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This test consists of 5 short answer questions and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What car do Taylor and Ella have?

2. Who volunteers to do Weston's laundry?

3. Who is the straight-A student?

4. How much money does Ellis have?

5. Who tells Weston Ella is with a lawyer?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In "Curse of the Starving Class", each main character is on a quest or searching for something. Choose one of the main characters (Weston, Ella, Emma or Wesley), and describe what that character is searching for. What steps does the character take to find what they are looking for? Is the character successful or not in fulfilling their quest or search? Use specific examples from the text in the response.

Essay Topic 2

Knowing that "Curse of the Starving Class" is one of Sam Shepard's family tragedy plays, explore the statement the playwright is making about family in the play. What does Shepard want the audience and reader to understand and learn about family? How does Shepard use the Tate family's dynamics to make a larger statement on family relationships and dynamics in general? Use specific examples from the text in the response.

Essay Topic 3

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.

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This section contains 267 words (approx. 1 page at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample