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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 Conrad use as a name for hotel reservations at the Jefferson Davis?

2. What does Ellen notice Roger has in the television appearance?

3. What does Reba note Ellen must do before marrying Conrad?

4. What does Kreton admit he can do with time?

5. What does Ellen tell Conrad to leave in the car when he arrives for dinner?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is Kreton's response to the question of whether his people are there to establish trade? Communications?

2. Explain why Kreton's race no longer multiplies.

3. What is each character thinking at the end of Act I?

4. Why does the aide think of when his thoughts are broadcast? What is the result?

5. Why is Reba concerned about the marriage of Ellen and Conrad.

6. Describe the spaceship, as it is explained by the aide.

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

8. Describe what Conrad says occurred during the night with Roger.

9. What topics are discussed by Kreton and Rosemary?

10. What is Roger afraid Kreton truly represents? What is Kreton's reply to this?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

There is a scene in the play in which Kreton is served breakfast by Ellen, which consists, in part, of bacon. Answer the following in relation to that scene.

1. What is Kreton's reaction to the bacon? Why? What is Ellen's response? What does this say about Ellen's opinions of eating meat? What does this say about Kreton's opinions of eating meat? What was Vidal trying to say by having the "superior" creature refuse to eat meat? Why?

Essay Topic 2

In the book, there are several references made to time travel, and the effects of such an event. Choose one of the following to discuss:

1. If Kreton's war had taken place, would history have changed? Why? What was Kreton's intended result? Would that have affected the future of the planet? Why or why not?

2. Kreton notes that history books would have to be altered. In real life, are history books ever changed? Why or why not? What does this say about time? What does this say about our perception of time? Was Kreton right, therefore, when he said time was relative? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

Kreton manipulates individuals throughout the novel in an effort to force them to create the world he originally envisioned when he envisioned Earth. Choose of the following manipulative situations to discuss.

1. Describe the situation where Kreton uses the thoughts of the aide to push Conrad into fighting. What was the aide thinking? Why did this bother Conrad? Is the fact that Conrad tried to hit the aide proof that Kreton is correct that humans are naturally violent? Or was Conrad abnormally motivated to violence by Kreton's manipulation? Why? Be sure to support your ideas with the book.

2. Describe the situation where Kreton uses the fight between Conrad and the aide to convince Ellen to marry Conrad. What was the fight about? Why did this change Ellen's opinion of marrying Conrad? Is the fact that Ellen married Conrad only after his show of violence proof that humans are violent creatures? Or was Ellen abnormally motivated to marry by Kreton's manipulation? Why? Be sure to support your ideas with the book.

(see the answer keys)

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