View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. Why is Deacon Ball, the Chair of the Concord School Committee, shocked at what Henry has been discussing with his class?

2. To what does Henry compare Waldo lecturing?

3. What does Henry then urge all his students not to do but to savor their sensations of the world?

4. If more people were willing to go to jail to protest the government, they could effect change on what scale?

5. Henry notes that older people like her father are "polluted" by advice. How does he strongly urge Ellen to maintain her "innocence?"

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Waldo mean when he accuses Henry of resigning from the human race?

2. What does Henry think of Ralph Waldo Emerson?

3. Translate Henry's poem/prayer for Bailey. "Blessed Are the Young, for they do not read the President's speeches. Blessed Are They who never read a newspaper, for they shall see Nature and, through her, God. Blessed is Bailey, for he's a good fellow and deserves better treatment than you've been giving him even though he is a man of letters."

4. What is evidence that Henry's thoughts might seem backwards?

5. What does Henry think of retirement?

6. What is Deacon Ball's reaction to Henry's class discussion?

7. How do Waldo and Henry treat one another, as opposed to how they feel about one another?

8. Describe the scene when Sam Staples tells him he must pay his property taxes?

9. What is the set for this play?

10. What does Henry say about humanity's effect on the environment?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Humanity is flawed.

Part 1) What happens that forces Henry to face the fact that Waldo cannot live up to his expectations?

Part 2) What excuse does Lydian give for Waldo?

Part 3) What does Henry do after the event? How does this make him feel?

Essay Topic 2

Williams greatly admires Henry.

Part 1) What does he want to do, because he so admires Henry?

Part 2) How does Henry react to this?

Part 3) Why might be the reason for why Williams wanted to honor Henry in this way?

Essay Topic 3

Henry makes a significant realization at the end of the play.

Part 1) What is this realization?

Part 2) What decision does it lead him to make?

Part 3) How does he feel about this decision?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 868 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample