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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 Gross attempt to steal from Stroll's desk?

2. Who does the clerk's questions impress?

3. Why does the Department of Authentication refuse to authenticate the new log book?

4. As a reflection of bureaucracy, what kind of explanation do the higher-ups provide for the creation of Ptydepe?

5. What leads to Ballas and Gross switching positions?

Short Essay Questions

1. What are some of the differences between Ballas and Gross in their experiences as Managing Director?

2. What significant discovery does Ballas make at the end of Act 2, Scene 7?

3. What are some examples of the familiarity of Ballas' morning as Managing Director and what is it similar to?

4. Explain the symbolic meanings behind some of the characters introduced in Act 1, Scene 3.

5. What does the introduction of Ptydepe signal in the play as it pertains to Gross and his position within the company?

6. What does Gross' signature of the Ptydepe authorization set into motion?

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

8. What subliminal warning does the character of Thumb bring from the author?

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

10. Where does Gross pass through in Act 2, Scene 8, what is he carrying, and what does that represent?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Thumb is an essential part of the bureaucratic system, even though he seems largely unaware of it. What is his specific role in the play and in the larger theme of the story? Which character traits allow him to fulfill that role? What are the more serious dangers that Thumb represents a warning against?

Essay Topic 2

In Scene 5 of Act 1, an important point is made with the correlation between Gross' pursuit of knowledge (the translation of the memo) and his lack of knowledge. This creates a never ending circle where no logical way out exits for Gross.

1) Explain in detail what the significance of the knowledge is to the play in general, and in the scene specifically. Also, describe the irony of Gross' situation. What does the fact that he cannot answer the questions correctly symbolize? His lack of answers also displays a lack of something else. What is it and is why is it important to the point Havel is making about bureaucracy overall?

2) Staying with the theme of knowledge, which characters are allowed to have it? Do they really possess it, or is it only a perception portrayed to the characters that are kept from knowledge? Why is this necessary for the people to retain their power?

Essay Topic 3

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.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,163 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample