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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. Stanley has been fired from his job for doing what?

2. How long has the doctor told Jack Jerome to stay home and rest in the beginning of Act II?

3. Kate tells Blanche she’ll find out for her how much whose house rents for in Act II?

4. Where is Blanche going to dinner for her date in Act II?

5. Why is Frank at fault for his hospitalization in Act II?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does the Jewish heritage of the Jerome/Morton family play into the metaphorical interpretation of the play?

2. What do Jack and Stanley discuss after Stanley’s return home in Act II?

3. Why does Stanley decide to leave home in Act II? What does he ask Eugene for before he goes?

4. What autobiographical elements can be seen in Brighton Beach Memoirs?

5. How does Kate respond when Stanley confesses the truth about his salary in Act II?

6. Who has sent the letter with Laurie in Act II? What news does the letter relate?

7. What criticisms did Neil Simon receive for the original production of Brighton Beach Memoirs?

8. How is Blanche’s appearance described when she enters in Act II? What causes tension in this scene regarding Stanley’s income?

9. What do Blanche and Nora discuss when Nora arrives home in Act II?

10. How does the relationship between Blanche and Kate evolve through the narrative?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Describe and discuss the character of Stanley Jerome in the play. How old is Stanley? What kind of relationship does he have with his younger brother? How is Stanley regarded by his parents?

Essay Topic 2

Describe and analyze the setting of the play. Examine the year in which the play is set, the location in New York of the Jerome household, and the political, international, and economic atmosphere of this setting. When did the Great Depression begin? What brought about the end of the Great Depression?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the character of Blanche Morton in the play. Why do you think the playwright chose the name Blanche? What other dramatic character does this name evoke? How would you describe Blanche’s actions, objectives, and obstacles in the story?

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