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. What does George claim is the duck and heron's natural relationship?

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

3. What does Emil call domesticated ducks?

4. Which of these is not a tool used for hunting ducks mentioned by the men?

5. What place does Emil think may be more trouble than it is worth?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. Why does Emil sometimes think the park is more trouble than it is worth?

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

6. What cycle must the lead duck go through?

7. Why does George talk about symbiosis?

8. Why did the Ancient Greeks watch birds?

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

10. Why do George and Emil support spending money on wildlife?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Describe the everlasting struggle between the Blue Heron and the Duck. What is symbiosis? Why are the Blue Heron and the Duck enemies? What has nature provided each of them to survive? How does their struggle epitomize the Law of Life? Why do George and Emil so identify with this? How could this struggle possibly applied to their lives? Use examples from the play to explain your answers.

Essay Topic 2

David Mamet has a very specific writing style. Examine both Sexual Perversity in Chicago and The Duck Variations. How are they stylistically similar? Are they stylistically different in any way? Study these aspects in each play:

1) Dialogue, including rhythm and cadence to the character's speech.

2) Setting, including time and place.

3) Stage directions.

4) Syntax.

5) Themes.

Be sure to use examples taken from the text and to cite them correctly.

Essay Topic 3

Why do George and Emil so enjoy meeting in the park? Why is friendship so important to them? Why do they seek to be in harmony with nature? They are described as men in their sixties--is their philosophic waxing prompted by a fear of death? Why or why not? Use examples from their conversations to make your conclusion.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 646 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample