The Memorandum Test | Mid-Book Test - Hard

This set of Lesson Plans consists of approximately 148 pages of tests, essay questions, lessons, and other teaching materials.

The Memorandum Test | Mid-Book Test - Hard

This set of Lesson Plans consists of approximately 148 pages of tests, essay questions, lessons, and other teaching materials.
Buy The Memorandum Lesson Plans
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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 Lear take a great deal of time to do?

2. What is Gross' main concern that leads him to become angry in Act 1, Scene 6?

3. Who is revealed to be the person that authorized the use of Ptydepe?

4. In defense of Ptydepe, what does Ballas declare the new language is far more of than the current one?

5. Why does the Department of Authentication refuse to authenticate the new log book?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is different about Thumb's responses in Act 2, Scene 8 as compared to earlier in the play?

2. In the final scene of the play, what theme is brought to the forefront and what is the message Havel delivers?

3. What subliminal warning does the character of Thumb bring from the author?

4. What does Havel use the reference of a theater to symbolize?

5. Why does Gross report to the Training Center in Act 1, Scene 5, and what is he carrying?

6. How does Gross justify his situation to himself towards the end of Act 1, Scene 4?

7. How does Lear explain Ptydepe in describing the process for learning it?

8. What are some examples in Scene 6 of Gross being continually kept of the loop?

9. What subtle things does Ballas do to maintain his power?

10. What are some more examples of Ballas' parallel experience to Gross' time as Managing Director that are given in the first part of Act 2, Scene 9?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Maria's new independence provides an optimistic ending of the play for the audience. What does it symbolize, not just for the character, but also for the main theme of the entire play? How does her departure symbolize hope? What does it say about freedom in general as it relates to independence?

Essay Topic 2

In the beginning of the play, Ptydepe is introduced as the new language of the office. This starts the chain of events that lead to many discoveries for the characters and the audience.

1) What does Ptydepe represent within the context of the play? What is it a symbol for in the bureaucracy and why does it cause Gross to become so frustrated?

2) How does Ptydepe tie in with the larger theme of the play, specifically as it relates to the dangers of a socialist/communist system of government? Why do you think Havel chose a language to illustrate his point?

Essay Topic 3

A recurring theme that Havel uses through his characters is the "spin" that they provide in order to justify their actions and in some cases, hide their motives.

1) Describe in detail how Lear uses spin to legitimatize Ptydepe. Why does he use this technique when introducing and explaining the new language? What is the overall purpose for his deception?

2) Besides the example of Lear's lectures, what other time in the play was spin used to justify something or as a means to an end? Which character used it? Again, why was this tactic chosen for that specific situation?

(see the answer keys)

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