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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. Where are Zuss and Nickles when Sarah and J.B. realize their son is dead?

2. When the writer uses words that begin with the same sound to get the attention of the reader, it is called what?

3. Existentialism says that the sum total of existence is what human beings _______.

4. When Mr. Zuss says that the world is a great place, what does Mr. Nickles say it is?

5. The argument of the play is that the only way to live and transcend suffering is through what?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is Sarah holding in her hand when she returns to J.B., and why?

2. Why do Sarah and J.B. let the drunken soldiers into their home?

3. What is Zophar's argument about why J.B. is guilty?

4. What does placing the conflict of faith and fear in the relationship of a husband and wife suggest?

5. Why does J.B. want to know why he is being punished?

6. When J.B. and Sarah try to figure out why they had children killed by a drunk driver, what does J.B. say to answer Sarah's question of why God did this to them?

7. How would you, as a reader, sum up the whole of Scene 10?

8. Why, in Scene 7, is Nickles angry at J.B.'s experiences?

9. When Nickles says that Zuss should look pleased because J.B. is playing the role Zuss wanted him to, what is Zuss' response?

10. Sarah and J.B. are arguing over what subject at Thanksgiving?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What is the importance, or the symbolism, of having the play set in a circus tent? Support your answer with examples from the book.

Essay Topic 2

Using examples from the book, compare and contrast J.B. and Sarah's beliefs about God.

Essay Topic 3

What is the role of costumes in the play? How do the costumes contribute to the characters and the message of the play? Use specific examples to support your answer.

(see the answer keys)

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