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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 is Helen Laski?

2. Who is Cindy?

3. What does Chuck want to do that Cindy does not allow?

4. How long does Griffin say he plans to stay at the house?

5. What does Griffin tell Cindy?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Dan feel and what does he say about Cindy?

2. What does Ralphie do while everyone's attention is on Cindy?

3. How does Griffin get a hold of his girlfriend?

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

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

6. Who shows up at the house that night?

7. Why is Griffin upset about Robish and Hank?

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

9. What is happening at the home of Dan and Eleanor Hilliard with their oldest child at the opening of the play?

10. What type of classic theme is exhibited by the interpersonal dynamics in this play?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Near the end of Act 2, Carson calls Bard with the news that Hank has been shot and killed trying to steal a car with a gun registered to Dan Hilliard.

1. Do you feel any sympathy for Hank's death? Why do you think he put himself in a position to be killed? Or did he?

2. Do you think the police did everything possible to capture rather than kill Hank (especially in light of what Bard says near the opening of the play that he wishes he had killed Hank's brother when Bard had the chance)? Explain your thoughts on the situation.

3. Do you think most police would prefer to capture a suspect rather than kill him/her? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

A literary technique called "foreshadowing" is seen several times. Answer the following questions in a well-developed essay using examples from the book as well as personal experience:

1. Define what the literary technique of foreshadowing and cite several examples of it in the play Desperate Hours.

2. What are literary techniques? Name several of the most common and define them.

3. Take the literary techniques you define in question number 2 and give examples of their occurrence in this story or some other piece of literature or film.

4. Do you think authors intentionally plan to write in literary techniques such as foreshadowing? Explain.

Essay Topic 3

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.

(see the answer keys)

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