View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What happens to the vase after Nettie throws the roses?

2. How long ago did Nettie's father pass away?

3. What prevented John from joining the war?

4. What does Timmy suggest to John about the roses?

5. What does Timmy think of his father's intelligence?

Short Essay Questions

1. How do Timmy and John appear at the beginning of Act 1, Scene 2, and what is the reason for their mood?

2. How does the breakfast of Nettie and John in the beginning of Act 2 have a shaky start?

3. How do Timmy and John respond to Nettie's response to the flowers?

4. What is the way Timmy views his father and his family, according to the speech he gives in Act 2, Scene 2?

5. How does the way Nettie reacts to Timmy's drinking in Scene 3 illustrate the difference between her and John?

6. What surprise does John unveil as the first scene of the play is ending, and how does it affect Nettie?

7. How does John's mood in the beginning of Act 2, Scene 2 compare to earlier scenes?

8. How do Nettie and Timmy revisit their past at the end of Act 1, Scene 1?

9. What is the difference between the ways both of the first two scenes end?

10. What do Timmy and John do when Nettie enters the room in the fourth scene of Act 2, and how does she respond?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Compare and contrast the ways Timmy and John both view Nettie and the ways they treat her in the play. Use the play as a reference to provide examples that support your analysis in the reasons for their different approach.

Essay Topic 2

The beginning of "The Subject was Roses" is an introduction to the Cleary family and the setting of their home.

1) Describe the period that the play takes place in and why it is relevant to the story.

2) Describe the apartment that the Clearys live in and how it reflects the situation their family is in.

3) Explain the events from the night before that have led up to the beginning of the play, including why they are important to the rest of the story that follows.

Essay Topic 3

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.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 962 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample