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This test consists of 5 short answer questions and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. How does Old Mahon describe Christy's personality?

2. Why has Old Mahon come to Pegeen's home?

3. What do the girls from the village want from Christy?

4. The character who is most unbending about his or her religious beliefs is:

5. Christy tells Pegeen that he doesn't want to leave because:

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

J.M. Synge said, "On the stage one must have reality, and one must have joy." Write an essay in which you:

1) Describe The Playboy of the Western World as a play about either reality or joy.

OR

2) Identify examples of both reality and joy in the, confirming Synge's assertion.

OR

3) Challenge, Defend, or qualify Synge's assertion using examples from the text to support your argument.

Essay Topic 2

Consider the differences between appearance and reality in the play. Write an essay in which you discuss:

1) The difference between Christy's appearance and his reality.

OR

2) The difference between any characters' statements and their behaviors.

OR

3) The significance of appearance and reality to the events of the play.

Essay Topic 3

Consider the motifs of sanity and insanity in Synge's play. Then write an essay in which you explore a) The general sanity of the villagers; b) Synge's statement about sanity and insanity through the events of the play; or c) The insanity of any one character or situation in the play. Be sure to use examples from the text to support your arguement.

(see the answer keys)

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