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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 Gross ask Lear to do for him in Act 1, Scene 5?

2. The parallels Havel draws in Act 1, Scene 4 are between Ballas and what?

3. What is significant about the examples Lear uses for the word, "boo?"

4. Where does the Staff Watcher watch from?

5. What is Act 1, Scene 3 trying to illustrate about Gross?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is different about Gross and his approach in the very beginning of Act 2, Scene 10?

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

3. Where does Gross pass through in Act 2, Scene 8, what is he carrying, and what does that represent?

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

5. Who is Thumb and what does the character represent?

6. What do Hana's habits and actions symbolize?

7. What is important about Maria's gesture to Gross at the end of Act 1, Scene 6, and what is the irony in it?

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

9. What events lead Gross to speak out against the technological advances that are affecting humanity?

10. What is ironic about the way the conversation between Gross and Ballas starts and the way it concludes, specifically concerning Gross' job?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What does the new language, Chorukor, represent in the overall theme of the play? What is the major difference between it and Ptydepe? Explain in detail how each of the main characters react to Chorukor and why their reaction is significant. Do you believe that it can potentially fail in the same way that Ptydepe did, or will the same mistake keep being made? What will stop the mistake from being made again?

Essay Topic 2

The crucial moment of the second part of Act 9 is when the memo is finally translated for Gross. The contents of it are ironic, comedic, and inspiring all at the same time. Explain them in detail, describing why and how all three themes (irony, comedy, and inspiration) are represented. Also, explain what the significance is of Maria being the one to translate it. What does that add to the message for Gross?

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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