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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. How does Madge defend SB’s silence?

2. What does Boyle mean when he advises Gar to be one hundred percent American?

3. What is the significance of the item Gar finds in his suitcase?

4. In the flashback with Katie, why does Gar not do as he is asked by Katie?

5. What is Gar's mood in the beginning of the play?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does private Gar suggest that Maire was unhappy about in her marriage?

2. What does the flashback that captures the night when Katie and public Gar planned their marriage reveal about Katie’s objections?

3. What does public Gar mean when he says “on my last day with him he got ten minutes’ overtime out of my hide” (2)?

4. Why does private Gar question public Gar whether the latter understands the implications of his decision to leave?

5. How realistic is private Gar’s pretense about public Gar being employed by the owner of the biggest chain of hotels?

6. Why does public Gar always assume a surly gruffness when speaking to his father?

7. What is Boyle’s parting advice to Gar?

8. How does private Gar try to bring out the difference between public Gar and SB?

9. What is SB’s nightly routine? Why does private Gar mock him for it?

10. When does the action in the play take place?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The passage of time and the need to cope with change affects every character in the play. Explore how different characters respond to time and change and the consequences of those responses.

Essay Topic 2

Describe the role of Lizzy and the letter that makes Gar plan on leaving Ireland.

Essay Topic 3

Explore the theme of dream and compare it with the feeble plans Gar makes to make them come true.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 812 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample