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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. Which character does Arkadina say is a celebrity?

2. What animal does Trigorin say he races and dodges like?

3. What does Trigorin say he is left behind like?

4. What is Nina seated upon?

5. What blows behind the stage?

Short Essay Questions

1. What do the characters say about Constantine's work when he is gone?

2. What does Paulina think about her husband?

3. What agreement do Simon and Masha come to?

4. What do Boris and Nina say to each other before Boris leaves?

5. Why does Constantine think that Nina favors Boris?

6. Why are Masha and Simon looking for Constantine?

7. What symbolizes the devil in the play?

8. Why is Paulina worried about Yevgeny's attractions to Nina?

9. What does the dead seagull symbolize?

10. How does Madame Arkadina react to the play?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Examine the play's chronological setting.

What were the main concerns during the 1900s? How does the author express these concerns?

How would the author change the novel if it were set in today's society?

Essay Topic 2

Examine the way the author uses the characters in the book. When does he introduce and take them away from the story? How does his use of the characters affect the story?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the values of the 1900s.

In what ways are the characters a product of their time?

How does the play express the changes Russian was going through at the time?

Does modern society share any values with 1900s Russia?

(see the answer keys)

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