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

2. In attempting a partial doctorate, the professor says he must attempt to instruct the pupil in what?

3. What does the maid say that philology leads to in The Lesson?

4. In The Bald Soprano, Mr. Smith claims that only what is honest in England?

5. In order to articulate, the professor suggests you do what?

Short Essay Questions

1. Discuss the differences between The Bald Soprano and the other plays in the collection.

2. Describe the distinguishing qualities of the set and the Smiths in The Bald Soprano.

3. What happens in the beginning of The Lesson? What is the setting?

4. What object does the professor take from the shelf? What does he do with it?

5. Describe the relationship between Mr. and Mrs. Martin when they "meet."

6. How does the professor attempt to teach the pupil arithmetic?

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

8. What do the stage directions in the beginning of The Lesson detail?

9. What is Absurdism and how does it inhabit the four plays of the book?

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

Compare the characters of the professor in The Lesson to the old man in The Chairs. What similarities do they share? What differences?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the ending of the play Jack, or The Submission. What occurs and what is the symbolic meaning of this ending?

Essay Topic 3

Compare the Smiths and the Martins in The Bald Soprano. How do these characters switch roles in the play? What is the meaning of this?

(see the answer keys)

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