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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. What season is it in The Lesson?

2. What does Mrs. Smith claim a fireman is also in The Bald Soprano?

3. When the pupil begins to seem ill, what does she say is wrong with her?

4. Where is the setting for The Lesson?

5. What does the professor say the pupil has a tendency to always do when doing arithmetic?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is the effect of reading the stage directions before the action in The Lesson?

2. What is similar about The Bald Soprano to the other plays in the book?

3. What story does Mary tell the Smiths and Martins?

4. Describe the professor's discourse on philology.

5. What does the maid interrupt the professor and pupil for?

6. What does the fire chief say upon leaving? How does this tie into the title of The Bald Soprano?

7. Describe the doorbell in The Bald Soprano.

8. What initial conversation takes place between the professor and the pupil in The Lesson?

9. How does the ending of The Lesson relate to the other plays' endings in the collection?

10. What is the beginning conversation between the Smiths and the Martins like?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the ending of the play, The Chairs. What happens in the ending? Why? What is the point of the orator's words or lack thereof?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the plot structure of the play The Chairs. Where is the exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution? Define these in your answer.

Essay Topic 3

Explain symbolism and how it applies to the doorbell and clock in the play The Bald Soprano.

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This section contains 843 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample