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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 Sandy confess that he has done with regard to the magazine article about Seth?

2. How does Dinah introduce herself to Mike and Liz?

3. What does Uncle Willie offer to Liz as he enters with Seth?

4. How does Tracy ask about Sandy's guests in Act 1, Part 2?

5. What does Tracy ask Mike to do as he is getting ready to leave?

Short Essay Questions

1. What examples does Liz use to illustrate her point about the way a name doesn't always reflect character?

2. What two things does Dexter do while Mike is carrying Tracy into the house that depict his feelings for Tracy?

3. How is the demeanor of the Lord family displayed in Act 1, Part 1?

4. What do Tracy and Seth dispute over before her pre-wedding dinner, and why does it affect Tracy?

5. What does the family do in Act 2, Scene 1, Part 2 that indicates a change in their priorities?

6. What do Sandy and Liz talk about with regard to Sidney Kidd in the beginning of Act 2, Scene 2, Part 2?

7. How does Tracy appear on the morning of her wedding, what types of things is she asking about, and why are they important?

8. Why does Mike propose to Tracy, and how does her response help both of them?

9. What is Tracy trying to figure out about Mike after reading his stories, and what is significant about her observation of him?

10. What does Dexter aptly point out to George about the way he looks at Tracy during their argument in Act 2, Scene 2, Part 2?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Tracy uses 2 words in the play that warrant explanations.

1) Describe the word, "yare," what it means, and how it is used.

2) Describe the word, "gyp," what it means, and how it is used.

3) In general, why do you think the author chose Tracy to use these words that are not part of normal vocabulary? What does it add to her character?

Essay Topic 2

Barry uses several key literary elements in The Philadelphia Story to make his point about the upper and lower class lifestyle differences.

1) Describe 2 examples of irony used in the play, why it was used, and how it added to the plot.

2) Describe 2 examples of foreshadowing used in the play, how Barry uses it, and what it added to the story.

3) Describe the pace of the play and how Barry uses dialogue to contribute to the effectiveness of the characters.

Essay Topic 3

The main symbol used in The Philadelphia Story is the boat that Dexter previously built for Tracy when they were married.

1) How does Dexter's wedding present introduce the boat into the play? What are the reactions to it from Tracy and other characters? What is interesting about the plans Dexter has for the boat as he describes them to Tracy?

2) What is the significance of the name of the boat and what does it mean to both characters?

3) How does Tracy relate herself with the boat, what are the characteristics that she shares with it, and why are they important to her development?

(see the answer keys)

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