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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. Why is Hal able to put the notebooks in order?

2. Why is Catherine upset with Claire at the end of Scene 2?

3. How many days has Catherine "lost"?

4. What does Claire fear about Catherine?

5. Why does Claire want Catherine to come to New York?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Claire plan to do with the house?

2. Why does Hal think his papers get turned down for publication?

3. Why is it strange that Catherine and Robert are speaking in the beginning of the first scene?

4. Who paid off the mortgage on the house? How?

5. Describe the general mood at the house after Robert's funeral.

6. Why is Claire so worried when Catherine cannot explain the police presence at the house the night before?

7. Why has Hal come to the house?

8. When did Hal and Catherine first meet?

9. What has Hal found in the locked drawer, and why is it so important?

10. How does Hal describe the mathematicians at his conferences?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

PROOF is a play, not a novel, and is meant to be viewed and performed in front of an audience. Discuss the structure of the play and why or why not it is effective.

1.) What do you think an audience is meant to take away from the play? What major elements of the play make it different from a novel?

2.) Did you notice a difference between reading the play by yourself and hearing it read aloud?

3.) How do stage directions play a role in understanding the play?

Essay Topic 2

Robert and Catherine have a very unique father/daughter relationship.

1.) Describe why their relationship is different from most. Are there any role reversals?

2.) Do Claire and Robert share a similar bond, or are Catherine and Robert two peas in a pod?

3.) They each have very specific fears they voice in the play. What are these fears? How do they differ? How are they similar?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the significance of students in bookstores for Robert. When does the audience first hear it from Robert? What is the significance of the second time the audience hears Robert talk about students and bookstores? What are the implications for Robert as a teacher?

(see the answer keys)

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