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Name: _________________________ | Period: ___________________ |
This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.
Short Answer Questions
1. How many sofas are there in the room?
2. What did Estelle die of?
3. Which character used to go to parties at the country homes of her friends?
4. When Estelle enters the room, who is already there?
5. What did Inez do for a living?
Short Essay Questions
1. What does Estelle complain about when she enters the room?
2. Describe Inez's reaction to the Estelle's and Garcin's reasons for why they are in the room.
3. What is Garcin's response to Inez saying that there was reason to be afraid "before," but not now?
4. Why does Estelle refuse Inez's offer of her sofa?
5. Do you think that one of these characters is more truthful than the other two? If so, which one?
6. Why does Sartre introduce Estelle with her concerns about the sofas?
7. What does Garcin in his shirtsleeves stand for? Why does Estelle say she cannot stand a man in his shirtsleeves?
8. Why does Inez believe Garcin to be her torturer?
9. What are some examples of foreshadowing in the first part of the play?
10. Why is Estelle surprised to see that Garcin's face is fine?
Essay Topics
Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:
Essay Topic 1
Punishment and suffering are two major themes in this play, especially in terms of characterizing the three main characters. Chose one of the options below:
A) The characters deserved their punishment as it fit their crimes.
B) The characters did not deserve to suffer the way they did. Their actions in the room should make up for their crimes.
Please chose just one character to write about (Garcin, Inez or Florence) and write an essay that makes an argument for either A) or B) above.
Essay Topic 2
Garcin's discussion with the Valet at the beginning is the way Sartre conveys a lot of crucial information to the audience.
Close read and consider the following passage: "Your eyelids. We move ours up and down. Blinking, we call it. It's like a small black shutter that clicks down and makes a break. Everything goes black; one's eyes are moistened. You can't imagine how restful, refreshing it is. Four thousand little rests per hour."
Write an essay in which you consider the following questions:
1. What is Garcin literally saying? In what context does Garcin speak this passage?
2. Explain and describe the pattern of symbols that this passage belongs to. What does the eye mean, in this passage, and in the play?
Essay Topic 3
In some ways, this play is characterized by a "battle of the sexes" that is also complicated by a love triangle. Closely read Estelle's assertion that "Well, in that case our tastes differ. That's all it proves. [Turning to INEZ] What about you? Do you like men in their shirt-sleeves?"
Answer the following questions:
1. How does this statement characterize Estelle? What does it communicate about her?
2. What does it reveal about Inez?
3. How does it contribute to the rising dramatic tension in the play? How does it affect the intensifying interactions between the three main characters?
This section contains 742 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) |
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