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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 does Carol say it means "if you break the heel off your slipper in the morning"?

2. What does Val say his body temperature is the same as?

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

4. Who was the leader of the Mystic Crew?

5. What does Carol ask Uncle Pleasant to do?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Lady enter panicked at the beginning of Act 3?

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

3. Describe the character of Uncle Pleasant. What does he look like? What does he say when he enters in Act 1?

4. Why does Val brush off Carol in Act 1?

5. Explain Vee's feelings about painting.

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

7. What did Lady's father do after Prohibition took hold?

8. How does Val regard his guitar?

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

10. Compare the characters Val and Sheriff Talbott. How are they alike? How are they different?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Explore the theme of sexuality and sexual repression in Orpheus Descending. Which characters are repressed? Which are not? How does Val's presence affect the town?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the component of racism in Orpheus Descending. How does it play a role in the action of the play? How does the element of race lend in defining certain characters?

Essay Topic 3

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?

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