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

Short Answer Questions

1. How does C respond to A's reasoning for her marriage?

2. How did A's mother-in-law feel about her?

3. What happened to A's mother as she got older?

4. According to B, what is the best time of life?

5. What does A remember most vividly about her son holding her hand in her premonition?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

A's disjointed memories serve several purposes throughout the play. How do they allow for exposition? Is this an effective method of exposition? Why or why not? How do these memories highlight A's mental deterioration as it parallels her physical deterioration? Be sure to cite specific examples from the text to support your thesis.

Essay Topic 2

The figures of the son and the husband are archetypes for males. Despite their difference in age they share many qualities, which is why the pronoun "he" is used interchangeably to refer to both of them. What are the qualities that the son and husband share? How does A view them both? What message is Albee sending the audience about males in general? Be sure to cite specific examples from the text to support your thesis.

Essay Topic 3

In the second act, it becomes clear that B and C are younger versions of A, and each of them tell their versions of the story. What happened to make A and B so impatient with C's perspective? Was there any defining event that marked the transition from C to B, and from B to A? If so, what was it? If not, what defines these women at each stage of their life? Be sure to cite specific examples from the text to support your thesis.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 378 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample