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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 happens to Tybalt's sword?

2. What does Romeo do after watching Constance dance?

3. Who is unsuccessfully disguised in a mouse mask?

4. Who interrupts the swordplay between Constance and Tybalt?

5. What do Romeo and Juliet attend?

Short Essay Questions

1. There are two different actions by characters that strongly suggest a theme of homosexuality; what are those actions? Do you think either of the characters are actually homosexual?

2. What is humorous about the ghost's appearance?

3. What is the irony of the scene where Juliet stands beneath Constance's balcony and woos her?

4. The ideal of females, especially upper-class females during the time of the setting of Romeo and Juliet is that woman know nothing about sex and are virginal until marriage and then "endure" their husband's needs. Does Juliet seem to fit this description?

5. What does the purpose of this brief scene (Act 3, Scene 3) seem to be?

6. Why does Constance pounce on a Servant walking by?

7. How does the author of this play satirize the real Romeo and Juliet fight scene?

8. How is it again intimated that Constance is playing the role of the Fool?

9. What is Romeo's response to Desdemona, and what does this response say about Romeo's personality?

10. Who does Desdemona spot and what does she do?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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 2

An in-depth understanding of GOODNIGHT DESDEMONA partly hinges on understanding the corresponding characters from Shakespeare's plays Romeo and Juliet and Othello. Choose one of the following questions and write a well-organized essay using detailed examples from the text and your research to support your statements.

1. Compare and contrast the character of Desdemona from the plays GOODNIGHT DESDEMONA by MacDonald and OTHELLO by Shakespeare. Add a concluding paragraph as to which character from the plays is more interesting and has more depth.

2. Compare and contrast the character of Juliet from the plays GOODNIGHT DESDEMONA by MacDonald and ROMEO AND JULIET by Shakespeare. Add a concluding paragraph as to which character from the plays is more interesting and has more depth.

3. Compare and contrast the character of Romeo from the plays GOODNIGHT DESDEMONA by MacDonald and ROMEO AND JULIET by Shakespeare. Add a concluding paragraph as to which character from the plays is more interesting and has more depth.

Essay Topic 3

One dramatic technique that opens and closes GOODNIGHT DESDEMONA is that of the Chorus. Answer the following questions in a well-developed essay using examples from the book as well as personal experience:

1. Research the use of the Chorus both in Greek plays and Shakespeare's plays and compare the two uses.

2. Compare the use of the Chorus in GOODNIGHT DESDEMONA with how it is used in both Shakespeare's and Greek plays.

3. Do you think the Chorus adds or detracts from the play as a whole? Explain with examples.

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