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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 does Flan stop Geoffrey from calling in this section?

2. What does the Hustler do as soon as he enters the scene?

3. How much money does Flan need to convince Geoffrey to loan him at the beginning of Act 1?

4. Which of the following prominent New York families is not one that Paul mentions considering before deciding to come to the Kittredges?

5. What does the New York Times send contributors of the anecdotes Flan and Ouisa mention at the end of this section?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is Ouisa's essential fear about the fate of Paul of the play?

2. Describe Paul's entrance.

3. Who are Rick and Elizabeth?

4. How does Paul succeed in taking Rick and Elizabeth's money?

5. What seems to be Paul's fate at the end of the play?

6. What offer does Paul make the Kittredges regarding dinner?

7. What is sent to the Kittredges in this section and how do they respond?

8. How does Paul explain the naked man to Flan and Ouisa?

9. What promise does Ouisa make Paul in exchange for his agreement to go to the police?

10. Why does Geoffrey call at the end of this section?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Paul has a strange relationship with sex. Though clearly a homosexual by orientation, he does not pursue sex in the same way other people do. Write an essay on Paul's relationship with sex in two parts:

Part 1) Why does Paul have sex with Rick after their dance in the Rainbow room? Is sex a pleasure for him or a weapon? Does Paul think about how the experience will affect Rick when he propositions him?

Part 2) How does Paul explain his decision to bring a prostitute to the Kittredges' condo? Do either Ouisa or Flan understand his reasoning? How does the reasoning also explain why he will not have sex in prison?

Essay Topic 2

Write an essay about the character of Paul. Focus on his objectives as a character. What does he want out of life, and why does lying his way into affluent homes and assuming a false identity help achieve it? What do the Kittredges offer him that the other families do not? Do you think that his objective reveals some psychological scar?

Essay Topic 3

Throughout the play, several couples come into contact with Paul and are affected by the experience in profoundly different ways. Write an essay about these different relationships. How do they come into contact with Paul? What does he give them and what does he take away? How are they forced to reassess their ideas of self, love, family?

Part 1) Larkin and Kitty

Part 2) Elizabeth and Rick

Part 3) Ouisa and Flan

(see the answer keys)

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