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. What three rooms make up the stage at the beginning of Act 1?

2. Who is in the living room at the opening of the play?

3. What does Powers send his Captain to go do before he speaks to Kreton?

4. What does Powers fear would be the result of leaked information about the alien?

5. What problem do Reba and Roger have with watching Roger's television appearance?

Short Essay Questions

1. What reasons does Kreton give for not explaining where his planet is, and what does he admit his species does not do, as part of the conversation?

2. Powers has an infatuation with laundry. Describe his conversation with Kreton about the topic.

3. Summarize the argument of Roger against the existence of UFOs.

4. Kreton states he envies humans for being imperfect. Why do you think he says that?

5. Do you think Powers should be directing any military action, knowing he has never been in battle? Why or why not?

6. What does Powers tell Roger about the reality of the UFO, and why does he threaten to indict Roger under the Revised Espionage Act?

7. Based on Kreton's comments to Powers about the impending war, does Kreton really plan to win for the United States quickly?

8. Is the use of Kreton as a governmental weapon right?

9. Describe Kreton's appearance.

10. What plans do Ellen and Conrad have, and what are they planning to tell the others at dinner?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Kreton and Ellen represent dueling forces in "Visit to a Small Planet" and have a major impact on the lives of the other characters in the play.

Part 1. Compare and contrast the characters of Kreton and Ellen by the end of the play. How are these characters the same? How are they different? What changes do the go through as the play moves forward?

Part 2. What would the result have been if Ellen's character had not evolved through the play? Be sure to use information from the novel to discuss your answer.

Part 3. What are the motivations for the actions of each of the characters? Are these motivations similar or different? Why?

Essay Topic 2

The role of women in "modern" society is another theme that runs throughout the novel. Reba and Ellen play two drastically different characters in the play, and Vidal seems to be representing two sides of the same coin with their behaviors. Compare and contrast the roles of Ellen and Reba to discover their representation of women in the novel. What are their reactions to things? Why do they react the way they do? What does this say about their representation of women? Do their behaviors change? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

Kreton notes in the play that humans have an odd view of sex, in that they treat it as a taboo subject, while openly admitting their love for violence and death. Choose one of the following to write about.

1. Sex and violence are linked throughout the novel in several areas. Describe one of these situations. What was happening in the book? How are sex and violence linked? Why? What was the author trying to say?

2. Kreton notes that sex is a taboo subject. Is this true? Why? What makes human beings treat the topic of sex as they do? Is this logical? Why or why not?

3. Ellen notes that human beings think of sex often. Is this true? If so, why? If not, why would Ellen say this? Why is it okay to think about sex, but not to discuss it? What was the author trying to say about the attitudes of society toward sex?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,028 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample