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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. Who does Carol say that Val told her he'd gotten the ring from?

2. What did the people of the town call Lady's father?

3. What's the one word Carol says the ghosts at Cypress Hill say?

4. Whose family name is the oldest and most distinguished in the county?

5. Who's appearance makes Eva and Sister scream?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does the Nurse accuse Lady of before leaving?

2. How is Lady shot? Who shoots her?

3. What conversation occurs between Beulah and Lady in Act 3 Scene 3?

4. What does Lady offer Val to save him money in Act 2?

5. Compare the characters Val and Sheriff Talbott. How are they alike? How are they different?

6. Describe the character of Lady. How old is she? Who is she married to?

7. What conversation does Lady have with the Nurse about Jabe's illness in Act 3 Scene 3?

8. How does Lady hear that Val is leaving town? What is her response?

9. What are some of the "oddities" Val tells Lady about himself?

10. What does Lady ask Val in Act 2 Scene 4 about the money? What does he respond?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Orpheus Descending is in part about the place of the artist in society. What role should the artist play? Is the artist always likely to be marginalized, like Val, or misunderstood, like Vee, in a conventional, materialistic society? For what should the artist stand, if anything?

Essay Topic 2

Describe the story of the birds told to Lady by Val in the play. What does this story symbolize? What foreshadowing is within this story?

Essay Topic 3

How is Tennessee Williams' own life reflected in Orpheus Descending? What major themes are common in Williams' work and why does he repeat these themes? How do they relate to the author's experiences?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 751 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample