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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. Where does Alice go?

2. From where does the patriarch of this zany family come home?

3. Where are Alice and Tony Kirby going?

4. What is unusual about the apartment?

5. What do the authors show, despite the difficulties and differences in Alice's family?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why is the Grand Duchess at the Sycamore's home? How can the audience members relate to this?

2. What might Tony's words "every couple has challenges with family dynamics" foreshadow?

3. What is ironic about Alice?

4. What is Grandpa's philosophy on life? How does this relate to the title of the play?

5. How has this family become so quirky and unusual?

6. How does Mr. Kirby respond to Grandpa's philosophy? How do the Kirbys and Sycamores begin to become one cohesive family?

7. What do these strangers uncover? To what does this lead?

8. What has this embarrassing incident done to Alice? How would you feel, if you were Alice?

9. How does Mrs. Kirby react to this strange family? How does her behavior make Alice's fears become realized?

10. Who is Essie Carmichael? What is she doing in this scene? How does she fit seamlessly into the Sycamore family?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Tony's parents are significant characters.

Part 1) What do they represent? How can the audience member and reader relate to them?

Part 2) Compare and contrast them to the Vanderhof/Sycamore family.

Part 3) How do the Kirbys change throughout the play? Why?

Part 4) How do you feel about this change in them? Why do you feel this way?

Essay Topic 2

The title of the play is significant.

Part 1) To what does "You Can't Take It With You" refer?

Part 2) Whose philosophy is this? What message are the playwrights trying to get across to the audience members?

Part 3) Why would this philosophy be important to the audience when the play opened in 1936? How is it significant today?

Essay Topic 3

Mr. Henderson is an unexpected guest to the home.

Part 1) Who is he? Why is he there?

Part 2) How does Grandpa react to Mr. Henderson's arrival? What is the outcome of this situation?

Part 3) How can both audiences of 1936 and audiences of today relate to this encounter? Would many agree or disagree with Grandpa? Why or why not?

(see the answer keys)

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