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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. What does Weston run into in Act One?

2. What class does the family not belong to, according to Emma?

3. What does Wesley smell in Act One?

4. What does Ella suggest Emma do instead of her list of jobs?

5. What does Weston go to check on in Act One?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Wesley compare Taylor buying their house to in Act Two?

2. How does Weston recognize the "poison" on his outlook?

3. How does Ella describe what it feels like when she learns Weston sells the house already?

4. What does Emma says Ella is after with Taylor?

5. Why does Ella want to go to Europe in Act One?

6. What does Weston do to try and reconnect with his home and land in Act Three?

7. Where is Ella when she comes back to the house in Act Three?

8. Why is Wesley not pleased that Ella calls the cops?

9. Why does Ella tell Wesley he should not be cleaning up the debris?

10. Why does Wesley think it is okay that Emma wants to leave home?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The Tate's kitchen table serves several purposes in the play. Explore the significance of the kitchen table within the play. What purposes does the table serve? What does the table represent to each of the characters? What does the table represent overall in the play? How is the story different if the table is not present? Use specific examples from the play in the response.

Essay Topic 2

Knowing that "Curse of the Starving Class" is one of Sam Shepard's family tragedy plays, explore the statement the playwright is making about family in the play. What does Shepard want the audience and reader to understand and learn about family? How does Shepard use the Tate family's dynamics to make a larger statement on family relationships and dynamics in general? Use specific examples from the text in the response.

Essay Topic 3

Sam Shepard published "Curse of the Starving Class" in the late 1970s. Explore how the play sustains its relevance in today's society. What universal problems does the Tate family encounter that today's families also cope with? What other instances retain their relevance in today's society? Use specific examples from the text in the response.

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