Essay Questions:
The essay questions will appear in two groups--A and B--each group featuring two plays (I haven’t decided which). Students will be expected to write on one essay from each group. For the final, I will select two questions from each play.
Crimes of the Heart
1) What does Crimes of the Heart say about family values? What are the values that are held up by the end of the play? What are those that are rejected?
2) Give a sympathetic account of Chick.
3) Some have argued that despite their weaknesses, the strengths of the three sisters are complementary. Specify what each sisters’ strengths are and how these work together.
Streamers
1) One theme that surfaces in Streamers is the difference between the generations. Cokes and Rooney represent an older generation and Carlyle, Roger, Richie and Billy represent the next. Compare and contrast the attitudes of these two different generations to explain what Streamers says about where our culture is headed.
2) “Color-blind” casting refers to an innovation of the forties in which characters could be cast without regard to the actor’s race. Considering the themes and conflicts of Streamers, decide if the use of “color-blind” casting would be an appropriate choice for a director. Why or why not?
3) Toward the end of the Streamers, Richie and Roger still don’t agree about whether or not Richie admitted to being a homosexual. What does this continuing dispute say about these two characters.
Desire Under The Elms
1) Eugene O'Neill thought that, rather than please large crowds, theatre should be "dangerous and ask difficult questions." How does Desire Under The Elms accomplish such a goal for O'Neill?
2) At the end, Ephraim Cabot ends up with the farm and no sons or wife to help him tend it. Decide if this ending is a punishment for him. Whether it is or isn't, does Cabot deserve this fate?
3) As noted in class, there may be a very practical, economic reason for Cabot’s decision to sleep with the cows. Nevertheless, paying close attention to the sort of phrases he uses, what else does Cabot’s action add to the themes of Desire Under the Elms.
Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
1) Consider Toledo as an archetype (representative) of a certain type of African-American, what are the implications of his death at the end of Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom?
2) Admittedly both Sturdyvant and Irvin deal poorly with the musicians. Whose treatment is worse and why?
3) Pick two competing characters in Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom. Describe the strategies used in their power struggles.