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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. Who is the Miss Hansen?

2. What job does Jim currently hold?

3. How does Jim respond to the new job interview?

4. What is Dr. Schlesinger's decision at the end of Act 1, Scene 4?

5. How does Jim respond to Ann after he first wakes up?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is significant about Jim's insurance policy?

2. What happens at the beginning of Act 2, Scene 3 that shocks Jim?

3. What are the circumstances around Jim's suicide attempt, as revealed in the first scene?

4. Who is Harry, what is he like, and how does Jim respond to him?

5. What is the important discovery Jim makes about Ann at the end of Act 1?

6. Why are Ann and Dr. Schlesinger talking in the beginning of Act 1, Scene 4, and what is their reason for hiding it from Jim?

7. How does Jim's visit with Dr. Bellman highlight the hospital's flaws when it comes to the way they treat patients?

8. What is Jim's state of mind in Act 1, Scene 1, and what does he admit to?

9. What is a shrike and why did the author choose it for the title of the play?

10. What is significant about the time of year that the play takes place and what possible reason could the author have had for choosing it?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Dr. Barrow recommends to Ann that she question Jim when he first becomes conscious.

1) What is the doctor's reason for talking to Jim in a semi-conscious state? Why is it relevant to the type of information retrieved from him?

2) Using the information revealed later in the play, how do Jim's initial responses accurately confirm what the doctor stated? Why is this both ironic and symbolic of later events? How is Ann's response an indication of her true motives in the same way that Jim's response reflects his?

Essay Topic 2

Harry visits Jim and provides a suggestion that leads to Jim's release from the hospital.

1) Describe Harry and his character traits in detail. How are they different than Jim's? In what way does Harry's priorities dictate his actions and cause him to become weaker?

2) What can Harry do to help Jim? Why does he instead choose to see his brother suffer? Which characteristics of Harry prevent him from standing up to Ann?

3) What is the plan that Harry suggests to Jim and why does the author choose him to introduce it? Why has Jim not thought of this before?

Essay Topic 3

How does Ann appear in the very beginning of the play? Why is it important that she is not revealing any signs of her real intentions for Jim? How does this play a crucial role in her ability to gain the trust of the doctors and hospital staff?

(see the answer keys)

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