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

Short Answer Questions

1. Who calls out for Andrei to be quiet?

2. Who does Natasha want to move in with Olga, for her own personal reasons?

3. Who says, "To Moscow! To Moscow! To Moscow!" which is not a surprising sentiment from this particular character?

4. Natasha wants the circumstances in #102 to happen so that ______ can have her room.

5. Who does Irina discover has fallen asleep when she enters in this scene?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Within this play are many examples of the number '3' - not just in the title itself. The relevance of the number '3' seems to indicate a pattern within this play and within the lives of its characters.

Part 1: List at least three examples of where the number '3' is shown in the play.

Part 2: What is the significance of the number '3' in this play?

Part 3: What might Chekhov be trying to show the viewer or the reader in using the number '3' so often?

Essay Topic 2

The meaning of life is something that also begins to emerge as a theme in this play. Each character is searching for something, but what that 'something' is remains to be clear at times.

Part 1: What is Olga's sense of the meaning of life? How has she defined what makes her life worth living?

Part 2: What is Masha's sense of the meaning of life? How has her definition changed before and after Vershinin?

Part 3: What is Irina's hope in life causing her to do? She has hope for the future, but does that hinder her search for meaning or help it? Support your answer.

Essay Topic 3

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?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 361 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample