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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 ailment does the animal that Wesley brings into the kitchen have?

2. How many sets of animal twins does the family have?

3. Who is Emma?

4. What does Ella suggest Emma do instead of her list of jobs?

5. What color are Ella's gloves?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Ella say Emma cannot leave the house?

2. Describe Ella's appearance when she enters in Act One.

3. According to Wesley, how does one poison a coyote?

4. What is Emma doing at the beginning of Act Two?

5. Why does Weston say Wesley should not envy his outlook?

6. Why does Emma not want to replace the front door?

7. Why is Wesley not pleased that Ella calls the cops?

8. How does Weston feel connected to the rest of his family in Act Three?

9. Why does Ella call Weston "Mr. Hyde"?

10. Why is Weston not surprised that Emma is in jail?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The lamb Wesley and Weston bring into the house to rid of maggots also plays a significant role in the play. What does the lamb represent? Does the lamb take on different meanings for different characters? Why is the lamb important to the story? Use specific examples from the play in the response.

Essay Topic 2

Sam Shepard published "Curse of the Starving Class" in the late 1970s. Explore how the play sustains its relevance in today's society. What universal problems does the Tate family encounter that today's families also cope with? What other instances retain their relevance in today's society? Use specific examples from the text in the response.

Essay Topic 3

Each main character in "Curse of the Starving Class" sees the world around them differently. Explore each main character's (Emma, Ella, Wesley and Weston) perception of reality. How are their realities similar? How are they different? How do these conflicting realities create both conflict and resolution in the play? Use specific examples from the play in the response.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 660 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample