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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 favor does Moritz ask of Melchior in Act 1, Scene 2?

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

3. How does Melchior feel about people who end up in Hell because they do not enjoy visiting the poor?

4. What does Moritz believe about why students will flunk out of their class?

5. Who starts to explain sex to Moritz in Act 1, Scene 2?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe Martha's parents.

2. Why does Wendla fantasize about being beaten? How does she handle it?

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

4. Why was this play frequently repressed after the initial publication?

5. What is significant about the number sixty in relation to Moritz?

6. What is pointed out to Moritz in Act I, scene 4 that deflates his happiness?

7. What does Moritz believe is the purpose of his school's exams?

8. What are Melchior's beliefs about good deeds, as related to Wendla?

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

10. What conflicts does Bentley discuss were essential to Wedekind during the writing of "Spring Awakening"? Why?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Several extremely controversial points arise in Spring Awakening: A Children's Tragedy from Melchior's rape of Wendla. Compose a clear thesis and construct an essay around it. Points to consider include (but not exclusively):

- Melchior's belief system and his relationship to Wendla.

- Wendla's masochistic tendencies.

- The dialogue leading up to the rape.

- Melchior's guilt.

- Wendla's scene in the garden. Cite specific examples from the text to support your arguments.

Essay Topic 2

In the final scene of this play, Melchior comes across Moritz's ghost, who begs his friend to join him in suicide. Compose a strong thesis about the nature of suicide in Spring Awakening: A Children's Tragedy and write about it in the following format:

Part 1) Discuss Moritz's reasons for suicide.

Part 2) Discuss Melchior's consideration of suicide.

Part 3) Discuss the reaction of the people to Moritz's suicide.

Part 4) Discuss the school's reaction to Moritz's suicide.

Part 5) Discuss the masked man saving Melchior from killing himself.

Cite specific examples from the text to support your answers.

Essay Topic 3

How does Wedekind lampoon religion in this play? Is Melchior's belief system about God meant to be taken as the playwright's beliefs? How does Moritz's funeral relate to the final scene with the masked man?

(see the answer keys)

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