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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 question does the Fire Chief ask the Smiths?

2. What complaint does Mrs. Smith have about men?

3. How does Mr. Smith calm the agitated Mrs. Smith before the Martins arrive?

4. What excuse do the Martins give for their tardiness?

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

Short Essay Questions

1. How is repetition used as a literary device?

2. Why are the Smiths angry with Mary when she announces the arrival of the Martins?

3. How do the characters react to Mary's poem, "The Fire"?

4. What effect does the outcome of the play have on the characters?

5. What topic begins the conversation of the play?

6. Describe Mrs. Martin.

7. What argument centers around the Watson family?

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

9. How are the characters emotionally distant and disconnected?

10. How are nonsensical words used in the play?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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 2

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 3

Describe the characteristics of the style "Theater of the Absurd". How does absurdist drama communicate its theme? How does this style differ from other traditional forms of drama? What is the purpose of an absurdist play?

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