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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 did Carol wear to protest the death penalty of Willie McGee?

2. Who enters the archway between the store and confectionery in the beginning of Act 1 Scene 1?

3. Where did Jabe have surgery?

4. Who is Beulah's husband?

5. What does Vee say she's been doing for ten hours straight in Act 1 Scene 1?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. Describe the set of Orpheus Descending.

3. Describe the character of Carol. What does she wear? How old is she?

4. How does Carol describe herself to Val?

5. What does Lady ask Val in Act 2 Scene 4 about the money? What does he respond?

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

7. What story does Beulah tell about Lady's father?

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

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Describe Lady's relationship with David. What happened and when did this take place? How does Lady feel about David now?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss how Orpheus Descending retells the legend of the demigod Orpheus. What similarities do the stories share? How do they differ?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the concept of revenge as it applies to Orpheus Descending. Which characters want to enact revenge? Why? How? How is this symbolized in the play?

(see the answer keys)

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