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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 kind of ice cream does Laurie say she wants for dessert in Act II?

2. How much money does Eugene say is his “life’s savings” stored in his cigar box in Act II?

3. How many “terrific lies” does Eugene tell Stanley he came up with for him to explain the missing money in Act II?

4. Blanche asks Kate in Act II if she remembers how their mother cried when who left home?

5. How much money’s worth of stamps does Eugene offer to Stanley in Act II?

Short Essay Questions

1. What gift does Stanley give to Eugene in Act II? What is Eugene’s response?

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

3. How does Eugene respond to Stanley’s departure in Act II? Who does he go to talk to about the situation?

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

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

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

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

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

9. How does the conflict between Kate and Blanche become resolved in Act II?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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?

Essay Topic 2

Social and Racial Bias in Brighton Beach Memoirs

a. Discuss the time period in which the play is set and the concepts of racial, social, economic, and religious prejudice in the United States and abroad at this time. How does the playwright touch on the subject of prejudice in the story?

b. In what ways do the Jerome family members show racial or social prejudice in the play?

Essay Topic 3

Describe and discuss playwright Neil Simon and the original production of Brighton Beach Memoirs. When was the play first produced and where? When did it move to Broadway? How long did it run before closing? How does this play compare with Simon’s other works?

(see the answer keys)

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