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

2. How was the rape scene censored in reissues of A Children's Tragedy?

3. According to the masked man, what is morality?

4. How is Wendla's body, in terms of maturation?

5. According to Moritz, what is designed to flunk out the students at their school?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

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

4. What appears to be a key difference between Melchior and Moritz in their first scene together?

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

6. How do Mrs. Bergmann and Wendla deal with the girl's maturation in Act I, Scene 1?

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

8. Describe Martha's parents.

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

How are the adults portrayed in this play? To what purpose are they lampooned? How is the character of Mrs. Gabor used to show the power of adults and the consequences of misunderstanding their children? Is Mrs. Bergmann meant to be a sympathetic character? Why or why not? How does Moritz's father represent the majority of the adults in this play? Cite specific examples from the text to support your answers.

Essay Topic 2

Compare and contrast the characters of Wendla and Ilse. How does knowledge affect both girls? How is Ilse freer than Wendla? Conversely, how is Wendla freer than Ilse? What is the significance of Wendla being raped and Ilse sleeping freely with her artists?

Essay Topic 3

Choose one of the following topics to write about:

- Discuss the abuse of Martha.

- Discuss Mrs. Gabor's letter to Moritz.

- Discuss Wendla's love of being a girl versus Martha and Thea's preference to have been born men.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,055 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample