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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. How does the character enter the office?

2. Where is Desdemona murdered?

3. Who enters the argument scene?

4. What book does Constance open?

5. What is the significance of the next day?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why do you think Act 1 is titled "The Dumbshow"?

2. How does the Chorus appear and what is its first action?

3. How does Othello punish Iago and is the punishment fitting?

4. Describe the interaction between Desdemona and Constance after Othello has dragged Iago off the stage.

5. After Constance is interrupted a second time, she starts to read Romeo and Juliet; what happens as she reads?

6. Is Constance successful in changing OTHELLO from a tragedy and what might this mean for the Gustav Manuscript?

7. What is happening as Constance arrives in Verona and what does she do about it?

8. What happens in the second vignette of the Dumbshow and from where do you think this scene is derived?

9. What is the function of The Chorus?

10. What effect does Constance's dramatic appearance in the middle of the argument between Mercutio and Romeo?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The idea of authorship is an obvious theme in the play GOODNIGHT DESDEMONA. Choose one of the following questions and write a well-organized essay using detailed examples from the text, your research and personal experience to support your statements.

1. What is the issue of authorship in the play? Give examples to illustrate your statements. Is this issue resolved?

2. Professor Night thanks Constance for her ghost writing much of his academic publications and allowing him to take credit for her contributions. Do you think this is honest on the Professor's part? Do you think he would be out of a job if his taking advantage of Constance were revealed? How often do you think Professors take credit for work done by their research assistants? Is this fair, considering the Professor is the one taking the time to supervise a graduate student? Would you be willing to ghost write for someone else and not receive credit for your work? What if you were well paid for doing so--would that make a difference?

3. Authorship is a broader issue in the play as several characters in a sense re-write their lives--particularly Desdemona, Juliet, and Constance. How do you think you author your own life? Are you writing your story the way you want it to play out? Can you change your story? Would you?

Essay Topic 2

GOODNIGHT DESDEMONA belongs to the genre of drama. Answer the following questions in a well-developed essay using examples from the book as well as personal experience:

1. What do you think is the definition of drama? Write out your definition and then look up the definition in a literary dictionary. How similar are the two definitions?

2. Drama is written with the intention that it will be performed. How do you think this influences the manner in which the plot unfolds, the dialogue, the set complexity, the number of characters, and the length?

3. Compare GOODNIGHT DESDEMONA to a short story. What are the differences? The similarities? Which do you enjoy reading the most?

Essay Topic 3

The topic of alchemy both opens and closes GOODNIGHT DESDEMONA. Answer the following questions in a well-developed essay using examples from the book as well as personal experience:

1. What is alchemy? When was it "invented" and who are some famous alchemists? Does any part of the old ideas of alchemy exist today?

2. What is the Philosopher's Stone? How is it used in the play? Do you see the Philosopher's Stone as a metaphor? For what? Give specific examples.

3. Alchemy has also been taken as a spiritual metaphor of changing base (corrupt) humanity into spiritual (incorruptible) beings. Do you think this idea is part of the alchemy in this play? Who is being changed? Why? Give specific examples.

(see the answer keys)

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