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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. Where does Marsden encounter Darrell, before Act 6 in Strange Interlude?

2. Where is the Cabot farmhouse in Desire Under the Elms?

3. In what year does Desire Under the Elms take place?

4. In what room of the house does Part 2, Scene 3 of Desire Under the Elms take place?

5. What does Ephraim say the farm is made of, in Part 2 of Desire Under the Elms?

Short Essay Questions

1. What are Marsden's thoughts at the beginning of Act 1 in Strange Interlude?

2. What does the argument over the estate devolve to between the brothers in Part 1 of Desire Under the Elms?

3. What is Abbie doing when Part 3 begins in Desire Under the Elms? What is the talk of the town about?

4. How does Eben's position in the household contribute to his conflicts over the estate in Desire Under the Elms?

5. Describe the thematic elements which are shared by Desire Under the Elms and the other plays in the collection.

6. What is the symbolic statement behind Abbie and Eben's entrance into the parlor in Part 2 in Desire Under the Elms?

7. Why does Nina say she's going away in Act 1 of Strange Interlude?

8. What does Ephraim say to Eben in Part 3 of Desire Under the Elms that causes Eben to lash out at Abbie?

9. In Part 2 of Desire Under the Elms, how does Abbie attempt to rectify her relationship with Eben? Who does she refer to with disdain?

10. Why does Leeds believe that Nina hates him in Act 1 of Strange Interlude?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Compare the characters of Lavinia and Christine in the Mourning Becomes Electra trilogy. How and why do these characters become more alike in the progression of the trilogy?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the style and use of soliloquy in Strange Interlude. How is this play stylistically different than the others in the collection?

Essay Topic 3

Describe the objectives and actions of the character of Darrell in Strange Interlude. What about this character is noble? What are his negative qualities and actions? What does he want?

(see the answer keys)

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