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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. At what time of day does Act II take place?

2. What does Lopakhin order the orchestra to do at the end of Act III?

3. What does the Stationmaster recite from in Act III?

4. Who is expected to propose to Varya?

5. Who arrives at the estate near the end of Act II?

Short Essay Questions

1. Who is the Countess? How does she play into the plot? Where does she live?

2. What event is taking place in the beginning of Act III? What purpose does this event serve to the story?

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

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

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

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

7. What does Lyubov feel about her lover? How does she show her feelings?

8. What is the irony of the landowners in The Cherry Orchard?

9. What is the relationship between Dunyasha and Yepikhodov?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Chekhov's The Cherry Orchard is more complicated than many plays of his time. Unlike the "Well-Made Play," The Cherry Orchard has a more obscure plot and protagonist and antagonist. Who do you feel is the protagonist in The Cherry Orchard? Who is the antagonist? Why do you feel this way?

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

The characters of Lyubov and Lopakhin are central to the action in The Cherry Orchard. Compare and contrast the characteristics of Lyubov and Lopakhin. How do their backgrounds affect who they are today? What do we know about them based on their appearances and their actions? How do their actions or in-actions affect the outcome of the play?

(see the answer keys)

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