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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 body part is one of the peasants missing after their farm is attacked?

2. What is Mother Courage's advice to Kattrin about soldiers?

3. Why does Mother Courage have her opinion of the commander?

4. What solace does Mother Courage take from Swiss Cheese's job in the army?

5. What isn't Mother Courage lending out to soldiers when the Catholic soldiers invade the camp?

Short Essay Questions

1. Will the war end now that the commander is dead?

2. Does Mother Courage think Kattrin will have an easy life as a wife?

3. 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?

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

5. When Mother Courage refuses to help the peasant family, has Kattrin's defiance of her mother escalated?

6. Why is Mother Courage so protective of her soldiers' shirts?

7. Why does Mother Courage hesitate to pay for Swiss Cheese's releases?

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

9. Are the peasants hypocrites?

10. Why does Mother Courage think the commander is bad at his job?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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 2

Conversations about courage, cowardice, and bravery arise throughout the play. Discuss characters and the play's evolving relationship with these three themes.

Essay Topic 3

Sacrifice makes and breaks the fates of characters in "Mother Courage". Discuss selfishness, sacrifice, and martyrdom in the play: the foreshadowing and repercussions.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 874 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample