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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. Which character is the first to offer up his/her sofa to the third person to enter the room?

2. How many sofas are there in the room?

3. What term does Estelle prefer for her condition?

4. Who is the second character to enter the room?

5. When they ask each other how they ended up in the room, who suggests they should be honest?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

3. Describe Inez's reaction to the Estelle's and Garcin's reasons for why they are in the room.

4. Why does Inez believe Garcin to be her torturer?

5. Do you think that one of these characters is more truthful than the other two? If so, which one?

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

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

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

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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 2

Chose either Garcin, Estelle, or Inez and write a detailed character sketch, that includes not only information about their actions and feelings, but also about their use by the author to demonstrate ideas about guilt, denial, cowardice and cruelty. Use specific examples that demonstrate your ideas about their characterizations.

Essay Topic 3

As the dramatic tension increases, the characters reveal more about themselves and their pasts, and lay themselves bare to their fellow torturers. Their former lives are also like mirrors that suddenly show them the truths of their existence. Pick one of the passages below and explicate it in terms of this image of inner truth:

A) "There they are, slumped in their chairs, sucking at their cigars. Bored they look. Half-asleep. They're thinking: 'Garcin's a coward." [Garcin]

B) "The music is growing fainter. They've turned down the lights, as they do for a tango. Why are they playing so softly? Louder, please. I can't hear. It's so far away, so far away." [Estelle]

C) "The windows are wide open, a man is sitting on the bed. My bed, if you please!" [Inez]

(see the answer keys)

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