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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 does the Maniac suggest to the Superintendent regarding Sports Jacket in Act 1, Scene 2?

2. What does the Maniac insist that the Superintendent and the others did with the anarchist to cheer him up?

3. What does the Maniac threaten to do to the Inspector?

4. Who says in Act 1, Scene 2, "No lord ever killed a good hunting dog to satisfy a peasant! If anything, it's been the other way around?"

5. What does the Maniac say they have to add more of to the versions of the statements they already have in Act 1, Scene 2?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does the Maniac do when the Constable comes into the office in Act 1, Scene 2?

2. What is the Maniac's suggestion to the Superintendent and Sports Jacket, considering their situation of desperation in Act 1, Scene 2?

3. What does the Maniac do with the documents he finds while in the office alone?

4. How is the Maniac's treatment of the Superintendent and Sports Jacket a recreation of their statement about the Anarchist?

5. What is happening in the beginning of the play? What does Bertozzo want from the Maniac?

6. What does the Maniac tell the person on the phone about his message in Act 1, Scene 1?

7. What does the Maniac tell Bertozzo about grammar in Act 1, Scene 1?

8. What is the phone call regarding which the Maniac takes in Act 1, Scene 1?

9. How does the Maniac feel after taking the phone call in Act 1, Scene 1? Why?

10. What does the Maniac do when the phone rings in the office in Act 1, Scene 1?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the relation of Accidental Death of an Anarchist to the real-life trial of Giuseppe Pinelli and his subsequent death. What characters are reflective of actual people in this public scandal? How does Fo use this as a backdrop for the themes he presents?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the Brechtian elements of the play, particularly that of the Alienation Effect. Where is this technique employed? What effect does it have? Why did Fo choose to use it?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the slapstick elements of Accidental Death of an Anarchist. What do these actions and "bits" counterbalance? Where did slapstick originate?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 825 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample