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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. How long has Blanche been staying with the Kowalskis?

2. Where does Stella decide to go in order to join Stanley for the evening?

3. From where is Blanche?

4. When Stanley offers Blanche a drink, how does she answer?

5. Where did Blanche meet this old beau in #58?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Stanley get so upset about the idea of Belle Reve being lost?

2. Who lives at 632 Elysian Fields, as the play opens in "A Streetcar Named Desire"?

3. What does Blanche suggest they do in order to leave Stanley and the "situation" behind?

4. How does Stella describe her relationship with Stanley?

5. When Stella tells Stanley about the loss of Belle Reve, what is his response?

6. What happened on Stella's wedding night that horrifies Blanche, but Stella admits thrilled her?

7. What does Blanche do when she finds a bottle of whiskey in Stella's apartment?

8. What happens to let Blanche and Stanley to be alone together?

9. What happens between Blanche and the teenage boy that comes to collect for the newspaper?

10. What does Stella reveal about Mitch and what does she think of him?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Spousal abuse is something indirectly addressed in this play. What are some examples of spousal abuse that occur? Why do you think Stella reacts the way she does? Do you think she believes she is being abused? Why or why not? Why does Blanche react the way she does?

Essay Topic 2

The setting of Elysian Fields seems to be a depressing one. Give three examples of things that surround Elysian Fields that add to its feeling of depravity and gloom. Do you think that a change of setting would have changed the story? Why or why not? How does the setting affect each of the four main characters?

Essay Topic 3

The rape of Blanche is hard to define in this play as the play was written in a time when the mere thought of rape was inconceivable. Why do you think Tennessee Williams decided to use a rape scene in this play? What does it say about Stanley? What does this scene say about Blanche? Was this scene necessary? Why or why not?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 646 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample