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This test consists of 5 short answer questions and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. According to Roma, what will Lingk regret when he dies?

2. What does Roma suggest people do to feel secure?

3. How many of the B-list leads does Williamson give Roma?

4. Who will take care of re-closing the contracts that were stolen in the robbery?

5. Which of the following is not an example of a catastrophe that Roma lists as he discusses humanity's fear of loss?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Write an essay about the setting of the play. What is Mamet saying about the world that these men inhabit? Does he believe they can ever escape it, or does the constant grinding follow them everywhere they go? What lives do they have outside of this world? Divide the essay into two parts analyzing the significance and connection between these two locations:

Part 1) The Chinese restaurant

Part 2) The office

Essay Topic 2

One of the central drivers of plot in the play is the sales contest. Write an essay on this contest in three parts:

Part 1) Williamson is the bearer of new from Mitch and Murray, and he endeavors to explain the reasoning behind the contest. How does he defend the contest to Levene? Do you think it is intended to increase revenue, reduce the work force, or both?

Part 2) Levene, Moss, and Aaronow all decry the idiocy of the contest in the first act. What are their points regarding it? How was the business run in the past in terms of compensation? Do you think these men have a point?

Part 3) What unintended consequences result for the institution of this contest? Does the company ultimately benefit from it? What problems does it cause for Williamson and the salesmen?

Essay Topic 3

The framing device of the first act only gives us brief glimpses of the characters, and it never puts all of them in the same room. Moreover, it gives us information about the contest in small portions. How does this affect the way the view experiences the play? What speculations does it create? How is the audience prepared for the second act?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 383 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample