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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. How many horns did the first rhinoceros have in Act 1, according to Jean?

2. What is Botard's former profession?

3. Who does Berenger tell Jean has turned into a rhinoceros in Act 2, Scene 2 of Rhinoceros?

4. Who answers the door at the old man's room in the end of Act 2, Scene 2 of Rhinoceros?

5. What is Berenger doing when Jean shoves him in Act 2, Scene 2 of Rhinoceros?

Short Essay Questions

1. Is Jean's transformation in Act 2, Scene 2 of Rhinoceros a voluntary one? Why or why not?

2. How does Ionesco connect rhinoceros ideology to that of fascism in Rhinoceros?

3. What characters are realistic in Act 1 of Rhinoceros? Which are not?

4. What does Berenger note about Jean's appearance in Act 2, Scene 2 of Rhinoceros?

5. What is the reaction of the office of the unexpected visitor's news in Act 2, Scene 1 of Rhinoceros?

6. Who does Daisy call in the end of Act 2, Scene 1 of Rhinoceros? Why?

7. Whose presence startles Berenger in Act 1 of Rhinoceros? How does he react? Why?

8. What are Berenger's coworkers discussing from the newspaper in Act 2, Scene 1 of Rhinoceros?

9. What about the rhinoceroses is discovered in Act 2, Scene 2 of Rhinoceros?

10. How is the appearance of a Rhinoceros presented to the audience in Act 1 of Rhinoceros?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the theme of totalitarianism and blind following in the play The Leader. How does Ionesco express this theme?

Essay Topic 2

Compare and contrast the characters of Berenger and Jean in Rhinoceros. How are they different in appearance, ideals, and motivations? What similarities do they share?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the theme of totalitarian/fascist/Nazi regimes as expressed in Rhinoceros. What symbolism does Ionesco use to illuminate this theme?

(see the answer keys)

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