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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. Where does Moritz sneak to in Act 1, Scene 4?

2. When was the play produced in America?

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

4. What information does Moritz discover in Act 1, Scene 4 that cheers him up?

5. What was censored in reissues of A Children's Tragedy?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is Wendla's attitude about her old dress and new dress in the beginning of the play?

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

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

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

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

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

7. What startling admission does Moritz give in Act I, Scene 4? Why?

8. What are some of the ways this play was censored in re-prints?

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

10. According to the summary in the introduction, what will happen to Melchior?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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 2

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 3

Upon publication, Spring Awakening: A Children's Tragedy was frequently suppressed, censored, or outright banned in several countries. Discuss the history of this play's production in the following format:

Part 1) Wedekind's troubles in the writing and publishing of this play.

Part 2) Critical reaction.

Part 3) The play during the World Wars.

Part 4) Censored publications.

Part 5) First American performance.

Cite specific examples from the text to support your answers.

(see the answer keys)

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