View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. Why do George and Emil enjoy going to the park?

2. According to George, the duck is full of what?

3. What does George claim thrives from living alone?

4. When is Duck Season?

5. What group of people used to watch birds all day, according to Emil?

Short Essay Questions

1. What do the fat old Ancient Greeks and the birds of prey have in common?

2. With what example does George contradict Emil's statement that nothing can live alone?

3. According to George, what does a duck wish for on his deathbed?

4. What advantages do ducks have that Blue Herons do not?

5. According to Emil, what is happening to some fish near Australia?

6. What is the significance of George's story about the Giant Panda?

7. What are some of the items the men claim are needed to hunt a duck?

8. What does George think differentiates a pigeon from a duck?

9. What does Emil predict with happen in the future with disposing of leaves?

10. What is George's account of the hunter who came across the ducks in the clearing?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

During a fight with Deborah, Danny claims he does not mind physical violence but cannot abide emotional violence. What insight does this gives about Danny's character? Examine scene twenty-eight where the argument occurs. What is Deborah's complaint against Danny? What is Danny ultimately unable to bring to their relationship? How, again, does each character attempt to gain the power back in the relationship?

Essay Topic 2

Theatre is meant to be performed. Does the reader miss elements of the play by simply reading it and not seeing it performed? Are there aspects of the plays that would make more sense in performance? If so, what are they? What do you think is the value of live theatre? How is it different from television or going to the movies? Why, among so many modern multimedia options, do you think people still attend the theatre?

Essay Topic 3

What are the conflicts faced by Emil and George in The Duck Variations? How do they approach, discuss, and resolve these conflicts? Examine the play's theme of the city and man versus the natural world. How are the two in conflict? How do Emil and George attempt to reconcile this conflict, and in which camp are they? What other universal themes are present in the play, and how do the men approach them?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 702 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample