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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. Why does Leeds say he hated Gordon?

2. How old is Ephraim in Part 3 of Desire Under the Elms?

3. Who is Nina writing a letter to at the beginning of Act 3 in Strange Interlude?

4. What does Nina talk about in her soliloquy at the beginning of Act 5 in Strange Interlude?

5. Who is the protagonist in Desire Under the Elms?

Short Essay Questions

1. 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?

2. How does Nina feel about her family in Act 7 of Strange Interlude? How does she feel about her life and about Darrell?

3. How does Evans know Darrell in Strange Interlude? How does he feel about him?

4. How does Darrell feel toward Evans in Act 5 of Strange Interlude? What does he plan to do at the end of the act?

5. Describe the "character" of Minnie in Desire Under the Elms. What is she representative of?

6. Describe the symbolism of the fence on the Cabot farm in Desire Under the Elms.

7. What do Marsden's thoughts reveal about Gordon in Act 4 of Strange Interlude? Why did he suggest that Nina write a biography about him?

8. In the climax of Part 3 in Desire Under the Elms, what takes place between Abbie, Ephraim and Eben?

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the innovations which O'Neill introduced to the theater in each of these plays. Why did the police attempt to shut down O'Neill's works in New York? What is risque about these plays for their time?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the theme of "Ghosts of the Past" as they are reflected in each of the three plays of the collection (including all three plays of the Electra trilogy). What symbols are used to reflect the theme?

Essay Topic 3

Compare the character of Nina from Strange Interlude to that of Abbie in Desire Under the Elms. How are these women similar? How are they different? Discuss their objectives and actions.

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