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

Short Answer Questions

1. Who does Vershinin kiss passionately, which proves his affair?

2. Who comes in apologizing for his behavior and talking about loving Irina?

3. Who quotes confusedly from a poem as she has earlier in the play?

4. Who is being pursued by Ferapont, constantly walking away from him whenever he comes into the scene?

5. Who is dueling Solyony for the love of Irina?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What's interesting about this play is that the men are just as flawed as the women in their actions and in their ideas.

Part 1: Compare and contrast the emotional natures of the men and the women in this play.

Part 2: Does it seem the men are 'typical' men or are they different from the stereotypical male characters? If they are different, explain how. if they are the same, explain that answer.

Part 3: Does Chekhov seem to be saying that the sexes are equal in relation to their experience of life? Support your answer.

Essay Topic 2

When Irina reveals she has never loved, it seems to be a sad statement of her life and her future.

Part 1: Do you think Irina has truly never loved? Why or why not?

Part 2: What characters do seem capable of love? Why did you choose these characters?

Part 3: What does the idea of love seem to create in this play? In terms of those that do profess love, what happens to them?

Essay Topic 3

Solyony is aggressive in his profession of love for Irina, but the reader gets the sense that this may not be as honest as it seems.

Part 1: In what ways does Solyony profess his love for Irina?

Part 2: Do you believe Solyony really loves Irina? Why or why not?

Part 3: Do you think Solyony is capable of love? Why or why not?

(see the answer keys)

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