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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 reason does Amanda give when she tries to convince Victor that they need to leave the hotel?

2. What can Sibyl do that Amanda cannot?

3. What time is it, specifically, at the top of Act I?

4. What does Elyot believe is the cruelest thing he and Amanda could do?

5. Why do Amanda and Elyot choose to flee to Amanda's flat?

Short Essay Questions

1. How can the reader interpret Amanda's statement about a person's private life?

2. At the start of the play, is Elyot in love with Sibyl? How can the reader tell?

3. When discussing the possibility of getting a sunburn, Amanda remarks to Victor, "I did so hope our honeymoon was going to be progressive" in response to his declaration that he could not love her anymore than he already does. What does this statement portend about Amanda's views on relationships, particularly her marriage to Victor?

4. When Elyot implores Sibyl that they must leave the hotel, Sibyl is uncharacteristically firm and stubborn about staying. What happened throughout the act that may have given her more of a backbone?

5. Victor and Sibyl both use nicknames for Amanda and Elyot (Mandy and Elli), though Amanda and Elyot always refer to each other by their full names. What is the significance of the use of nicknames in regards to these four characters?

6. What is Amanda's outlook on the violence in her previous marriage that is so shocking to Victor?

7. How does Elyot know that Amanda's statement of the two of them being in love all over again is false?

8. Why does Sibyl keep asking Elyot about Amanda?

9. What would be the best way to describe the relationship between each of the married couples?

10. To Sibyl's dismay, Elyot does not care for her mother and believes that Sibyl married him in part to escape her. What do the differing attitudes about the mother reveal about Sibyl's character?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Elyot tells Victor that there is no point in fighting each other, as it never solves anything. However, Elyot and Amanda had, just the night before, fought each other violently. Why does Elyot believe that fighting Victor is pointless, but still fights with Amanda? For example, is it a matter of respect, love, or cowardice? Cite specific examples from the text to support your argument.

Essay Topic 2

Consider the character of Louise. Why is she included in the play? What is the purpose of Sibyl and Victor not being able to understand her foreign language? What does she add to the overall arch of the play?

Essay Topic 3

Victor and Sibyl appear to be two dimensional characters who are firmly stuck in their roles as man and woman. Do you consider these characters to be particularly intelligent? Does their intelligence or lack thereof affect their exaggerated femininity or masculinity? What are some specific examples of these characteristics? How do the other characters react to these qualities? Do you believe that these exaggerations cause their big breakdown at the very end of the play? Were they forced out of their passive roles by Amanda and Elyot's rampant challenging of how men and women are expected to act?

(see the answer keys)

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