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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 Alan standing next to as the play opens?

2. Who is the girl that had a nervous breakdown?

3. What does Dysart offer they do?

4. What is Dysart's wife's name?

5. What makes the picture of the horse so interesting? What kind of angle is it?

Short Essay Questions

1. What interrupts Dysart and his thoughts about the hypnosis session with Alan?

2. What is Frank's reaction to Alan's encounter with the horse?

3. Describe how Nugget reacts to Alan.

4. Who does Dysart blame for some of his current self doubts?

5. Describe Alan and Dalton's first meeting.

6. What is the reasoning for Alan's choice of King John as his favorite king of England?

7. How does Alan react to Nugget as he is grooming him?

8. What does Alan say when he recounts his nonverbal conversation with that first horse?

9. What does Dysart offer to do as a result of #46?

10. What makes Dysart feel fed up and thus he tells Alan the session is over?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The role of sex in this story is one that seems to cause a great deal of pain and worry in the characters, as well as relief and release.

Part 1: List three different ways or instances in which sex is revealed in this play.

Part 2: What are the outcomes of these instances? What do the characters involved learn from each of this instances?

Part 3: Is sex seen as a bad or a good thing in this play? Support your answer.

Essay Topic 2

The relationship between Dysart and Hesther helps to guide the play and to show the reader how the story progressed for Alan.

Part 1: Why do you think Hesther is introduced in this play? What is her role in the story?

Part 2: What do you think Hesther is meant to symbolize in this play? What is her part in the relationship between Alan and Dysart?

Part 3: Is the character of Hesther necessary? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

The idea of making Alan normal seems to be the direction of the therapy and of the play itself.

Part 1: How is normal defined in this play by Dysart?

Part 2: How would Alan's parents each define normal?

Part 3: Do you think 'normal' is a realistic goal? Why or why not?

(see the answer keys)

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