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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. When did Mr. and Mrs. Smith attend Bobby Watson's funeral?

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

3. What poem does Mary recite?

4. Which part of the alphabet does Mrs Martin quote in the last scene?

5. What rare item does the grocer Popesco Rosenfeld sell?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. What comedic coincidences exist in the play?

3. Describe the discussion that centers around Dr. Mackenzie-King.

4. Why does the Fire Chief leave the Smiths' house?

5. Describe the stereotypes the characters represent.

6. What is the significance of the mirror?

7. How do Mary and the Fire Chief shock the Smiths and the Martins?

8. What conflicts arise in the play and how are they resolved?

9. Why does the Fire Chief have difficulty finding a fire?

10. How is contradiction used as a literary device?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

How are satire and parody used to expose different aspects of the theme? What elements are exposed to ridicule and mimicked? How does Ionesco use humor to condemn the behavior of the characters?

Essay Topic 2

What stereotypes are found within the play? What is the purpose of each stereotype? Is any change evident in the development of the characters, and how does character development affect the progress of the action?

Essay Topic 3

What coincidences exist in the play? How are coincidences used to create humor? List at three specific incidents involving coincidences and discuss how each scene supports the theme of the play.

(see the answer keys)

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