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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. When Stanley returns home at the end of Act II, Eugene tells him, “Mom’s in the kitchen cooking. Pop’s upstairs with his prayer book. They figured if God didn’t bring you home, maybe” what would?

2. Kate tells Jack in Act II, “My family were worriers. Worriers generally marry” what?

3. The letter that Blanche receives in Act II says that despite all of Frank’s faults, what “have never been his failings”?

4. Who brought Jack home after he suffered from a physical ailment, according to Eugene in Act II?

5. Why does Eugene say his knee hurts in the beginning of Act II?

Short Essay Questions

1. How is Blanche’s appearance described when she enters in Act II? What causes tension in this scene regarding Stanley’s income?

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

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

4. What criticisms did Neil Simon receive for the original production of Brighton Beach Memoirs?

5. How does the Jewish heritage of the Jerome/Morton family play into the metaphorical interpretation of the play?

6. How does the conflict escalate between Kate and Blanche in Act II?

7. Who has sent the letter with Laurie in Act II? What news does the letter relate?

8. What do Blanche and Nora discuss when Nora arrives home in Act II?

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

10. What autobiographical elements can be seen in Brighton Beach Memoirs?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the theme of family in Brighton Beach Memoirs. How important is family to the characters in the story? What symbolism supports this theme? How does this theme evolve in the story?

Essay Topic 2

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 3

Discuss the health of Jack Jerome and his condition in the beginning of Act II. When and where did Jack suffer a heart attack? What have the doctors suggested in terms of his treatment? How has Jack responded to their advice?

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