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

Short Answer Questions

1. How does Mr. Kirby feel about Grandpa's philosophizing?

2. What does Grandpa do to help Mr. Kirby?

3. Where might Tony have gotten the idea to leave the firm?

4. What does Donald read in the next day's paper?

5. What is Mr. Kirby's reaction to this announcement?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Ton's parents arrive a day early to dinner.

Part 1) Why? What is Alice's reaction?

Part 2) How does the family try to make the best of the situation? Are they successful? Why or why not?

Part 3) Is their arrival disastrous for the other characters? Does their early arrival weaken or strengthen the family? Why?

Essay Topic 2

Mr. and Mrs. Kirby are Tony's parents.

Part 1) Describe Mr. and Mrs. Kirby.

Part 2) How do they react to Alice's family?

Part 3) How does the commotion and chaos taking place as they enter affect their reaction? What is the purpose of all of this going on as the Kirbys arrive? How does this affect the audience?

Part 4) How do the Kirbys change by the end of the play? Why do the playwrights have them change? How does this express their views of family dynamics and the acceptance of others?

Essay Topic 3

The title of the play is significant.

Part 1) To what does "You Can't Take It With You" refer?

Part 2) Whose philosophy is this? What message are the playwrights trying to get across to the audience members?

Part 3) Why would this philosophy be important to the audience when the play opened in 1936? How is it significant today?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 342 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample