View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. Why is the young soldier complaining to the captain?

2. Why does Mother Courage think Eilif is in high favor of the commander?

3. Why don't the peasants stay out of the line of fire when the Catholic soldiers attack their farm?

4. What is the first soldier wearing?

5. When Eilif wants to join the army, Mother Courage tells him he's never happy until he's _______.

Short Essay Questions

1. What is making the recruiting officer lose his confidence in mankind?

2. Why won't Swiss Cheese run off with the regiment's pay box?

3. Why is Mother Courage initially upset when she finds out the war is over?

4. Why does Mother Courage choose to leave the cook behind?

5. Are the peasants hypocrites?

6. Why do all of Mother Courage's children have names of different origins?

7. What is the debate over the legitimacy of the villagers?

8. Why is Eilif a hero in the commander's eyes?

9. Why does Mother Courage claim 60 hellers is a good deal for a cabon?

10. What does the first soldier mean when he says "she made it"?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In the first scene, Mother Courage prophesies the fates of her children. Mother Courage is also blind to much of reality through the play. Discuss Mother Courage's "prophetic" perception of the world, how she views herself, and how others view her.

Essay Topic 2

In the pivotal scene of false peace in "Mother Courage", both Kattrin and Yvette come out of the war 'deformed' in some way. Discuss characters' deformities and demises in conjuncture with their personalities.

Essay Topic 3

Motherhood is one of the defining traits of Mother Courage's character. How does "motherhood" function in "Mother Courage and Her Children"?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 854 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample