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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. Who has Nina taught to take care of her father while she's gone?

2. Ephraim calls Abbie his what, in Part 2 of Desire Under the Elms?

3. What does Abbie refer to the woman as that Eben is going to see, in Part 2 of Desire Under the Elms?

4. How long does Evans say he and Nina have been sleeping separately, in Act 4 of Strange Interlude?

5. Ephraim taunts Eben about the farm, saying that Abbie did what in order to get it for herself in Part 3 of Desire Under the Elms?

Short Essay Questions

1. Where do the conflicts arise between the family in Desire Under the Elms? How do the characters' objectives lead to the essential conflict?

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

3. What do Evans and his mother talk about in Act 3 of Strange Interlude? What does she ask him about Nina?

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

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

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

7. How does Gordon feel about Darrell in Act 7 of Strange Interlude? How does he respond to Darrell's comments about Evans?

8. What happens in the falling action and resolution of Desire Under the Elms?

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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.

Essay Topic 2

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?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the theme of revenge as it applies to all three plays in the collection. How is revenge represented differently in each play? How is it one of the cohesive themes which bind the plays?

(see the answer keys)

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