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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 Bertha say about Loomis hiring Selig?

2. What does Mattie say about moving in to the boardinghouse?

3. How does Bynum say that Seth looks?

4. Who does Bertha say she gets along with?

5. Where does Bynum say everyone in the vision is going?

Short Essay Questions

1. When Seth and Bertha leave Mattie and Loomis alone, what does Mattie ask Loomis about?

2. What does Seth report that Loomis is doing, after he's left the boardinghouse?

3. What is Loomis' reaction to Seth's demand on him?

4. Explain the metaphor that Bynum tells to Jeremy to teach him about relationships.

5. Describe what it means to "Juba."

6. What is Molly's opinion about Mattie's job?

7. What does Reuben say the ghost he saw did and said?

8. What does Molly say about her father?

9. What things does Bynum say a woman taught Jeremy?

10. What does Mattie tell Loomis when he says he needs to find a starting place?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss loneliness in the play.

1) Mattie is lonely and starts a relationship with Jeremy to combat loneliness. Why does she agree to this relationship? Why can't she overcome her loneliness?

2) How does Loomis deal with being alone? How does Bynum deal with being alone?

3) Does a society of friends or companions fulfill loneliness in the play, or can only a love relationship fulfill loneliness? What role does spirituality play in fulfilling loneliness?

Essay Topic 2

Disuss the losing of others in the play.

1) Why do characters need each other and find themselves bound together in the play?

2) Why do characters, such as Jack and Martha, leave others in the play? What is the significance to the leaver, and what is the significance to the one who is left?

3) Once a person in the play has lost another, is it possible to reclaim that lost person? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

The characters in the story search for meaning in their lives. Discuss this search for meaning.

1) What meaning has Bynum found in life? Why does Bynum say that others need to find the meaning of life for themselves?

2) What makes life meaningful for Jeremy? Will he continue to find this meaning fulfilling?

3) What does Seth find meaningful in life? Is Seth satisfied with his life? Does he search for meaning?

4) What meaning is Loomis searching for in his life? What about the other characters, such as Mattie and Molly?

(see the answer keys)

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