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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 is Sheriff Talbott married to?

2. Who has gone to the depot to meet Lady and Jabe?

3. What's the one word Carol says the ghosts at Cypress Hill say?

4. Why is Val in town?

5. Who does Val say killed Jessie Smith?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Val regard his guitar?

2. What did Carol do that got her banned from the county overnight?

3. What does Vee say has blinded her in Act 3? How long has she been expecting this?

4. What conversation occurs between Beulah and Lady in Act 3 Scene 3?

5. How do the stage directions describe Val? What is he wearing?

6. What does Lady tell David in Act 2? How does he react?

7. What does Val say about questions and waiting for answers in Act 2?

8. Why does Lady feel disappointed in Val in Act 2 Scene 3? Why does he feel disappointed in her?

9. In what time and place is Orpheus Descending set?

10. What does Jabe look at when he comes downstairs in Act, 3 Scene 1? What is his response?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Describe how the ending of Orpheus Descending reflects the exposition presented in the prologue? How is Val's death like that of Lady's father?

Essay Topic 2

How is Tennessee Williams' own life reflected in Orpheus Descending? What major themes are common in Williams' work and why does he repeat these themes? How do they relate to the author's experiences?

Essay Topic 3

Describe the imagery that Lady uses to define herself. How does the monkey relate to Lady? How does the fig tree?

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