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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. The second time the guard jabs the Old Woman in Act 2, it's because she said, "I have _______."

2. What time is it in Act 1?

3. When the Old Woman and Prisoner begin to speak, what happens to the stage lights?

4. What is the Young Woman's second complaint?

5. Why are the women's husbands in prison?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does the Sergeant show Sarah her husband?

2. What is the guard's attitude toward the Old Woman and her son?

3. What is the family of the prisoner in Act 2 like?

4. How do Sarah and Charly communicate in Act 3?

5. How does the Sergeant describe the gathering at the beginning of Act 3? Why?

6. What do the soldiers represent?

7. Why doesn't the Old Woman speak in Act 1?

8. Why do the Old Woman and her son have the opportunity to talk?

9. Is the Young Woman (Sarah Johnson) from the mountains? How does this affect the soldiers?

10. What is the Young Woman's first complaint to the Officer?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

At the end of Mountain Language nothing is resolved. Discuss what is actually occurring at the conclusion of the play, its point, and the change that has occurred.

Essay Topic 2

Half of the characters in Mountain Language are given names, while the other half are not. Discuss this balance of ambiguity and specificity and how the presence or absence of name defines the character and what they represent.

Essay Topic 3

The Old Woman is silent but very present in the play. What does she represent? How strong or influential is she?

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