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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. How many times was Garcin shot?

2. Who says that he/she is already "in order"?

3. According to one of the characters, how many official torturers does Hell have?

4. What does Garcin suggest they all do?

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

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Estelle complain about when she enters the room?

2. Why does Sartre introduce Estelle with her concerns about the sofas?

3. As Inez, Estelle, and Garcin watch their friends and family back on Earth, how do they react?

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

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

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

7. What are some of the things that cause tension between Inez and Garcin?

8. When Garcin asks Inez how she knows what a torturer looks like, what does she say?

9. Why do you think the author shows Garcin looking at his colleagues relaxing at the end of the day, smoking cigars?

10. What are some examples of foreshadowing in the first part of the play?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The scene where Inez offers to be Estelle's mirror is very revealing of the central tension between the two women and shows the audience more about their inner selves. It links symbolically the human eye and mirrors. Chose one of the following:

A) Discuss how this scene fits into a larger pattern of symbols, or a motif of mirrors, glass, eyes, seeing, etc.

B) Explain what this scene reveals about Inez and Estelle, and helps show the audience how they really are.

Essay Topic 2

Punishment and suffering are two major themes in this play, especially in terms of characterizing the three main characters. Chose one of the options below:

A) The characters deserved their punishment as it fit their crimes.

B) The characters did not deserve to suffer the way they did. Their actions in the room should make up for their crimes.

Please chose just one character to write about (Garcin, Inez or Florence) and write an essay that makes an argument for either A) or B) above.

Essay Topic 3

Garcin's discussion with the Valet at the beginning is the way Sartre conveys a lot of crucial information to the audience.

Close read and consider the following passage: "Your eyelids. We move ours up and down. Blinking, we call it. It's like a small black shutter that clicks down and makes a break. Everything goes black; one's eyes are moistened. You can't imagine how restful, refreshing it is. Four thousand little rests per hour."

Write an essay in which you consider the following questions:

1. What is Garcin literally saying? In what context does Garcin speak this passage?

2. Explain and describe the pattern of symbols that this passage belongs to. What does the eye mean, in this passage, and in the play?

(see the answer keys)

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