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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. Where does the situation in the wire report take place?

2. With what does Griffin threaten Cindy if she tries to escape?

3. Who is Samuel Robish?

4. How does Dan realize that something is wrong in his house?

5. About what does Deputy Winston read a wire report?

Short Essay Questions

1. What happens when Cindy arrives home after her date with Chuck?

2. Why and how does Chuck confront Griffin?

3. What makes Jesse Bard scared about the report Winston is reading the first morning at the sheriff's department?

4. What happens to Griffin when he leaves the Hilliard house?

5. What is Cindy doing when Dan and Eleanor are in their room?

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

7. What finally pushes Griffin over the edge?

8. What does Dan tell Eleanor to do after Robish is gone and what does Griffin do?

9. How does Dan react when the police pick up Cindy and Flick and what does he believe?

10. Who knocks at the door of the Hilliard's house and what does he do?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Tensions begin to mount halfway through Act 2, and Griffin seems to be losing control of the other two convicts. Answer the following questions in a well-developed essay using examples from the book as well as personal experience:

1. Do you think the other two men had originally decided that Griffin was their leader? How do you think it was determined who took charge?

2. Who is in charge of the Hilliard family? Why do you think this is so? Do you think the dynamics of the family would be different in the 21st century? Would the same person still be in charge?

3. Who else in the book seems to demonstrate leadership qualities besides Dan and Glen? Does anyone?

Essay Topic 2

In drama, setting plays a little different role than in a novel or even a film. Most of the setting is limited because of the logistics of changing sets and the expense of creating very many different scenes. Answer the following questions in a well-developed essay using examples from the book as well as personal experience:

1. How do you think the rather limited setting of Desperate Hours affects the overall impact of the play?

2. Most of the action of the play takes place in the Hilliard's living room and upstairs. How would you maximize the creating of these two scenes for the most versatility and interest?

3. What other aspects of a play do you think is enhanced by limited setting? Give examples.

Essay Topic 3

The three convicts enter the Hilliard home and take Eleanor hostage. Answer the following questions in a well-developed essay using examples from the book as well as personal experience:

1. Describe how Eleanor responds to the convicts' invasion. Do you think you would respond in a similar fashion? Why or why not?

2. Have you heard of a psychological response to a hostage situation called the "Stockholm Syndrome?" Research about this syndrome and then decide if you think the Hilliard family became that type of hostage. Why or why not?

3. Could Eleanor have done anything differently at the very beginning of this situation so that it did not escalate into a hostage situation? Do you think Eleanor's actions would be different now in the 21st century than when this situation occurs in the 1950s?

(see the answer keys)

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