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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. To what mythological figure does Ouisa compare Geoffrey when she describes him?

2. Reveling in the dining options in this section, Geoffrey says that New York is the what of the twentieth century?

3. What twentieth century play does Paul quote in his thesis?

4. According to Flan in this section, Geoffrey has recently sold a print by what modern artist?

5. What is the first item in the room that Flan checks in Act 1?

Short Essay Questions

1. What surprise do the Kittredges have speaking with Larkin and Kitty?

2. What new information does the Detective have when he calls Ouisa and Flan?

3. Describe the accusations Doug hurls at his father?

4. How do the Kittredges conspire to find Paul at the end of this section?

5. What story do Larkin and Kitty tell in this section?

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

7. How do Flan and Ouisa know Geoffrey?

8. How does Paul describe the Kittredge children?

9. Why is the dinner with Geoffrey so important to the Kittredges?

10. What is the meaning of the title of the play?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The end of the play is ambiguous in wrapping up many of its plot lines. Write an essay about the final moments of the play, focusing on the fate of Paul. How do the Kittredges fail to find him in the Village, and how does he become lost in the criminal justice system? What does this say about his place in the world and the place of those like him?

Essay Topic 2

Six Degrees of Separation exists in a world of hyper-literate individuals. As such, it is riddled with specific references to art, pop culture, and New York. Write an essay about references and allusions in each of these three realms of thought. Who makes them on a regular basis? How do they flesh out both individual characters and the world of the play as a whole? Do they date the play?

Essay Topic 3

The very title of Guare's play indicates that it is concerned in large part with the interconnectedness of our world. Write an essay about the theme of interconnectedness. How does Paul's arrival into the Kittredges' lives draw attention to their place in society? How does this lead Ouisa to consider the six degrees? What connections create this meeting and what new connections does it create?

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This section contains 895 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample