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 does Sorin use to walk?

2. What blows behind the stage?

3. What does Treplieff threaten to do?

4. What does Nina say it is strange seeing a famous author doing?

5. What does Arkadina say she smells?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is the weather like at the beginning of the fourth act?

2. What symbolizes the devil in the play?

3. Who is Boris Trigorin?

4. Why does Madame Arkadina not want to stay at the estate?

5. What does Illya tell Boris and Madame Arkadina?

6. Why is Peter escorted to his room?

7. Summarize the play.

8. Why is Madame Akadina unhappy with Peter?

9. Why is Nina's life so bleak?

10. What happens to Peter in the second act?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Why do Simon and Masha get married if they are not both in love? In what way does Chekhov suggest that union could prove destructive? What effect could such marriage have on children?

Essay Topic 2

Choose one of the following and discuss how it affects the tone of the play and helps to express character and theme:

Setting

Point of view

Structure

Language

Essay Topic 3

What is the difference between a character driven play and a plot driven play? How does Chekhov develop his characters to create a story? What are the main elements of a character driven story?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 555 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample