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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 gilded on the window of the set?

2. What does Val offer to Lady in Act 1 Scene 2?

3. How old does Val say he is?

4. What does Lady say that the store can never hold?

5. Whose family name is the oldest and most distinguished in the county?

Short Essay Questions

1. What happens at the end of Act 2 Scene 3 with Val and the cash box? How does Lady react?

2. What does Carol describe "jooking" as?

3. What does Carol try to convince Val to help her with? Why?

4. How and why did Val end up in town?

5. What is Val's memory of the woman he saw on the bayou?

6. Describe the interaction between Val and Sheriff Talbott in Act 3, Scene 2 when he enters to find Val and Vee together.

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

8. Describe the birds that Val tells Lady about. What is remarkable about them?

9. What does Val ask Lady after the Nurse leaves? What does she respond?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Describe the character of Val and explain what characteristics he has which make him a classical Tragic Hero. Define Tragic Hero in your answer.

Essay Topic 2

Describe the story of the birds told to Lady by Val in the play. What does this story symbolize? What foreshadowing is within this story?

Essay Topic 3

Explore the use of Christian imagery and symbolism in the play. What do Val's visions relate to the reader about the action of the play? How does the Christ figure relate to Val?

(see the answer keys)

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