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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 does it mean to "take a run-out powder?"

2. Who does Joe accuse of racketeering?

3. Why doesn't Edna want Joe to wake the children?

4. To whom is the first character speaking?

5. What is Joe paying his dues to?

Short Essay Questions

1. What are some of Joe's explanations for not making enough money to support his family?

2. What is the benefit of having a speaker with experience with a strike talk to the workers?

3. Is Fatt respected by the workers?

4. What are the first indications that Joe and Edna are having financial problems?

5. How are Scenes 1 and 2 related?

6. Is Florence right to put the family ahead of what she wants? Why or why not?

7. How does Fatt try to discourage the Voice from exposing the spy?

8. Is Miller's use of violence against Fayette an acceptable response to being fired?

9. How does Fatt try to dismiss the workers?

10. What contributes to Dr. Barnes' deep anger about rich men taking away his power to influence medical care? How does he express it?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Odets' play has been called dated because of the language. The slang and figurative language almost demand a close reading of the play with a good dictionary at hand. How does the language aid communication and relationships in the 1930s? What does it communicate about the speakers and listeners? What if anything could have influenced the language of the working class? What if any contemporary communications are comparable to Odets' language?

Essay Topic 2

Joe and Edna, and Sid and Florence experience emotional and social side effects from the economic situation the workers are facing in the play. How do these side effects manifest in their personal relationships?

Essay Topic 3

In several instances, Fatt makes statements that the workers challenged. He says workers have hot suppers to go home to and the workers disagree. Fatt says Philadelphia is an hour away and the worker says two hours. What is the significance of getting the facts over seemingly minor details, which gives the appearance of quibbling over minor differences? How do minor inaccuracies detract from or add to the realities of the lives of the bosses and workers?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 841 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample