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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. Why won't Mother Courage help the peasant family that was injured in the attack on their farm?

2. What does the sergeant predict Swiss Cheese's nationality is?

3. What does Mother Courage take from the soldier as payment?

4. Why does the recruiting officer say you can't take a man's word anymore?

5. What does Kattrin retrieve from the peasants' house?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Mother Courage feel about her daughter, Kattrin?

2. What is Mother Courage's advice to the young soldier about anger and injustice?

3. Does the chaplain see a difference between war and peace?

4. Has Yvette benefited from the war?

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

6. Does Mother Courage seem more human in Scene 8?

7. Why is Kattrin mute?

8. How brave is Kattrin?

9. Is "nothing sacred" to Kattrin in the lieutenant's opinion?

10. Why does Mother Courage continue to talk with the sergeant and recruiting officer even though they are trying to recruit her sons into the army?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss what characterizes and defines the climax and denouement of "Mother Courage".

Essay Topic 2

There can be a fine line between lie and delusion in "Mother Courage".

Part 1: What are characters' relationships with lying and deceit?

Part 2: What are characters' relationships with delusions?

Part 3: What are the cause and effect relationships between these two? What connects them? What is Brecht's purpose in this?

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"?

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