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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. Where do the O’Donnells live?

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

3. Why do public and private Gar sing "Philadelpha, here I come" together after Boyle leaves, in Episode 1 (36)?

4. What were the ages of Maire and SB when they married?

5. How does Madge defend SB’s silence?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. What is in the suitcase Madge brings in and what is its significance?

3. Who is Master Boyle? How is he different from SB?

4. What is the effect of the imagery, “big bugger of a jet, with its snout pointing straight for the States and its tail belching smoke over Ireland" (3) ?

5. How does private Gar encourage public Gar in his plans?

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

7. Why is public Gar ecstatic in the beginning of the play?

8. Who is Madge and how old is she?

9. What is Boyle’s gift to Gar as he prepares to leave? What does he ask for?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Describe how Madge’s perspective could give the plot a different structure. Take into consideration her refusal to take a position.

Essay Topic 2

Write an essay on the role of substitute mothers in the play. Does Gareth seek maternal love through his actions? Support your position with evidence from the play.

Essay Topic 3

Describe how effective the flashbacks are in the play. Do they recreate the past more vividly than other techniques?

(see the answer keys)

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