Flan and Geoffrey react to Paul's thesis on imagination? When Paul appears in Ouisa's imagination later in the play, how does he amend his notion of imagination?

Paul 3) How is what Paul actually does to the families of the play the opposite of his sense of imagination? Is he chipping away at his own personality living in a state of constant deception?

Essay Topic 2

The story of this play is told almost entirely by the Kittredges. Write an essay detailing what you think they intend to impress upon the listener about their role in the story. How do they view themselves? Do they think that they have made mistakes in the course of events? What ultimately do they realize about themselves as they relive the events of the play?

Essay Topic 3

One of the reasons that everyone in the play takes to Paul so quickly is his contention that he is Sidney Poitier's son. Write an essay about the reaction the various marks have to the thought of Poitier. What does he represent to the Kittredges? Geoffrey? Dr. Fine? Why are they so put at-ease by the thought of him?

(see the answer keys)

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