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

Short Answer Questions

1. Who does Claire beg to take her away from the house?

2. Who joins Claire, Tom, and the third character in the tower?

3. Who apologizes to Tom in Act 2?

4. From what does Claire say she needs to be rescued?

5. What is the relationship between Claire and Adelaide?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

How does the playwright use sound to illustrate Claire's need to find meaning in her life at the expense of others? Consider the wind, the buzzer, and the Victrola as examples.

Essay Topic 2

During the play and in her past, Claire has broken several of the Ten Commandments. And yet, at one point she asks Tom to say something pleasant about God, and at the end of the play she sings hymns. What do these contradictory behaviors reveal about Claire and about the playwright's attitude toward Claire's struggle?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the symbolism of heat in this play as it relates to love, comfort, and survival. Why is it significant that Claire diverts the heat from her family home to the greenhouse? Why is it significant that a snowstorm rages outdoors, visible through the greenhouse windows?

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This section contains 263 words (approx. 1 page at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample