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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 Moritz's story in Act II, Scene 1, how many heads does the king have?

2. Where does the last scene of the play take place?

3. How does Mrs. Bergmann attempt to explain her new grandson to Wendla?

4. Where does the second scene of Act III take place?

5. Who is the artist of Hanschen's picture in Act II, Scene 3?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Hanschen deal with his burgeoning sexual desires?

2. Why does her sister having a child come as such a surprise to Wendla?

3. Why does Hanschen claim he needs to destroy the picture? How does this represent the views of the town?

4. Why do the professors want to expel Melchior from school?

5. What is significant about Melchior's letter to Wendla?

6. What advice and favor does Mrs. Gabor offer to Moritz?

7. Describe what happens in the hayloft when Wendla first enters.

8. Describe Wendla's mood and thoughts in Act II, scene 6.

9. How does Rentier Stiefel react to Moritz's death?

10. What does Ilsa reveal to Martha at Moritz's grave?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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.

Essay Topic 2

How does Wedekind intertwine sex and violence? How is this a theme of the play? What characters appear to embody this idea? How does Goethe's "Faust" relate to this? How is this enacted on stage? Cite specific examples from the text to support your answers.

Essay Topic 3

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.

(see the answer keys)

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