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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 does Othello offer Constance?

2. How does the character enter the office?

3. How is the person on the phone acting emotionally?

4. Who is arguing at the opening of this scene?

5. By whom is Constance interrupted?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

3. What is the function of The Chorus?

4. What idea does Constance develop in writing her dissertation at the opening of this scene?

5. What happens to Constance at the end of this scene and what is her interpretation of it?

6. What happens as Constance is reading OTHELLO from her complete works of Shakespeare?

7. What happens in the third vignette of the Dumbshow?

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

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

10. How does Othello reward Constance and how does his reward symbolically represent Constance's real life?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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.

Essay Topic 2

In Act 3, Scene 1, Constance delivers a monologue, which is a dramatic devise. Answer the following questions in a well-developed essay using examples from the book as well as personal experience:

1. What is a monologue? Why would a playwright have a character deliver a monologue? Do you think monologues keep the audience attention as well as dialogue?

2. How many monologues are there in GOODNIGHT DESDEMONA? What is the purpose of two of those monologues? Are they effective?

3. If you were going to rewrite one of the longer monologues in GOODNIGHT DESDEMONA into dialogue, would you be able to impart as much information as in a monologue? Give an example of a monologue and what information in the monologue would be difficult to reveal in dialogue.

Essay Topic 3

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?

(see the answer keys)

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