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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 is the best description of the living room?

2. Who does Ethel invite in for coffee?

3. How many summers have Norman and Ethel Thayer been coming to this setting?

4. What does Ethel suggest Charlie do?

5. Why didn't Norman pick any more berries?

Short Essay Questions

1. Who is the elderly couple in the play and where are they arriving at the opening of the play?

2. Who is Charlie and what is a little about his life and/or history?

3. What makes the reader think that Charlie still feels some interest in Chelsea?

4. Describe Ethel and a little about her.

5. What picture does Norman pick up and what is the story behind it?

6. What does Charlie suggest about the broken screen door; what is Ethel's reply and why do you think she responds the way she does?

7. What is both a foreshadowing and a "frame" for the play that occurs at the end of this scene?

8. Describe the setting at the opening of this scene.

9. What question does Norman ask Charlie and what is the implication of Charlie's answer?

10. When does Norman become interested in Chelsea's letter and why might that be?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

When Ethel pulls her doll, Elmer, out of the fireplace, Norman suggests that Elmer might have been attempting suicide when he fell into the fireplace and that he might try that some day himself. Choose one of the following topics and write a cohesive essay with detailed examples.

1). Compare and contrast Norman and Ethel and their attitudes towards death and suicide. Include how you think each of them might commit suicide given their different personalities.

2). Write an essay about the topic of assisted suicide. Include your opinion of it and who you think should be able to take such an action.

Essay Topic 2

In the very first scene of the play, it is already obvious that one of the themes will be daughter/father relationships. Answer the following questions in a coherent essay using detailed examples from the entire play:

1). Give your opinion about how you think Norman and his daughter will get along, just based upon the little that is revealed in the first scene of the play.

2). The part of the first scene where Norman looks at Chelsea's picture of her in a swimsuit as a teen is a technique called foreshadowing. What does this foreshadow? Is this an effective method to clue the reader in on some future action in the play? Why or why not.

3). Are you as a reader prepared to like Chelsea or not based on what is subtly revealed about her in this first scene? Explain.

Essay Topic 3

The last scene in the play is one that is bittersweet in that it is obvious that Norman will die in the not-too-distant future, and yet at the same time, the fact that he finally overcomes his inhibitions and dances with Ethel is a thing of hope--hope that an "old geezer" like Norman can change. Choose one of the following questions and write a coherent essay using detailed examples from the entire play:

1). Discuss the theme of death that runs throughout the play, using specific examples.

2). Discuss the theme of redemption for at least two of the main characters; be sure to include specific examples.

3). Discuss the theme of romance and how it can be demonstrated as shown throughout the play.

(see the answer keys)

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