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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 tells the sheriff that Hildy has quit the paper in Act 1, Part 4?

2. How much money does Hildy tell the other reporters he has received as a gift?

3. What does Hildy ask the reporters for before he leaves in Act 1, Part 3?

4. What reason does Mollie give for seeing Williams before the shooting?

5. What does Peggy remind Hildy of in Act 2, Part 2?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is interesting about the way both the mayor and the sheriff respond to what the messenger does in Act 3, Part 3?

2. Who is Mollie and how is she treated by the reporters in the beginning of Act 1, Part 4?

3. What is the main point or reason for the argument between Peggy and Hildy at the end of Act 2, Part 5?

4. What is surprising about the way Burns reacts to being arrested in the beginning of Act 3, Part 3, and why do you think he reacts that way?

5. When does Mollie say she saw Williams and how does she explain her relationship with him to the reporters in Act 1, Part 4?

6. What does Williams tell Mollie about the escape and where he has been the whole time in Act 2, Part 4?

7. What two different meanings can be interpreted from the way the other reporters react to Hildy's leaving in Act 1, Part 3?

8. What request by the reporters is denied by the Sheriff in Act 1, Part 2, and how does the request itself depict their priorities?

9. What is the response to the fire alarm ringing by the reporters in Act 1, Part 1, and what does it say about their characters?

10. What is the character of Woodenshoes like, and how is the interaction between him and the reporters significant in Act 1, Part 2?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The reporters are joking in the background of many acts in the play, displaying their cynicism as well.

1) Describe three situations where the cynicism or joking is illustrated and why you think the authors included it for those specific parts of the play.

2) Describe the time or times that Hildy also participated in the cynicism and joking, and why it was necessary to show that side of his character. What did it illustrate?

Essay Topic 2

Hildy and Peggy's future together is a focal point for The Front Page because it demonstrates many things about Hildy as a character. Outline their relationship in detail as it is depicted in the play. Include the main areas that they share similar views in, as well as the areas that they differ. Also, whether you think Hildy will in fact, be himself with Peggy after the play ends. Or, will he come to struggle with a part of himself that will always be there. Use the play as a reference to support your opinion.

Essay Topic 3

Burns and the mayor show many similar character traits as the story unfolds. Describe these similarities and what they mean for both characters. In particular, what does it represent for Burns in an ironic, or even hypocritical sense? Be sure to use the play to provide specific examples.

(see the answer keys)

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