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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. Who is the last one to arrive at the Hilliard home?

2. Who do the police hope will lead them to the men for whom they are searching?

3. What does Ralphie want to do?

4. What town is the setting for the play?

5. What advice does Dan give Ralphie?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Griffin make clear to Cindy and Dan?

2. What does Griffin do after Ralphie runs away? How does Dan respond?

3. What does Dan tell Ralphie and what does Ralphie and Griffin do after Eleanor and Chuck have left the house?

4. During the first scene at the Hilliard house, how does Eleanor feel when her family are all gone off to their daily places, and what does she do?

5. What is it about the man at the door that puzzles Eleanor?

6. What convinces Griffin to get ready to leave the house?

7. How does the atmosphere at the Indianapolis sheriff's department appear at the beginning of the play and what changes that?

8. What does Griffin tell Eleanor?

9. Why is Miss Swift upset about the Hilliard's house and what does Dan do about it?

10. What does Robish taunt Griffin about?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In the very opening of Act 1, one immediate theme of the play is obvious--that of convicts and the penal system of the United States. Choose one of the following questions and write a well-developed essay using examples from the book as well as personal experience:

1. Compare and contrast the penal system of the United States during the late-1940s and early-1950s to that of the early-21st century.

2. Answer the following questions after conducting some research: How do convicts manage to occasionally escape from what seems to be a very secure place? What type of prisoners tends to escape? How often do you think convicts escape? Do most escapees today refrain from harming hostages as was the case in this situation in Desperate Hours? Do you think the two brothers (Hank and Glenn) who were ultimately killed deserved death? What about Robish? What should happen to him?

3. Discuss the following questions in a cohesive essay: Do you believe today's prison system is cruel? Why or why not? What do you think is the reason for the high recidivism rate of convicts who are released and end up back in prison fairly quickly? Could the prison system do a better job of truly rehabilitating prisoners? What would that take?

Essay Topic 2

Besides belonging to the literary genre of drama, Desperate Hours is a category that might be called suspense drama. Choose one of the following questions and write a well-developed essay using examples from the book as well as personal experience:

1. Compare and contrast a drama with that of Desperate Hours. What elements are similar? Different? Which do you prefer?

2. What do you think is the difference between suspense and terror? Give examples of drama or films that you would label suspense and examples that you would label terror. Give specific details to demonstrate elements of suspense and terror. Which do you enjoy the most? Why?

3. Alfred Hitchcock is often called the Master of Suspense. Watch one of his films and compare and contrast it to Desperate Hours. Which do you enjoy the most?

Essay Topic 3

In Act 1, when Dan arrives home and realizes the situation, Griffin tells Dan that they only need to hide until midnight, and then they will be gone. Dan tries to offer the criminals money to leave, but they are fixed on waiting for the money from Helen so that they can get away to Louisville. Answer the following questions in a well-developed essay using examples from the book as well as personal experience:

1. Why do you think the criminals insist on waiting for the money from Helen if Dan offers them enough money to be able to leave?

2. Why do you think Helen is willing to bring the convicts money when if she is caught, she will likely go to prison herself? Do you think Griffin really loves Helen if he would put her in that position?

3. Do you think the convicts are realistic in thinking that Helen will actually make it to the house without being watched and they will all be able to peaceably leave the Hilliard home? Explain your response.

(see the answer keys)

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