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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. While they are working together, for what reason does Troy say Cory should be grateful to him?

2. What does Rose say is the reason that Troy never played in the major leagues?

3. What argument do Rose, Troy, and Bono have about grocery stores?

4. What descriptive word does Troy use when he complains about Cory to Rose?

5. Why does Gabriel suddenly run off from Rose and Troy's yard?

Short Essay Questions

1. When Troy is left alone in the yard, to whom does he speak?

2. What does Rose tell Troy he should do when the recruiter comes?

3. How does Rose respond to Bono when he wonders why he stayed at his lousy first home so long?

4. When Troy complains that Cory is lazy, how does Rose respond?

5. What does Troy say in response to Rose's comment that their son Cory is being scouted by a recruiter?

6. Why is Troy, many months after revealing his affair, still coming home every night?

7. How does Cory respond when Troy tells him how much he has done for Cory?

8. What reason does Bono give Cory when he asks why Rose wants a fence?

9. Why is Rose upset with Cory when he leaves for a football game?

10. Why does Troy say that he is not planning to give Alberta up?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the ways in which baseball terms are used metaphorically throughout the play. Give examples of when and how at least a dozen terms are used.

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the issue of racial prejudice in the play, both in terms of what are factual issues addressed and what are problems for which Troy claims exist only because of the domination of the white man over the black man.

Essay Topic 3

Using ideas from the play, explain why you think August Wilson chose to call his play "Fences." In addition to discussing the fence which Troy builds around his house, include your ideas about what other fences exist in the play and why the fence serves as a strong symbol in the play.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 614 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample