2. What does Norman do after each fishing trip with Billy?
(a) Has Billy clean and polish the boat.
(b) Calls his best friend in Idaho and brags about what he caught.
(c) Has Billy check the fluid levels in the boat motor.
(d) Makes Billy clean all the fish.

3. About what does Norman try to talk?
(a) Baseball.
(b) Billy.
(c) California.
(d) Fishing.

4. What does Chelsea say about Norman's retirement dinner?
(a) That she was sorry she didn't go.
(b) That she thought it wasn't elaborate enough for how important Norman was to the company.
(c) That she was so proud of him giving his speech.
(d) She does not mention the retirement dinner.

5. How does Norman talk as he and Billy head to the boat?
(a) In whispers so as not to scare the loons awake.
(b) In slang like Billy.
(c) Singing a song about a wily catfish.
(d) He doesn't talk and tells Billy not to so as to not alert the fish.

Short Answer Questions

1. What is Norman's response to the idea of Chelsea and Bill sharing a bedroom?

2. How does Chelsea respond to Norman's attempts to choose the topic of conversation?

3. With what does Ethel replace the food Billy has in his hand?

4. Why does Ethel accompany Billy upstairs to start the bath water?

5. What was Norman's overall impression of Bill?

Short Essay Questions

1. How, at this point in the play, is Billy's relationship with Norman different from that of Chelsea with her father, Norman?

2. Describe the opening scene in Act 2, Scene 1.

3. Give a brief synopsis of the conversation Chelsea and Ethel have about Norman as Chelsea just arrives.

4. Describe the scene that occurs after Charlie arrives and what theme this vignette may illustrate.

5. The fact that Ethel twice suggests that Chelsea make amends with her father because he is old and will not live much longer seems to clearly be foreshadowing something. What do you think it foreshadows?

6. What can be inferred by the fact that Norman calls Billy by the name Chelsea from time to time?

7. How does the first interaction between Chelsea and her parents show the reader the relationship between Chelsea and each of her parents?

8. The opening conversation in this scene brings up an idea already discussed in the previous scene. What does the conversation concern?

9. Describe the two fishermen's interaction as they leave for the dock.

10. What regret does Norman express and what may that regret foreshadow?

(see the answer keys)

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