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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. Who wants to take Estelle in his/her arms?

2. How did Inez really die?

3. What emotion does Garcin feels toward Inez in Part 4?

4. What does Garcin says both Inez and Estelle do to him?

5. Who does Estelle says she has a hard time making friends with?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why is Estelle so upset when she sees Olga tell one of her lovers the truth?

2. In this section of the play, Estelle asks Garcin to hold her. Why?

3. What does Garcin mean when he says that he can see where talking to each other will lead?

4. Although both Inez and Garcin pressure Estelle into telling them why she is in the room, at the end of the section, why is Estelle only angry with Inez and not Garcin?

5. Why do you think that Inez would rather deal with hell face to face?

6. Sartre uses a mirror as a symbol in Part 3. Describe how the mirror is important to understanding the character of Estelle.

7. How is Inez's volunteering to be the mirror for Estelle symbolic?

8. What is Inez guilty of?

9. Why did Garcin flee to Mexico, and what does it have to do with cowardice?

10. Why does the image of a young couple making love in her apartment so upset Inez?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Near the end of the play, Garcin and Estelle make ready to flee the room. Describe what happens when the door opens. Consider the following questions: Why does Garcin want to leave the room? Why does Estelle want to leave the room? Does Inez want to leave the room? Why or why not.

In addition, decide what you would do, if you were in their circumstances. Would you leave the room? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

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?

Essay Topic 3

The pen knife is an important symbol because it helps the climax erupt and the play's falling action begin. Discuss the pen knife, its purpose as both a thematic symbol for these characters as well as a literal weapon. What purpose does it serve for Estelle to stab Inez, when she has been torturing her emotionally the whole play, for example. Discuss Garcin's wish that he could substitute physical torture for this mental anguish in terms of this violence.

In addition, decide whether or not you think these three have been punished enough, or if they deserve to be stuck with each other for eternity.

(see the answer keys)

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