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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 Myrtle Mae Simmons claim about living with her uncle?

2. What is Veta Simmons' reaction when she sees the portrait of Elwood Dowd and Harvey on the mantle?

3. Where does Elwood Dowd say Dr. William Chumley found him?

4. How does Wilson react toward Elwood Dowd when he sees him?

5. In this scene, Dr. William Chumley and Judge Gaffney visit whom upstairs in the Dowd mansion?

Short Essay Questions

1. According to Elwood Dowd, how did Harvey get his name?

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

3. Why do you think Wilson is agitated when he finally locates Elwood Dowd back at Chumley's Rest?

4. Who enters the sanitarium toward the end of this scene? What is this person's emotional state?

5. In one or two sentences, describe how the evening's events transpired, according to Elwood Dowd.

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

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

8. What tactic does Dr. William Chumley use to get Elwood Dowd to return home again? Is it successful?

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

10. What becomes clear about Elwood Dowd in this scene?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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 2

Given the bits of dialogue and sporadic moments of "belief" from Veta Simmons, do you think she has ever really seen Harvey or not? Please support your thesis with reasons based on the text. If she had seen Harvey, why does she wish Elwood Dowd to not see the creature?

Essay Topic 3

Describe briefly whether or not you feel Veta Simmons and her daughter were only putting up with Elwood Dowd and his invisible friend because he had inherited everything from his and Veta Simmons' mother, including the mansion? Please provide 2-3 examples from the text to support your thesis.

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