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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. How many bronze statues are there?

2. Where did Garcin live?

3. What does Inez say they all must be guilty of?

4. According to one of the characters, how many official torturers does Hell have?

5. Will the Valet always come when the bell rings?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Estelle say about why she thinks she is in the room?

2. Why does Inez believe Garcin to be her torturer?

3. When Garcin asks the Valet what is outside the room, what does the Valet say?

4. Describe Inez's reaction to the Estelle's and Garcin's reasons for why they are in the room.

5. What is Garcin's response to Inez saying that there was reason to be afraid "before," but not now?

6. When Garcin asks Inez how she knows what a torturer looks like, what does she say?

7. What are some of the things that cause tension between Inez and Garcin?

8. Why is Estelle surprised to see that Garcin's face is fine?

9. What makes Inez realize that they are supposed to be each other's torturers?

10. What does Garcin in his shirtsleeves stand for? Why does Estelle say she cannot stand a man in his shirtsleeves?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Consider the order in which Sartre introduces the characters into the room. Write an essay that considers the following:

1. Why does Garcin come first? What are the advantages to the story and to the tension that will develop to having him introduce the play and anchor the action?

2. If you were Sartre, would you have put Inez on stage next? Is it significant that she and Garcin are in the room alone for a few minutes before Estelle joins them?

3. Discuss Estelle's introduction to the room (the color of the sofa, etc.) and describe how it heightens the growing tension in the room.

4. How does the order of the characters foreshadow the very end of the play?

Essay Topic 2

Inez proclaims herself cruel, saying "I'm your lark-mirror, my dear, and you can't escape me....There isn't any pimple, not a trace of one. So what about it? Suppose the mirror started telling lies? Or suppose I covered my eyes--as he is doing--and refused to look at you."

1. Contextualize this passage in terms of the section of the scene it comes from: What is happening when Inez says it?

2. Analyze what role the mirror symbol plays in this section. Why use this symbol right now?

3. What does it demonstrate about Garcin's relationship to Estelle?

Essay Topic 3

As the dramatic tension increases, the characters reveal more about themselves and their pasts, and lay themselves bare to their fellow torturers. Their former lives are also like mirrors that suddenly show them the truths of their existence. Pick one of the passages below and explicate it in terms of this image of inner truth:

A) "There they are, slumped in their chairs, sucking at their cigars. Bored they look. Half-asleep. They're thinking: 'Garcin's a coward." [Garcin]

B) "The music is growing fainter. They've turned down the lights, as they do for a tango. Why are they playing so softly? Louder, please. I can't hear. It's so far away, so far away." [Estelle]

C) "The windows are wide open, a man is sitting on the bed. My bed, if you please!" [Inez]

(see the answer keys)

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