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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 room is John Cleary standing in as the play begins?

2. What is Nettie getting for Timmy's room?

3. What type of friends are John and Timmy talking about in the second scene of the play?

4. How did Timmy and John enjoy the game?

5. What was the occasion that Nettie's father would send her flowers?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is John trying to convince Nettie to do as the final act begins?

2. Why is Timmy concerned about his father in the play's opening, and how does he relate that concern to his mother?

3. What reason does Nettie give for her symbolic act in the third scene?

4. What is the family planning to do at the end of Act 1, Scene 2?

5. What happened to Timmy the night before, and how does that lead to Nettie's criticism of John in Act 1, Scene 1?

6. What decision does Timmy make at the end of the last scene, and how does his father surprise him?

7. How is John acting towards Nettie in the third scene of Act 1, and what is her response?

8. What does the ending of "The Subject was Roses" lead the reader to believe might happen?

9. What is the setting and date for "The Subject was Roses", and why are they significant?

10. What does Nettie describe to Timmy about the job she almost took before she met John, and why is it significant?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Timmy decides to leave, causing a series of events that lead to the end of the play. Explain why he has decided to leave and what that means for his character's development. What events influenced his decision and why? Does Timmy appear to be looking forward to leaving? Why or why not? What does that say about the decision itself? Was there another option that Timmy had besides leaving? If so, explain it. If not, explain why leaving was his best choice.

Essay Topic 2

How does John compare his life with Timmy's? In what way does the comparison affect their relationship? What is different about the time and place both characters grew up, and does that have an effect on the way their lives turned out? What is the reason for John's opinions about how Timmy's life compares to his own?

Essay Topic 3

Analyze the realization that Timmy makes at the end of Act 2, Scene 3. What does it mean for each one of the characters and why is it important to the main theme of the play? Why did the author choose Timmy as the character to draw this conclusion about the family's situation? What does it signify in Timmy's character?

(see the answer keys)

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