View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. Which two jurors are moved by the discovery about the timing involved in the old man's story?

2. What does this experience among the jurors demonstrate about group behavior?

3. What is the main outcome of this discussion about the words spoken by the defendant?

4. What reason does the juror who changes his mind give for doing so?

5. As Act II progresses, how does Juror Three's attitude contrast with the attitude of Juror Four?

Short Essay Questions

1. What important contributions does Juror Nine make to the deliberations in Act II?

2. In Act II, what are the immediate responses to the secret ballot taken by the eleven jurors?

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

4. Identify the major themes illustrated in Act II, and give brief explanations of how each theme is brought out.

5. What incident ensues as a result of the experiment to verify the old man's testimony?

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

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

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

9. How does the writer use the events of Act II to establish Juror Eight as the protagonist?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

At the end of the play, the reader is no wiser as to whether the defendant is guilty or innocent. Discuss with reasons whether this is a strength or weakness in the story line.

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the theme of conflict and conflict resolution in "Twelve Angry Men".

Essay Topic 3

Throughout the play there is no reference to the names of any of the characters. The defendant is referred to as 'the boy' and the witnesses as the 'old man' and 'the lady across the street'. The jurors are given numbers to differentiate them. Discuss the reasons for the writer's decision to do this and comment on the impact of this technique on the play.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,674 words (approx. 6 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample