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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 is symbolic about what the Duchess is losing?

2. Who does the African American man refer to himself as?

3. An African-American man walks on stage in Part 2. What is he carrying?

4. How does the African-American man feel about himself?

5. What is the Duchess missing half of at the start of Part 2?

Short Essay Questions

1. How did the African-American man take care of his mother? What was his father's reaction?

2. Why does Patrice Lumumba's hair fall out?

3. What is symbolic about Sarah saying she killed her own father?

4. What is symbolic about all of the characters losing their hair?

5. Describe the Duchess and Queen Victoria the first time the audience sees them.

6. What is symbolic about the cross in Part 3?

7. What does the Duchess say about her mother?

8. Where did the African-American man's father's mother want him to travel and why?

9. What did the African-American man's father tell his son was going to come after him?

10. What does the truth Raymond reveals about Sarah say about her?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the theme of racial identity in this play. How does Adrienne Kennedy weave this theme throughout her play? How does racial identity drive the actions of the characters? Choose two characters and compare and contrast the ways they deal with racial identity in this play.

Essay Topic 2

Monologues are prevalent in Adrienne Kennedy's play. Define what a monologue is and how Kennedy uses them in her play. Why did Kennedy elect to use monologues rather then conversations between characters to tell Sarah's story?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the historical significance of Patrice Lumumba and how Adrienne Kennedy uses him in her play. How does the life of Patrice Lumumba bring forth the message that Kennedy is trying to convey?

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