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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 the character on stage at the beginning of the play shout offstage for?

2. What aspect of the play will Artie's attempt to reach his goals affect?

3. What does Bunny wish to happen when the Pope passes by?

4. What is the character doing at the opening of the play?

5. What does Bananas ask Artie about her dream at the end of Act I, Part I?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does the Prologue do?

2. What does Ronnie believe about all of the people he has encountered in his life?

3. Where is Ronnie at the opening of Act II, Scene I, Part I?

4. Is Billy impressed by Ronnie's routine?

5. What dream does Artie tell Bananas about in Act I, Scene I?

6. How does Bunny convince Artie to call his friend Billy in California?

7. How does Bunny get Billy to ask her to come to Australia with him?

8. What sign of gentleness toward Bananas does Artie have in Act I, Part II?

9. When Artie steps into the spotlight at the end of the play, what does he sing about?

10. Does Artie intend to kill Bananas at the end of the play?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Artie sets the precedent in the Prologue for talking directly to the audience, which the rest of the characters do throughout the play. Nontraditional in plays until The House of Blue Leaves, discuss the significance of breaking the fourth wall and its significance to this play. Without this tactic, would the play be the same? Use specific information and quotes from the text to support your answer.

Essay Topic 2

Bananas and Artie clearly have a dysfunctional relationship. Artie goes through a range of emotions pertaining to Bananas throughout the play before eventually strangling her at the end. Analyze the couple's relationship through a chronological standpoint, assessing the significance of their relationship in the play. Use specific information and quotes from the text to support your response.

Essay Topic 3

Dreams appear numerous times in The House of Blue Leaves, either from Artie or Bananas. Discuss some of these two characters' dreams and why they are in the play. What is their significance? What do they reveal about the characters to the audience? Are they necessary to the play's narrative? Cite specific information and quotes from the text to support your answer.

(see the answer keys)

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