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This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What is one of the first things presented in the introduction?
(a) A timeline of Wedekind's life with emphasis on events that inspired A Children's Tragedy.
(b) A graph showing the correlation between sexual activity and suicide.
(c) A pie chart depicting the average number of sexually active teenagers.
(d) A timeline of the play's publication and productions.

2. What form does the play evolve into?
(a) Experimental.
(b) Absurdism.
(c) Expressionism.
(d) Realism.

3. What are Melchior, Moritz, and the boys doing outside in Act 1, Scene 2?
(a) Singing.
(b) Digging holes.
(c) Studying.
(d) Playing.

4. Who is the author of the introduction to the play?
(a) Noel Coward.
(b) Antonin Artaud.
(c) Frank Wedekind.
(d) Eric Bentley.

5. In the brief summary given in the introduction, what concept is Melchior struggling with?
(a) Political unrest.
(b) Morality.
(c) Sexual preference.
(d) Nationality.

Short Answer Questions

1. With whom was Wedekind finding conflict while writing his play?

2. According to the other boys, whose name is still on the list for consideration to be promoted?

3. How do all the boys in Act 1, Scene 2 two know each other?

4. What excuse does Moritz give in order to escape the discussion about sex?

5. In the introduction, what is NOT one of the mentioned allusions in the play?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why is this play described as "coming-of-age?"

2. What does Moritz reveal himself completely ignorant about in Act I, Scene 2?

3. What thought does Wendla have that offends her mother? Where does it come from?

4. Why does Moritz not want to listen to Melchior's explanations about sex?

5. According to Bentley, what are some possible identities of the masked man at the end of the play?

6. What event does Bentley claim influence Wedekind? Why?

7. How does Bentley describe Moritz and Melchior in relation to each other in his introduction?

8. How does the introduction of this play describe Eros and Thanatos?

9. Describe Martha's parents.

10. Why did Martha's parents rip her nightgown from her?

(see the answer keys)

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