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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 gets quizzed along with Gross on their knowledge of Ptydepe?

2. What point is the author trying to make by having Hana make separate trips for food?

3. At the beginning of the play, what kind of letter does Gross receive?

4. What does Gross declare is reduced when people are forbidden to use their natural language?

5. What does Ballas manipulate Gross into admitting in Act 1, Scene 6?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is different about Gross and his approach in the very beginning of Act 2, Scene 10?

2. Describe two main methods that Ballas uses in Act 1, Scene 4 to get Gross to comply?

3. What is different about Thumb's responses in Act 2, Scene 8 as compared to earlier in the play?

4. What do Hana's habits and actions symbolize?

5. What is significant about Thumb's interaction with Lear in Act 2, Scene 11?

6. The "wrong cause" that Stroll, Savant, and Helena are upset about dedicating their lives to is really a symbol for what larger "wrong cause?"

7. What is it about Gross' life that leads him to believe he might not be able to "fight for his innocence?" What reasoning does he give Maria?

8. After all of the speculation throughout the play, what are the contents of Gross' memo revealed to be, and what effect does this have on him?

9. How does Lear explain Ptydepe in describing the process for learning it?

10. What do we notice right away about the relationship between Ballas and Pillar?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In Scene 3 of Act 1, there is a very significant scene involving Maria, Gross, and the Staff Watcher. Describe the scene in detail, highlighting its importance and the messages it delivers. What does it specifically say about each of three characters involved? In a metaphorical sense, what do the cigars represent and why is that a key element to the story?

Essay Topic 2

One of the writing techniques used by Havel is the repeated cycles he creates for the story. This is a way for an event or situation to be "recycled" in order to make a point. Describe in detail an example of how events were repeated for which characters. Were the events exactly the same as when they appeared originally in the play? If not, what was different about them? Why did Havel choose to make these changes? For each repeated event, also include the point Havel makes with it.

Essay Topic 3

What does the new language, Chorukor, represent in the overall theme of the play? What is the major difference between it and Ptydepe? Explain in detail how each of the main characters react to Chorukor and why their reaction is significant. Do you believe that it can potentially fail in the same way that Ptydepe did, or will the same mistake keep being made? What will stop the mistake from being made again?

(see the answer keys)

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