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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. Why does Jason say Vivian is not given patient-controlled medication?

2. What does Susie tell Vivian about her cancer?

3. How does Jason describe cancer?

4. What did a lot of the students think of Vivian, according to Jason?

5. What does Vivian say she is supposed to think is a relief?

Short Essay Questions

1. Explain Vivian's reaction to hearing two students mock her after class.

2. Why is Vivian so upset at her imaginary lecture being interrupted by Susie?

3. Why does Vivian feel her recitation of Donne is “wrong” in her last coherent lines?

4. Why does Jason simplify the explanation of Vivian's kidney function?

5. Does Donne ever understand his Salvation Anxiety? Why or why not?

6. What is Vivian trying to think of when she reminisces about her interactions with students?

7. Why is it significant that someone always asked Vivian why Donne made his sonnets so complicated?

8. Why is Vivian scared?

9. What is the significance of Vivian surviving eight cycles of chemotherapy at the full dosage?

10. Why does Vivian think of herself as “just the specimen jar?”

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Define theme. Identify one theme of the play. How does Edson express this theme throughout the play? What point is she trying to make through this theme?

Essay Topic 2

Define motif. Identify one motif used throughout Wit. How is this motif used throughout the play? How does this motif affect Vivian? How does this motif affect the overall story?

Essay Topic 3

Explain Vivian's relationship with Ashford. What does Vivian's relationship with Ashford reveal about Vivian? Why is this relationship important to Vivian? Why is it important to the story?

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