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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. Which character refers to the Old Man as "the spawn of" a particular literary character?

2. The Mummy claims that which member of the family had forced her to lie about her age?

3. When Act II begins, in what location is the Girl sitting as she reads?

4. What object does the Colonel have in his hand when he enters the Round Room in Act II?

5. What is NOT an object the Old Man demands that the Colonel remove in Act II?

Short Essay Questions

1. What events lead the Old Man to conclude that the "place is haunted" (21)?

2. What do the flower bulbs within the Hyacinth Room represent?

3. What are the Mummy's first words within the play and what is the significance of her first words?

4. Identify an instance of comic relief within the play and discuss its purpose.

5. What is the significance of the Colonel's retort to the Old Man's claim that Bengtsson "is not the man he appears to be" (25)?

6. In what way does the Old Man respond to the Colonel's claim that he has two things that the Old Man "cannot possess" (25)?

7. When the Old Man declares everything in the Colonel's house as now belonging to him, what items does the Colonel claim can never be taken away from him?

8. For what reason is the Mummy "unable to tolerate" the "sight of her own daughter" (19)?

9. How does Strindberg subvert traditional notions about family within Act II?

10. Discuss an instance in the play when Strindberg sends a particular message about social hierarchy.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss Strindberg’s messages about guilt and responsibility within The Ghost Sonata.

Essay Topic 2

Could The Ghost Sonata be classified as a coming-of-age narrative in the form of a play? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss Strindberg's purpose for juxtaposing at least two different locations in a particular way within the text of The Ghost Sonata.

(see the answer keys)

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