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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. Where does Eugene say his father passed out when he suffered a physical ailment in Act II?

2. How much money does Kate give to Eugene to buy ice cream with in Act II?

3. Where does the letter say Frank is moving after he gets out of his current difficulties in Act II?

4. Where was Stanley gambling when he lost his salary in Act II?

5. Stanley says in Act II that when he claimed to have lost money in November, he actually did what with it?

Short Essay Questions

1. What has Neil Simon noted in terms of his relationship to Brighton Beach Memoirs and its autobiographical elements?

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

3. How would you describe the character of Jack Jerome in Brighton Beach Memoirs?

4. How much time passes between the end of Act I and the opening of Act II? How has the household changed?

5. When does Stanley return home in Act II? Why does he decide to return?

6. How is Brighton Beach Memoirs metaphorical for the onset of World War II?

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

8. How does the conflict escalate between Kate and Blanche in Act II?

9. Where was Brighton Beach Memoirs first produced? When did it premiere on Broadway?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the theme of family in Brighton Beach Memoirs. How important is family to the characters in the story? What symbolism supports this theme? How does this theme evolve in the story?

Essay Topic 2

Examine the theme of honesty versus dishonesty in the narrative. Why do you think Kate encourages Stanley to lie about having lost the money in a poker game? Would this suggestion be brought about under different circumstances? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

Analyze and discuss the character of Jack Jerome. How old is Jack? Where does he work? How is his demeanor described when he first appears in Act I? How does Jack change through the story?

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