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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 does Sallie come in?

2. What do Cora and Bert begin to do, after he tells her this news?

3. What does Bert believe he should not have to do?

4. What are these men doing as they visit?

5. With what does the Colonel start to follow Bert?

Short Essay Questions

1. Who is Sam? What does he ask to Colonel?

2. What does the Undertaker ask Sam?

3. Describe Sallie. What does she do when she enters the room?

4. What is Cora's response when the Undertaker tells Cora that Norwood is dead?

5. What is Sam doing at the beginning of the scene?

6. What does Norwood tell Bert, regarding his behavior compared to the others?

7. How does this scene open?

8. How does the play end?

9. How does Cora react when she comes down the stairs? How does Bert seem?

10. How does Bert feel about his mother's advice?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

This play is more than just a study of the racial tensions facing the south after the end of slavery.

Part 1) How is it more than this? Why is it more than this?

Part 2) How can others relate to this story? What is the author's purpose in writing this play?

Part 3) How is the south in the 1930s used as a backdrop for a deeper purpose? How is this play timeless?

Essay Topic 2

Norwood and Bert have much in common.

Part 1) Prove this statement.

Part 2) How do these similarities reflect the theme of this play and the plays deeper meaning?

Part 3) What role do these similarities play in the advancement of the plot of the play? Could these two characters have been able to act any differently towards one another? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

The two men in the center of the conflict in this play are gone.

Part 1) How do their deaths affect or will affect the other characters in this play? Explain.

Part 2) What is the author's purpose for their deaths?

Part 3) Compare and contrast the audience members' thoughts about these deaths in the 1930s and today. What accounts for the similarities and differences?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 670 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample