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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 Boris say he loves doing?

2. What animal does Trigorin say he races and dodges like?

3. What does Pauline say the men are ready to go down on their knees to?

4. Who does Nina call a genius?

5. What blows behind the stage?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why is Paulina worried about Yevgeny's attractions to Nina?

2. Why does Boris want to stay at the estate?

3. Why does Peter think Constantine lives a lonely life?

4. Why does Masha want to marry Simon?

5. What happens to Peter in the second act?

6. Why can Nina not accept Boris' resignation to mediocrity?

7. What is the weather like at the beginning of the fourth act?

8. What do Madame Arkadina and Constantine argue about?

9. Why is Madame Arkadina moody?

10. Who is Boris Trigorin?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

THE SEA GULL is translated from Russian into English. How much meaning can a play loses through a translation? What aspects of the play do you think would be the most difficult to express in English? How do you think a translator can overcome these difficulties?

Essay Topic 2

Pick two characters from the play and discuss their goals and motives. Do they achieve their motive? Do they share similar goals and motives with other characters? Do their goals clash with other characters? How do the characters goals and motives affect their interaction with each other?

Essay Topic 3

Examine Chekhov's writing style. How would you describe his style? What kind of vocabulary does he use? What meaning does his style give to the story?

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