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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. After he reminisces, what does Max ask Sam?

2. According to Max, when his father was dying, what did he tell Max to do?

3. Just after Teddy comes downstairs on the afternoon of their second day at the house, what do Lenny and Ruth do as Teddy watches?

4. After Ruth tells Lenny where she was born, where does Max tell Joey he needs to go?

5. After lunch, Max abruptly turns his attention from reminiscing to Sam. Who does he compare Sam to?

Short Essay Questions

1. What comparison does Ruth make when referring to the relationship between words and actions?

2. What kind of response does Teddy make to his brothers' caressing Ruth?

3. According to Teddy, how is Ruth different since their marriage?

4. What is Teddy's response to Ruth's question about whether the family has read any of his works?

5. According to Max, what did his father ask him to do when he was dying?

6. What is Ruth's response to Teddy's urging her to pack up and go home with him?

7. For what does Max criticize Sam when Sam is in the kitchen?

8. Act One, scene 3 begins the morning after Teddy and Ruth have arrived; what characters have not yet met Ruth?

9. As Act Two opens, what positive and negative comments does Max make about his late wife?

10. What does Teddy tell Max about his family life with Ruth?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Compare and contrast the characters of Max and Sam, two brothers who seem to represent totally opposite values. Include specific examples of their differences and their attitudes toward each other.

Essay Topic 2

Although Max is a poor example of a father, he seems to know what a father should be. Discuss some specific examples of his fathering skills and explain what proof exists in the play that he seems to understand what makes for a good father. Why do you think Max chooses to father in the way he does? Give examples from the play back up your reasoning.

Essay Topic 3

When Ruth first arrives at the family home, she is nearly silent. By the end of the play, she has become the dominant figure. In what specific ways has Ruth changed and what specific reasons do you think account for her change?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 616 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample