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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 career did Flan used to hold?

2. What event do the Kittredges have to attend in the morning?

3. Which of the following is not an ingredient listed in the dish Paul prepares?

4. In this section, Paul mentions attending a film festival with his father in what country?

5. What percentage commission does Ouisa theorize Flan is giving Paul?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Dr. Fine deal with Paul's deception?

2. How does Guare loop time in this first half of the play?

3. Describe the dish that Paul prepares.

4. What is the essence of Paul's thesis?

5. Who are Rick and Elizabeth?

6. What was Paul's inspiration for his thesis?

7. Describe Paul's entrance.

8. Why does the Detective now have a case against Paul at the end of this section?

9. How does Paul describe his father in this section?

10. What does Ouisa discover when she wakes Paul in this section?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Time and again in this narrative, the question of race in America crops up. Write an essay on the idea of race in the world of this play. Do the Kittredges seem to have any other black acquaintances besides Paul? What realities of black life in America does he bring into their lives? What darker realities about race arise from the polite liberal facade of the parents in the play?

Essay Topic 2

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 3

Much of the plot of Six Degrees of Separation involves wealthy members of rarified New York dealing with the other half of society. Write an essay about the Kittredges' interaction with less affluent characters. How do they relate to each other? In what ways do the Kittredges and their friend find dealing in this other world frustrating?

Part 1) The Hustler

Part 2) The Detective

Part 3) Elizabeth

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 889 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample