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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. When and where does the play begin?

2. Why has this guest come?

3. On what does little Billy begin playing?

4. For what does the guest chide the Colonel?

5. How does Bert feel about his actions?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does the Colonel feel about Robert's behavior?

2. How does this scene open?

3. Why does the Undertaker ask Sam to find Cora?

4. What happens as Talbot enters?

5. When does Scene 2 begin?

6. What is Cora's response to William's request?

7. What does Bert plan to do to himself?

8. Who enters? What connection do they make? What do they begin to organize?

9. What does Cora do after William leaves?

10. What does William try to do one more time? What is Cora's response?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Norwood treats his "darkies" better than most plantation owners threat theirs.

Part 1) Why does he treat them better? How do they benefit from this?

Part 2) How is this also harmful to them?

Part 3) How is his behavior towards them contrasting and confusing? Why is it contrasting and confusing?

Essay Topic 2

Two white men find Norwood dead.

Part 1) Who are these two men? Why do they assume Bert is the killer? If they had not assumed Bert was the killer, who might they have believed killed Norwood? Explain.

Part 2) Are you surprised by their response to Norwood's killing? Why or why not?

Part 3) If they had not suspected Bert as the killer, would the outcome have turned out any differently? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

This play has a sociopolitical theme.

Part 1) What clues or characteristics make this apparent?

Part 2) What is the significance of this theme?

Part 3) How is the play and theme relevant today? Would any aspects of this play need to be changed to be more engaging for a modern audience? Why or why not?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 564 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample