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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. Where does the man in the brothel bar tell Ryszard to go?
2. For what newspaper is Ryzsard a correspondent?
3. What promise does Maryna make the Dowanger Countess the first time they meet?
4. Who is Maryna portraying at the end of her performance before the celebration dinner party?
5. In what theatre does Maryna normally perform?
Short Essay Questions
1. How does Maryna talk about the passenger who went overboard on the ship? Why does she talk so much about the incident? What are her speculations as to what happened? What are her feelings?
2. According to her monologue at the end of Chapter One, why is Maryna ready to leave acting and try something new?
3. In Chapter Zero, the narrator gives us a picture of Maryna by quoting her saying "we must always ask more of ourselves." What conclusions does the narrator draw from this statement and Maryna's behavior at the party?
4. Who does Ryszard meet in the lounge of a whorehouse in New York City? What is important about the introduction Ryszard makes to the man? What do the two men talk about? What important thing does the man confirm for Ryszard?
5. On his passage to America, Ryszard spends time listening to English speaking passengers. He meets many Americans. How does he describe the American attitude about their country? How does this differ from the way Ryszard sees himself as a Pole?
6. How do the Saloon passengers gain entry into America? How do the steerage passengers leave the ship? How do Julian and Ryszard leave the ship, and where do they go?
7. Who comes into Maryna's dressing room before the performance at the theatre in Krakow? What happens? How does Maryna react to the visitor's behavior?
8. Maryna relates the story of her childhood to various people in Chapter One. Discuss her childhood and the influences on her life.
9. Maryna explains to Henryk why they are traveling to California by ship. What are the reasons? What is the faster way to get to California from New York? How does the trip go?
10. The first of the immigrants to leave, Julian and Ryszard travel together to America. What is Ryszard anticipating for the trip? What kind of man does he hope to be when he lands in America?
Essay Topics
Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:
Essay Topic 1
Maryna offers a detailed description of New York in the late 1800's in her letter to Henryk. What is the city like? Where do Maryna and Bogdan roam on their walks? What is New York in the late nineteenth century as seen through the eyes of immigrants?
Essay Topic 2
Opposite the title page, the author states the story is a work of fiction based on a true story. On what story has Sontag based her novel? What does she admire about Helena Modjeska, based on her characterization of Maryna?
Essay Topic 3
As Maryna plays to packed theatres in America with her own actors, she reflects on what it means to be a success in America. How does she describe success in America?
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This section contains 1,327 words (approx. 5 pages at 300 words per page) |
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