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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 written on Val's guitar?

2. What did the letters from Val's woman friend say?

3. What does Carol tell Val that she is?

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

5. Who says, "What people say about you don't mean much"?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

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

4. Why have the women come to the store in the beginning of the play?

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

6. What does Jabe remark that takes Lady by surprise in Act 3, Scene 1?

7. What does Jabe say after Lady is shot? What does he do?

8. Who does Carol make a phone call to in Act 1 Scene 1? Why?

9. How does Lady hear that Val is leaving town? What is her response?

10. Who is Vee? How has she met Val?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Compare and contrast the characters of Beulah and Carol. How are they similar? How do they differ? How do these characters feel about each other?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the theme of individuality versus repression in Orpheus Descending. Which characters are considered non-conventional? Which characters represent a conventional or repressed viewpoint?

Essay Topic 3

Explain the role of the Conjure Man in Orpheus Descending. What does he represent? Why is the the last person we see in this play?

(see the answer keys)

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