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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. According to Reba what are two kinds of European Jews?

2. What does she tell him about her family?

3. Adolph, reading the paper, tells Reba to hurry and do what?

4. Who does Adolph say is coming to dinner?

5. How does Reba describe the girl?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Lala convince her mother to do for the dance?

2. What conversation takes place between Boo and Sylvan?

3. What do Peachy and Joe discuss?

4. Over what do Boo and Reba argue? Why do they wake up Adolph?

5. How does Lala respond to her mother's question about Sylvan and Ballyhoo?

6. How does Sunny surprise Reba at the end of the scene? How does Reba feel about this?

7. Why do Peachy's parents accept Lala? How do Boo and Adolph feel about this?

8. What is Sunny reading? How does Joe respond? What is Sunny's reaction to his response?

9. Why does Lala decide she cannot go to the dance?

10. What happens after Joe leaves?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

There is a great deal of tension in this play.

Part 1) Give two examples of this tension. Why does this tension exist?

Part 2) How do the attitudes and opinions of those outside the family play in the family's identity?

Part 3) How does the tension in Europe reinforce the tension in this family's home and in American society?

Essay Topic 2

Peachy Weil and Joe are very different.

Part 1) Describe each character and how they are different. How do the various family members feel about them?

Part 2) Why does Boo believe Peachy would be a good match for her daughter? Do you agree? Why or why not?

Part 3) How do the differences in these two men lead to a confrontation? How does this confrontation relate back to the theme?

Essay Topic 3

The tearing of Lala's dress is symbolic.

Part 1) How does Lala's dress get torn? What is symbolic about this?

Part 2) What is the connection between this symbolism and the theme?

Part 3) What is ironic about the meaning behind the tearing of the dress and the relationship between Joe and Sunny?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 895 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample