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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. At the beginning of Scene 5 Henry is playing music by ________.

2. Henry is writing this play for ________.

3. After arguing for a bit, Henry returns to writing and Annie studies her script. Henry says he will have to pick up _______.

4. Charlotte believes that if Henry really caught her cheating he would _______.

5. The name of the play that Henry is currently working on is called _______ Sisters.

Short Essay Questions

1. What do Annie and Billy think about the writing talent of Brodie, according to their conversation?

2. What is the tangent that Charlotte goes off on when talking with Debbie and Henry?

3. What does Max reveal to Charlotte that he knows about her Amsterdam trip during the first scene?

4. Describe the character of Henry and what his line of work is at the current moment.

5. What does Debbie reveal during a long speech that she has learned about sex?

6. What is the family crisis that Henry reminds Charlotte they are discussing during this scene?

7. What does the current stage direction say that the room in the scene looks like in comparison to the room in Act 1, Scene 2?

8. What are the indications that time has passed as this particular scene opens up to the audience?

9. What is the result of the bantering between Annie and Henry during this particular scene? What does Annie promise to do?

10. Why does Charlotte not think the play she is starring in is all that interesting to the audiences so far?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The creative energy of Henry allows him to create beautiful dialogue or his characters, but he sometimes has troubles when speaking for himself.

Part 1: Why do you think it's easier for Henry to be creative in his plays than in real life?

Part 2: Do you think Henry's work is his way of dealing with his everyday problems? Why or why not?

Part 3: Do you believe it's possible for Henry to be able to bring his creative dialogue into real life as well? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

While the play is often quite funny to the audience, the social commentary is also quite apparent to the audience.

Part 1: Why do you think this play is so often categorized as a comedy?

Part 2: In what ways might the play's content also be saying something about the life during that particular time period?

Part 3: Do you think a play has to have a social commentary to make? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

Many writers choose to write about what they know as they are much more able to capture their feelings within the context of a play than they might be able to capture their feelings in real life.

Part 1: Why do you think writing is a way in which people deal with their feelings?

Part 2: If the play is based on the life of the playwright, what do you learn about Stoppard from the play and its characters?

Part 3: Do you think it's possible that Stoppard may not have written about his life? Why or why not?

(see the answer keys)

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