Tennessee Williams: Mad Pilgrimage of the Flesh Quiz

Take our free Tennessee Williams quiz below, with 25 multiple choice questions that help you test your knowledge. Determine which chapters, themes and styles you already know and what you need to study for your upcoming essay, midterm, or final exam. Take the free quiz now!

What was the darker side of Tennessee's success following "The Glass Menagerie?" (from The Erotics of Absence)

Williams' descent into alcoholism and drug addiction.

His resentment at feeling "bullied" by fans and sycophants, and a growing sense of paranoia that he had written himself out in the face of success by other playwrights such as Arthur Miller.

The playwright's inability to sustain an intimate relationship.

Williams' loss of confidence in himself as an honest artist.

What effect did Williams' addictions have on his personal and professional lives? (from The Long Farewell)

His addictions to drugs and alcohol fed his paranoia, which destroyed his relationship with his literary agent, Audrey Wood, and crippled his association with Elia Kazan.

Williams lost his work routines and motivation to write.

Except for the support he gave his sister, Williams was practically penniless because he wasn't producing anything that could be staged.

Although he was lonely, his scorn drove many away, with the result he was more isolated.

What caution did Elia Kazan give Tennessee Williams about "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" before it went into production? (from Thunder of Disintegration)

Kazan told Williams he should quit drinking.

Kazan said the actors should all speak with the same southern accent.

Kazan told Williams to be certain the script was complete and finished, unlike "Camino Real" which failed because of a defective script.

He told him not to cast Barlon Brando as Brick Pollitt.

What was another sign that Williams' paranoia seemed to deepen after the split with Kazan? (from Kookhood)

He would allow only his brother, Dakin to read his scripts before production.

Williams was on the set day and night throughout production, checking every detail.

Tennessee became very suspicious of his agent, Audrey Wood, accusing her of never supporting him and working against him.

Tennessee decided to get a different agent to handle his European affairs.

What indications were there that Tennessee WIlliams had taken his own life? (from The Sudden Subway)

He told his friend John Uecker that because he could no longer write, he wanted to die.

Depression had dogged Tennessee throughout his career and fueled his addictions.

The toxicology report showed that Williams' body was saturated with intoxicants.

He'd spoken of death and suicide often, but more frequently in the time leading up to his death.