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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. Who told Lenny earlier that his father is going to get a surprise in the morning?

2. Who, instead of Max, does Lenny say he should have asked for an answer to a question that's been bothering him?

3. What does Lenny tell Ruth about a diseased prostitute?

4. At the end of the first scene, what does Max reveal about MacGregor?

5. What does Sam say about Max wanting him out of the house?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Max mean when he uses the phrase "one flow of stinking pus after another?"

2. Which characters, although not seen onstage, are mentioned frequently throughout the play, and how is each related to Max?

3. During the argument over the glass of water, what does Ruth dare Lenny to do?

4. What story Lenny tells Ruth after he has asked to hold her hand?

5. How does Max respond to Lenny's question about his conception?

6. What does Lenny ask his father about the night he was conceived?

7. After Lenny tells Ruth the story about a violent act he once committed, what story does he then tell Ruth about about an old woman?

8. What is the relationship between Max and Rose and what two other characters have the same relationship?

9. What evidence do we have that Max dominates his brother Sam, as well as his own sons?

10. When Lenny first greets his brother, why does the conversation involve a clock?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Compare and contrast the characters of Max and Sam, two brothers who seem to represent totally opposite values. Include specific examples of their differences and their attitudes toward each other.

Essay Topic 2

Analyze the relationship between Teddy and Ruth. Explain what evidence exists which shows care and concern on the part of either or both characters. Discuss the conflicts evident in their marriage and the consequence of those conflicts.

Essay Topic 3

Max refers to generations of his family as being "one flow of stinking pus after another." Explain how the characters in "The Homecoming" are part of the circle of violence which has affected three different generations of Max's family. Give specific examples; include at least three characters in your answer.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 613 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample