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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. Jack Jerome’s second job was selling what before the company shut down?

2. Eugene says of his mother in Act II, “She’s angry at the whole world. That’s why she’s making” what for dinner?

3. How long has the doctor told Jack Jerome to stay home and rest in the beginning of Act II?

4. What does Kate tell Laurie she’s made for dinner tonight in the beginning of Act II?

5. Before he leaves in Act II, Stanley tells Eugene, “If you ever write a story about me, call me” what?

Short Essay Questions

1. How effective was Neil Simon in integrating drama and comedy in his writing of Brighton Beach Memoirs?

2. What causes the internal conflicts faced by Blanche Morton in the play?

3. What causes the initial conflict between Kate and Blanche in Act II?

4. How much time passes between the end of Act I and the opening of Act II? How has the household changed?

5. What news does Jack Jerome receive via a letter in the mail in Act II?

6. Why do Jack and Kate Jerome argue in the beginning of Act II?

7. What has Neil Simon noted in terms of his relationship to Brighton Beach Memoirs and its autobiographical elements?

8. What gift does Stanley give to Eugene in Act II? What is Eugene’s response?

9. How does Kate respond when Stanley confesses the truth about his salary in Act II?

10. Where was Brighton Beach Memoirs first produced? When did it premiere on Broadway?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the character of Blanche Morton in the play. Why do you think the playwright chose the name Blanche? What other dramatic character does this name evoke? How would you describe Blanche’s actions, objectives, and obstacles in the story?

Essay Topic 2

Social and Racial Bias in Brighton Beach Memoirs

a. Discuss the time period in which the play is set and the concepts of racial, social, economic, and religious prejudice in the United States and abroad at this time. How does the playwright touch on the subject of prejudice in the story?

b. In what ways do the Jerome family members show racial or social prejudice in the play?

Essay Topic 3

Describe and discuss playwright Neil Simon and the original production of Brighton Beach Memoirs. When was the play first produced and where? When did it move to Broadway? How long did it run before closing? How does this play compare with Simon’s other works?

(see the answer keys)

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