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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. What does Danny feel that Deborah is doing to him?

2. What does Deborah order to drink at the bar?

3. How does Joan think Deborah is behaving?

4. When they make love, what does Deborah fantasize about?

5. On what day did Danny and Deborah meet?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is Joan's reaction to Deborah's new relationship?

2. After Bernie realizes Danny is serious about Deborah, what warning does he give?

3. What story does Joan tell her kindergartners?

4. What sexual problem did Joan have with her previous boyfriend?

5. Why is Danny frightened to confess his love to Deborah?

6. What are Bernie's feelings about the Equal Rights Amendment?

7. How do Bernie and Danny feel about the women on the beach?

8. What, in Act 2, do Joan and Deborah agree on about men?

9. What two words did Deborah's mother mishear during Deborah's childhood?

10. Does Joan feel that she is getting wiser about relationships as she gets older? Why or why not?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

When Danny and Deborah argue about the shampoo, is their argument really all about the shampoo? Why or why not? How is their power struggle indicative of the time period in the play? What are the larger societal implications of their argument? Reexamine the scene. Point out who has the power at what moment and why.

Essay Topic 2

In The Duck Variations, how are George and Emil's personalities similar? How do they differ? How do George and Emil react to different topics in the play such as death, life, nature, and human society? Choose three variations in the play where George and Emil deal with an issue differently. Which would you say is the dominant personality? Why? Why do all their conversations center around ducks?

Essay Topic 3

Examine Deborah's story about the cookie and the hug. Try to answer her question in the context of the play: what is a sublimation of what? What signifies what? Do the characters think they need one thing but really need something else? Why or why not? Cite examples from the play.

(see the answer keys)

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