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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. In Scene 2, what does Joe find when he arrives home from work at the end of the day?

2. Who is the president as named in this scene?

3. Why is a character called a "red?"

4. What source is suggested as proof to backup Fatt's claims?

5. What is the last action in Scene 3?

Short Essay Questions

1. What are the first indications that Joe and Edna are having financial problems?

2. Why is Benjamin coming to see Dr. Barnes?

3. How does Fatt try to convince the workers not to take action?

4. Why is the Voice's evidence that Clayton is a spy more credible than Clayton's denials?

5. What colors does Joe use to refute Fatt's accusations? Describe the situation of the workers.

6. Is Fatt respected by the workers?

7. What does Sid think about war and education?

8. Are there real advantages of looking at strikes in the laborer's own industry rather than work in general, as Fatt suggests?

9. How do you think Irv feels as a result of his behavior toward Florence?

10. How does Odets forewarn the audience of Lefty's death?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The contributions of extended family members are critical to the survival of Florence and Sid's families. How would Florence's family change had she ignored Irv's insistence that she not get married? What are your thoughts about Florence's rights to her own life?

Essay Topic 2

Odets uses two techniques to shift the reader back and forward in time in order to tell his story. What two techniques does he use and where in the story does he use them? What are the benefits of using these techniques? The downside? If you were re-writing the play, how would you rearrange the scenes?

Essay Topic 3

Spying is argued as both honorable and despicable in two scenes in the play. How is it that the same act can be interpreted in very different, sometimes opposite ways? In this play, what gives spying its honor? In what ways is it unacceptable to some? What does deception do to the deceiver and the deceived? What are your thoughts about the decisions that Clayton and Miller made about spying?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 903 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample