View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What favorite food of Beatrice's is discussed in Scene 3 of Act One?

2. With what type of gesture does Christian greet Sophie in Scene 4 of Act One?

3. Which character does Christian instruct, telling her to avoid making "Mama angry" (18)?

4. Mama tells Christian that she has been expecting him for how many weeks?

5. With what object does Mama wipe Sophie's eyes when tears of pain escape from Sophie's eyes?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is the setting of Scene 3 in Act One and what is significant about Nottage's choice of setting?

2. What transgression does Mama watch Sophie commit in Scene 4 of Act One?

3. What two pieces of information about Sophie appear to convince Mama to take her in?

4. What major revelation does Salima share with Sophie in Scene 3 of Act One?

5. Who is Jerome Kisembe?

6. In what way does the theme of deception enter the narrative in Scene 1 of Act One?

7. Discuss Nottage's goal for writing and producing Ruined, according to the text's introduction.

8. Provide evidence of the bond between Sophie and Salima that has grown since their arrival at Mama's.

9. In what setting does the play Ruined take place?

10. What is Mama's policy about armed men in her establishment and what is ironic about the policy?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

William Faulkner once famously claimed that the most important literature deals with the subject of the human heart in conflict with itself. Explain how the theme of Human versus Self is demonstrated within Nottage’s play Ruined. Create a decisive, arguable claim and prove it with quotes from the play.

Essay Topic 2

What is Nottage's message about the relationship between oppression and brutality within the play Ruined?

Essay Topic 3

Analyze the interplay between the resolution of Ruined and one of the play's main messages. How does Nottage make connections between these elements and how does their juxtaposition help them get across one main message of the play?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,059 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample