View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. Who enters the scene after Elwood Dowd, Dr. Lyman Sanderson, and the nurse exit?

2. What does Harvey look like, according to this scene?

3. What does Elwood Dowd do immediately upon arriving home?

4. What does Elwood Dowd tell Dr. Lyman Sanderson about the name Harvey?

5. What does Veta Simmons tell Dr. William Chumley about her brother, Elwood Dowd?

Short Essay Questions

1. With whom does Elwood Dowd speak to on the phone when he arrives home and what does he talk about?

2. In his phone conversation home in this scene, what does Elwood Dowd want to know?

3. What are some of the reasons Veta Simmons is visibly shaken up and disheveled-looking when she first appears in this scene?

4. What does Myrtle Mae Simmons offer up as "proof" that Elwood Dowd is a horrible person to live with (at least according to her)?

5. What is Elwood Dowd's reaction to the parcel brought out by Myrtle Mae Simmons?

6. Which other characters do you think are starting to believe in Harvey by the end of this scene? Why do they do this?

7. Why is Veta Simmons speech about the importance of art significant, if at all?

8. What is Veta Simmons' reasoning for why she was committed instead of Elwood Dowd?

9. While Veta Simmons and Dr. William Chumley are arguing, what happens?

10. How does Dr. Lyman Sanderson try to psychoanalyze Elwood Dowd's relationship with Harvey?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In much of the play, Elwood Dowd carries around a raincoat and hat, even though he is wearing a raincoat and hat. What does this say about Elwood Dowd as a person? Why would he do such a thing? Please support your thesis from the text.

Essay Topic 2

Throughout the play "Harvey", Mary Chase weaves a theme about how humans need to hold onto their dreams. This is best articulated by Veta Simmons when she is speaking with Judge Gaffney in Act 2, Scene 1. Do you believe the author is trying to say that, although Harvey may not be real, it is important for people to believe in something beyond themselves that, ultimately, makes them better? Please support your thesis from examples based on the text.

Essay Topic 3

There is a strong theme throughout this play that contrasts belief (i.e., holding to things that are difficult to prove scientifically) and our need as humans for empirical evidence (scientific proof of things that can be perceived with the five senses). Pick three situations from the play "Harvey" by Mary Chase and explain which characters tend toward belief and which are looking for evidence with regard to Harvey. Do some characters change positions? Why or why not? Do you think that the author supports belief or science more? Please support your answers.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 826 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample