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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 is upset because one of his daughters is unwell and his wife is in a very bad mood?

2. Kulygin is glad that _________ loves him and he continues to say this throughout the play.

3. Who invites everyone to dinner within this particular scene?

4. Who is NOT one of the three sisters who are the title characters of this play?

5. Who does Solyony joke about being dead, shot by him in 25 years?

Short Essay Questions

1. Who recalls how beautiful the sisters' mother used to be?

2. What does Tusenbach tell Irina as he kisses her goodbye?

3. What happens, according to Tusenbach, when Solyony is around people?

4. Who seems to be going out, as indicated by their style of dress in the opening of this scene?

5. What does the maid come in and tell Natasha?

6. What does Masha sarcastically comment when Natasha enters the room with a candle?

7. What is the celebration taking place at the time of this particular scene?

8. What does Anfisa announce when she arrives at the beginning of Act 1, Part 2?

9. Where is the first act of the play set?

10. What is Natasha worried about in relation to Sophie?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The setting of the play doesn't change much from beginning to end. This causes the viewer/reader to focus more on the interactions than on the space in which these interactions take place.

Part 1: List the settings of the play.

Part 2: Discuss why Chekhov may have wanted to keep the settings to a minimum. What might this achieve?

Part 3: How do you think the setting, or lack thereof, has affected the mood of this play?

Essay Topic 2

When Irina reveals she has never loved, it seems to be a sad statement of her life and her future.

Part 1: Do you think Irina has truly never loved? Why or why not?

Part 2: What characters do seem capable of love? Why did you choose these characters?

Part 3: What does the idea of love seem to create in this play? In terms of those that do profess love, what happens to them?

Essay Topic 3

Faith is something that also pervades this play, showing up in moments where the characters feel they have to persevere as they believe in something better.

Part 1: How do the male characters in this play experience or share their ideas of faith with each other and with the reader/viewer?

Part 2: How do the female characters in this play experience or share their ideas of faith with each other and with the reader/viewer?

Part 3: What does this play seem to offer about faith? Is it a worthwhile thing or something that only leads to disappointment? Support your answer.

(see the answer keys)

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