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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. How does Mr. Martin bid the Fire Chief farewell?

2. Who is at the door when Mr. Smith opens it?

3. According to the Fire Chief, who puts out the Vicar's fires?

4. According to the Fire Chief, who rang the doorbell the first two times?

5. When traveling to London by train, in which coach does Mrs. Martin sit?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe the stereotypes the characters represent.

2. Describe the plot behind Mrs. Smith's story of the man who bought flowers.

3. How does Mr. Smith know the Fire Chief?

4. Describe Mrs. Martin.

5. How is Realism used in the play?

6. Describe the protagonist and antagonist of the play.

7. How are nonsensical words used in the play?

8. What dull story does Mrs. Martin tell to amaze Mr. Martin and the Smiths?

9. How are pity and fear used to evoke a response from the audience?

10. How does the conversation among the Smiths and the Martins change after the Fire Chief leaves?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

How is irony used to advance the action of the play and express the theme? What role does sarcasm play in the play's irony? How are irony and sarcasm effective tools when used in the context of the play?

Essay Topic 2

How are situations from daily life incorporated into the play? How does Ionesco use the setting of the play to create the illusion of reality? How does the setting of the play affect the dialogue and action?

Essay Topic 3

How does the lack of logic affect the dialogue and action among the characters? What effect does illogical reasoning have on the stability of the conversation? List at three specific incidents involving illogical reasoning or behavior and discuss how each scene supports the theme of the play.

(see the answer keys)

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