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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 Joe call a Wop?

2. What are the professions of the two main characters?

3. Why is the research in Laboratory A so important at the time of the play?

4. Which of Joe and Edna's bills needs to be paid right away?

5. What does Edna mean when she says, "Everything was gonna be so ducky!"?

Short Essay Questions

1. What are some of the reasons that Fayette selects Miller for the new project?

2. How are Scenes 1 and 2 related?

3. How do you think Irv feels as a result of his behavior toward Florence?

4. Is Fatt respected by the workers?

5. What does Benjamin decide to do after being fired, and what had he been thinking about doing?

6. Why is Dr. Barnes limited by what he can do to express his outrage at the changes in medicine?

7. What language does Clayton use that is reminiscent of Fatt's earlier speech?

8. Why doesn't Edna want Joe to yell?

9. Besides going to bed hungry, how else are the children affected by Joe and Edna's financial situation?

10. What is the significance of the discussion about Fayette's office?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The threat of violence is constant throughout the play. The most obvious manifestation of that violence is the "Gunman." Discuss the various manifestations of violence and the roles that violence plays in shaping the emotional and economic lives of the workers.

Essay Topic 2

Spying is argued as both honorable and despicable in two scenes in the play. How is it that the same act can be interpreted in very different, sometimes opposite ways? In this play, what gives spying its honor? In what ways is it unacceptable to some? What does deception do to the deceiver and the deceived? What are your thoughts about the decisions that Clayton and Miller made about spying?

Essay Topic 3

In spite of the anger, violence, deception, and other stressors, Odets manages to write love into the play. Think about the relationships depicted in the play. Who are the characters in the love relationships and what kind are they? What responsibilities to each other do they have? How are the relationships influenced by others? Which relationship is the most romantic and how is that romance shown? What are your thoughts about the couple's decision to delay sex until marriage?

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