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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 George silence Martha as she talks about his failure to take over the department?

2. How old does George tell Nick Martha is?

3. Which is not among the "damnedest" drinks that Geroge says Martha used to prefer?

4. What does George accuse Martha of doing during these faculty parties?

5. What does NIck have to drink?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe the moment at the faculty party that Martha describes and how it affected her.

2. Where does the title of the play come from?

3. Describe Martha's monologue concerning her one true love.

4. Describe George and Martha's bit involving a kiss.

5. Describe Honey.

6. What is George's explanation of the abstract painting in his house?

7. Describe Martha's first marriage.

8. How does Martha convince George to leave her and Nick alone?

9. Describe George's "party games" bit.

10. Describe Martha when she returns to the main room and how the guests react.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Three times in the play, Honey is reduced to tears or gets sick. Write a paragraph about each of these breakdowns - one in each act - and how, together, they signify the yielding of social grace and denial to the reality of a desperate, helpless life.

Essay Topic 2

The collapse of inhibitions - mostly, but not exclusively, as a result of drink - is a key driver of action in the play. Write an essay about the disappearance of inhibitions as time goes on:

Part 1) Examine the character of Honey. How is the entirety of her character arc a breaking down of inhibitions leading to her final admission in Act 3.

Part 2) How does the relationship between Nick and Martha change over the course of the play as a result of the breaking down of inhibitions?

Part 3) How is George's revelation about his child the ultimate collapse of his and Martha's inhibitions?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the use of violence in the play, both physical and verbal. Which is more effective in the narrative? Use specific examples from the play to defend your position.

(see the answer keys)

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