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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. How does Juror Three justify his assertion that the defendant must have meant it when he said "I'm going to kill you"?

2. How does the progress of the discussion in Act II affect the behavior of the group of jurors?

3. Which juror shares the experience of living near the track of an el train?

4. What significant information about the impact of an el train does the juror who used to live near it share?

5. According to the old man witness, where was he when he heard the argument between the defendant and his father?

Short Essay Questions

1. After the uproar following Juror three's accusation about which juror changes his vote in Act II, what do the jurors proceed to do?

2. How does the writer use Act II to establish Juror Three and Juror Eight as the antagonist and the protagonist respectively?

3. There are two "physical episodes" in Act II. Describe them briefly and comment on the purposes they serve.

4. How do threats contribute to conflict in Act II, and how are the conflicts resolved?

5. Referring to events in Act II, track the process by which Juror three is established as the antagonist.

6. As the jurors contemplate the evidence given by the woman across the street, how does a comment from Juror Eight complicate the discussion?

7. Referring to events in Act II, track the process by which Juror Eight is established as the protagonist.

8. What evidence of preconceived notions and prejudice does the writer present in Act II?

9. What do the events of Act II demonstrate about the group and about the influence of Juror Eight?

10. How do the jurors seek to verify some of the old man's testimony?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The play "Twelve angry Men" takes place almost exclusively in one setting - the jury room. What are the limitations caused by this single setting, and what techniques does the writer use to overcome such limitations?

Essay Topic 2

One of the themes in "Twelve Angry Men" is the impact of prejudice and preconceived notions on the deliberations by the jury. Discuss in detail the instances in which prejudice and preconceived notions are revealed in the play, and comment on the extent to which they represent problems in real-life group situations.

Essay Topic 3

Today's audiences have been fed a steady diet of courtroom dramas through cinema, television and theater. Discuss the pros and cons of the observation that this diet has reduced the impact of "Twelve Angry Men" as an outstanding example of this genre.

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