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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 clears the dinner table at the opening of Act 1, Scene 4?

2. When she knocks the item over, what does she do during Act 1, Scene 4?

3. What does Sara say she wants to do with Geoffrey as the two of them discuss their relationship at the opening of Act 2, Scene 1?

4. At the close of Act 2, Scene 2, what do the sisters say they look forward to talking about in the future over tea?

5. What is the name of the friend Merv and Sara have in common?

Short Essay Questions

1. Who do the three sisters toast and why?

2. Explain the two epiphanies Geoffrey has at the beginning of Act 2, Scene 2 regarding Pfeni.

3. Explain why Pfeni and Geoffrey were first drawn to each other and crazy about each other when they met.

4. How is Pfeni closer to her true self after Act 2, Scene 2?

5. What sort of emotions does Pfeni seem to exhibit about her work?

6. What secrets that Gorgeous has been hiding are revealed in Act 2, Scene 2?

7. What is represented by the Yiddish recording Sara plays?

8. What is Sara's response to Merv's compliments in Act 2, Scene 1?

9. What is implied by Geoffrey in his scene with Pfeni when he talks of friends dying unfulfilled?

10. How does the unseen character of Sonia fit into Act 1, Scene 4?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Each sister is transformed in some way by the events that occur during the course of the play. Discuss each sister in turn, and how she is transformed.

Essay Topic 2

Sara is repeatedly described as "bitter" and "cold" and "hard." Discuss her emotional journey throughout the play. Offer specific examples of her hardness, then her gradual softening. What incidents cause some of the changes along her journey?

Essay Topic 3

Choose two objects in the play and describe their role in symbolism. You might choose the tea kettle Sara receives, the statue of Shiva, the Chanel suit, Merv's shirt, or something else. What is symbolized by the object, and what is its role in the play and to the characters?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 703 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample