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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. Throughout this scene, who remains adamant that Elwood Dowd be locked up in the sanitarium?

2. Who enters, looking disheveled and shaken?

3. What does Elwood do before leaving the scene again?

4. Who comes to the house, asking about Veta Simmons?

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

Short Essay Questions

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

2. When Elwood Dowd mentions to Ruth Kelly that he has things he needs to do, what is he referring to?

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

4. What does Ruth Kelly find out when she calls Charlie's Place to verify Elwood Dowd's story?

5. How does Dr. William Chumley get escorted out of Charlie's Place, according to Elwood Dowd?

6. Veta Simmons and Dr. William Chumley argue a great deal in this scene. What in general is the argument about?

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

8. What type of mechanism is relied on in this scene to generate its many comedic moments?

9. Why does Elwood Dowd enter the sanitarium with flowers for Ruth Kelly?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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 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.

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