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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 does Jill describe as gentle as a baby?

2. What did Alan beat himself with?

3. When does Alan agree to work?

4. Where does Alan hear about the white horse?

5. What does Dysart try to do when he first meets Alan?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is the piece of information Dora shares once Frank arrives home?

2. What is the game that Dysart wants he and Alan to play?

3. When the Christian Cavalry first appeared in the New World, what happened?

4. How does Dora describe the hose picture?

5. When Dysart asks Alan who took him first to the stables, what does Alan do?

6. How did Alan learn to ride Equus/Nugget?

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

8. What does Jill do when she sees Alan has a good feel for working with the horses?

9. What happens when Jill and Alan are sitting in the theatre?

10. What does Dysart do when Alan has a nightmare and shouts "Eck" over and over?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The horses come to Alan and tell him to never be with a woman again, a powerful part of this play's conclusion.

Part 1: Do you think Alan can maintain this promise to the horses? Why or why not?

Part 2: Why do you think this promise is asked of Alan by the horses?

Part 3: Why does Alan blind the horses in the end? What is he symbolically trying to blind from seeing?

Essay Topic 2

The act of blinding the horses is not only horrifying, but also confusing in relation to Alan's love of the horses.

Part 1: List at least 3 things Alan does to prove that he loves horses.

Part 2: Why do you think Alan decided to blind the horses? Explain your answer.

Part 3: How do you think Alan feels about his actions? Support your answer.

Essay Topic 3

The first time Alan encounters a horse is a memorable event for him. The Horseman helps Alan discover his love and longing for the animals.

Part 1: Why is this moment so important for Alan? What causes this moment to follow Alan the rest of his life?

Part 2: Why does Frank become so angry about this meeting with the Horseman? What does he do in response?

Part 3: What do you think of the Horseman? What does he seem to represent in Alan's life?

(see the answer keys)

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