INHERIT THE WIND
TEST TOMORROW. You will have three days in class to complete the test.
The test consists of ten questions of which you should answer at least six. By that I mean that I will count only your best six answers. It might be to your advantage to answer all of the questions and let me pick the best six.
Please type your answers, or write them on a separate piece of paper. I will not be counting grammar and spelling AS LONG AS THEY DO NOT INTERFERE WITH COMPREHENSION.
Here is an example of the type of question you will see and the types of answers I expect:
Question: Throughout the play, many references are made by the characters and in the stage directions about the overwhelming heat. In a few sentences, explain how the constant reminders of heat might help to develop one of the themes of the play.
Possible answer: Since one of the themes of the play is religious conflict, the author might be using temperature in a religious context. Christians might equate heat with Hell, and the author may be hinting or implying that the Town’s position on evolution is wrong, or leading it to Hell. The fundamentalist Christians in the town think they are in the right, so it is ironic that the author uses the Christians own imagery against them.
Possible answer: Describing the Town as “hot” could be an allusion to how much attention is focused on the town. People from all over the country are focused on the trial of Bert Cates. National media is represented by Hornbeck and the radio announcer. All of this national scrutiny is making the town “hot” and the author uses the temperature to make the reader more aware of it.
Test questions will ask about Brady and his internal struggle, Hornbeck’s use of language, themes of the play, the Hero’s Journey, the significance of certain events within the play, and the final scene.
