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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. Which character wears all black?

2. What is the plan for the cherry orchard at the end of Act III?

3. What Shakespearean play does Lopakhin quote to Varya after the passing of the stranger in Act II?

4. Who intends to pay the musicians at the end of Act III?

5. Who performs magic tricks in Act III?

Short Essay Questions

1. Who is involved in a "love triangle" in the play? How?

2. Trofimov is a character who speaks about philosophical ideals throughout the play. What are the concepts and ideals that he speaks about?

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

4. What is the emotional state of Lyubov at the beginning of Act III? Why?

5. How does Trofimov feel about the upper classes?

6. What does Firs say in Act III about the guests at the estate? How are they different from the guests before?

7. Who performs magic tricks? What tricks does he/she perform? Where did he/she learn to perform them?

8. Who is Pishchik? How does he know the family? What request does he make to Lyubov repeatedly in Act II?

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

10. What is the emotional state of Lyubov at the end of Act III? Why?

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

How is slavery and serfdom viewed by the characters in The Cherry Orchard? How does Chekhov use symbolism to reflect serfdom/slavery in the play? What statements do you think Chekhov is making regarding slavery?

Essay Topic 3

Chekhov was known as one of the first writers of realism in drama. How does his writing in The Cherry Orchard represent realism? How are the characters, costumes, and set designs impacted by the realistic approach to drama? How does his realistic writing affect actors performing in his plays?

(see the answer keys)

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