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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. What does Vanya's mother do as everyone else is talking during the scene after she enters?

2. Who tells the others to go to bed because he has come to sit with the Professor for a while?

3. Yelena, it is said, married the Professor when he was already _________.

4. Yelena says that Astrov is right, people don't just destroy forests, they also destroy ____________.

5. Yelena and Sonya promise to be __________ again after many difficult weeks together.

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Vanya tell everyone to do when he finally reenters the scene with Astrov?

2. What is Marina doing as she is sitting at the start of the play in a country home in Russia?

3. What has Vanya supposedly stolen from Astrov, according to Astrov's accusation?

4. What is the memory that Astrov becomes lost in as he is talking with Marina?

5. Why does Vanya protest the announcement and the decision the Professor makes in his announcement?

6. When Marina asks Telegin where the gun is, what does Telegin reply to her?

7. Why does Sonya send Marina off as Maria sits down and reads during this opening scene?

8. Why doesn't Astrov leave the scene when Vanya asks him to leave?

9. What does Sonya ask Yelena to help her with in regards to her relationship?

10. How does Astrov describe the project that he has been working on when he walks into the room?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The blatant alcoholism of Astrov makes him a character with whom many do not sympathize.

Part 1: Why is Astrov always using alcohol to solve his problems?

Part 2: Do you think alcohol is the only way for some people to handle problems in their life? Why or why not?

Part 3: What else might Astrov do in order to handle the struggles of his life?

Essay Topic 2

The storm seems to be a symbol of the anger and frustration in the group of people in the play.

Part 1: Why do you think a storm is a good representation of conflict amongst people? Or isn't it?

Part 2: Do you think the group of people changes after the storm passes? Why or why not?

Part 3: Why do you think Chekhov decided to use the storm in the play versus another event?

Essay Topic 3

Yelena points out that Vanya should spend more time and energy creating harmony.

Part 1: Why do you think Yelena points out that Vanya should spend more time on creating harmony?

Part 2: How might Vanya begin to create more harmony in his own life?

Part 3: Do you think you spend your time and energy on creating harmony? Why or why not?

(see the answer keys)

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