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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 did Lopakhin's father do to him when Lopakhin was a child?

2. On what date is the estate to go up for auction?

3. What is taking place at the beginning of Act III?

4. In Act II, why does Gaev say he must go to town the following day?

5. Who gets into an argument with Trofimov in Act II?

Short Essay Questions

1. Which character is the most "socialist?" How?

2. What is the emotional state of Lopakhim in Act III? Why?

3. Who is the comic relief in the play? How does this play out?

4. Explain the argument between Lyubov and Trofimov in Act III.

5. How does Varya feel about Yepikhodov? What does she do to show her feelings?

6. Who buys the estate at auction? How did this come about?

7. What does Lopakhin suggest that Lyubov and Gaev do with the estate in Act II? What is their reaction?

8. How does Trofimov feel about the upper classes?

9. Where do the telegrams arrive from? What do they say?

10. Describe the setting of Act II. What characters are in the opening of the scene, and what are they doing?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Chekhov chose to title this play, The Cherry Orchard: A Comedy in Four Acts. Why did he title it a comedy? What comedic elements does he employ within the play? What tragic elements are there?

Essay Topic 2

Compare and contrast the characteristics of Varya and Anya. How do they relate to each other and to other characters throughout the play? How are their appearances similar or different? Compare their outlooks on life, their philosophies and religious beliefs. What other characters in the play do they most reflect?

Essay Topic 3

Describe the plot structure of The Cherry Orchard. Where does the exposition transition into rising action? Where is the climax of the narrative? What does the reader/audience learn in the falling action and denouement of the story?

(see the answer keys)

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