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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 Agnes do that causes Felicity to chastise her and launch into a bawdy song?

2. What is the main topic of this play?

3. What does Joe believe his illness has made him more of?

4. What does Felicity tell the interviewer to undermine Claire?

5. What does the interviewer tell Joe about his feelings?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Joe feel about his life as he sits reminiscing with his wife?

2. What is the main plot line of the play, The Shadow Box?

3. What does Agnes do that demonstrates her anger with the interviewer?

4. What does Maggie agree to do after she realizes that their life together has gone by too fast?

5. What happens when the interviewer brings up these doubts and alternate ideas to Agnes?

6. What admission does Maggie make to Joe about their son Steve?

7. What did Beverly tell Brian he had lost the magic and zest for and how did Brian rationalize this?

8. What happens when Maggie and Steve arrive at Joe's cottage?

9. What happened to Claire?

10. What does the interviewer tell Joe to try and reassure him about his feelings?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

How do the characters approach the battle against death differently? Whose approach do you relate most to? Why?

Essay Topic 2

How does the author include the clinical nature of death in American society in this play? Which characters express this idea? How do they express it?

Essay Topic 3

What do you think Felicity's hostility toward the interviewer symbolizes? Why do you think she takes it out on her daughter? Do you think Agnes handles her mother well? Why or why not?

(see the answer keys)

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