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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 Margaret tell Dexter when he arrives at the end of Act 1, Part 4?

2. What does Dexter refer to Tracy as, causing her to become furious?

3. What does Dinah ask Margaret about Tracy and Dexter?

4. What does Tracy ask Dinah to help her with at the beginning of Act 1, Part 2?

5. What does Seth say caused him to visit?

Short Essay Questions

1. What do Tracy and Mike decide about the previous evening's events and the wedding? Also, how does Tracy begin to realize exactly what might have happened?

2. How does Dinah present herself for the first time to Mike and Liz, what is she trying to accomplish, and how do Mike and Liz react?

3. What is the discussion Mike and Liz have about people's names?

4. What does the character of Seth represent as he is first mentioned in the play?

5. How does the play end, and what does it symbolize for Tracy and her life?

6. What do we learn about George in Act 1, Part 2?

7. What does the conversation between Tracy and Dexter at the start of Act 3, Part 2 remind both characters of?

8. How does Dexter respond to Tracy as she makes her entrance in Act 3, and what does he do to encourage her memory of the previous night's events?

9. What is the interesting interaction between Mike and Sandy at the beginning of Act 1, Part 3?

10. What does Mike tell Tracy about her upcoming marriage at the pool, and how does she respond?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Tracy and Liz are parallel characters in many ways. What are some examples of how they are placed in similar situations, but respond differently? What issues do they share similar views on? Overall, what is Liz's main purpose in the play? What does she illustrate in Tracy's character, along with Tracy's own actions? Why is this important?

Essay Topic 2

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?

Essay Topic 3

Describe Tracy and Mike's evening together after the pre-wedding dinner. What are the motivations behind their actions? Are they based on emotions or their state of mind? Why does the author choose to have the characters interact with each other in this way? What does it cause them to realize and how does that reflect the message Barry is delivering?

(see the answer keys)

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