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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 does Garcin suggest they all do?

2. Who asks the Valet if they can turn out the lights?

3. In part 2, Estelle rebukes Garcin for...

4. Who has a vision of his/her room being shut up?

5. Estelle is the first character to suggest that they...

Short Essay Questions

1. When Garcin asks the Valet what is outside the room, what does the Valet say?

2. What does Estelle say about why she thinks she is in the room?

3. What is Garcin's response to Inez saying that there was reason to be afraid "before," but not now?

4. What kinds of differences are established between the three characters when Estelle asks if the other two have ever attended a country party at the home of one of her friends?

5. Describe the room in which Garcin finds himself.

6. Why is Estelle surprised to see that Garcin's face is fine?

7. When Garcin is asked why he is in the room, what does he say? Do you believe him, and why or why not?

8. How do you know that these characters are dead and in hell, despite the fact that Sartre does not explicitly state it?

9. Why are there no toothbrushes or beds in the room?

10. Describe, at this point in the play, the nature of hell.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Since Garcin was a pacifist whose weakness was a fear of being a coward, he is particularly concerned with what his colleagues at the newspaper thought of him. Describe how Garcin's pacifism affects his behavior in the room. Does he refuse to fight? Does he show cowardice in his interactions with Estelle and Inez? What does he feel during his various visions of life going on without him?

In addition, decide whether or not you think Garcin was really a coward and write a paragraph supporting your opinion.

Essay Topic 2

In some ways, this play is characterized by a "battle of the sexes" that is also complicated by a love triangle. Closely read Estelle's assertion that "Well, in that case our tastes differ. That's all it proves. [Turning to INEZ] What about you? Do you like men in their shirt-sleeves?"

Answer the following questions:

1. How does this statement characterize Estelle? What does it communicate about her?

2. What does it reveal about Inez?

3. How does it contribute to the rising dramatic tension in the play? How does it affect the intensifying interactions between the three main characters?

Essay Topic 3

Because these characters are dead, issues of death and dying strongly affect the way they behave. Describe how each character died, using as many specifics as you can remember from the play. After you describe how each character died, chose one of the following below and write one paragraph:

A) In your opinion, which death was the "worst" or most unfortunate, and why?

B) Describe which death you feel was most appropriate, that is: which character deserved to die the way they did, and why?

(see the answer keys)

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