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The Glass Menagerie Tennessee Williams

Contemporary Classics Study Questions

Part I: Preparation for a Gentleman Caller

Scene One

1. Why is the physical setting of the play described in careful detail?

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2. Tom is dressed in a merchant sailor’s uniform. What effect does his clothing have?

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3. Why does Tom’s speech open with a comparison of his role to that of a stage magician?

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4. Why does Tom contrast the social backgrounds of Spain and America in his opening speech?

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5. Why is the drama styled as a “memory play”?

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6. What results from Tom’s role as both character and narrator?

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______7. Why is the narrator called an “undisguised convention”?

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8. What does Jim symbolize according to the narrator’s opening comments?

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9. Why does Tom say there is a fifth character in the play?

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______10. What is the reason for using the scrims (transparent gauze curtains) to separate and differentiate the various scenes?

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11. What do we discover about Tom’s life at home in the brief first scene?

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12. What do we learn about Laura?

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13. How is Amanda portrayed?

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______Scene Two

1. As Amanda comes up the fire escape, Laura’s actions are described. What are these actions and what do they reveal about her?

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2. What has Amanda done that day?

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3. How can Amanda’s behavior during the first part of the scene be characterized?

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4. What has Laura done during school hours?

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______5. Why is Amanda upset about Laura’s failure in school?

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6. What is Amanda’s decision about Laura’s future?

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7. How does Laura feel about this decision?

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8. What is revealed about Mr. Wingfield in this scene?

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______9. How is Jim described in this scene?

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10. Laura continually tires to avoid the unpleasant reality of Amanda’s conversation. How does she do this?

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Scene Three

1. What does Amanda’s obsession become?

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2. What does Amanda do about the obsession?

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______3. Scene Three consists largely of a quarrel between Tom and Amanda. Are they the principal actors during this scene?

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4. What is the quarrel about?

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______5. Why does Amanda believe that Tom is doing things he’s ashamed of?

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6. How does Tom respond to Amanda’s assertion that he is jeopardizing his future?

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7. What happens as Tom leaves for the movies?

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8. The final moments of the scene show Tom picking up the pieces of glass, glancing at Laura as though he wants to say something. What do these actions reveal about Tom?

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______Scene Four

1. When and how does Tom return from the movies?

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2. What does he tell Laura he has seen?

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3. Why does this intrigue Tom?

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4. What happens on the fire escape when Amanda sends Laura for some butter?

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______5. What significance is there in the description of Laura’s coat?

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6. Tom apologizes to Amanda for calling her a witch. How does Amanda respond?

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7. What does Amanda want to talk about with Tom?

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______8. Amanda’s statements about instinct are ironic. Why?

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9. What is Amanda most concerned about?

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10. What is Amanda’s solution to this problem?

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Scene Five

1. How does Amanda want Tom to emulate his father?

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2. What does she urge Tom to do about his future?

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3. How does Tom perceive the fire escape?

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4. What does he see when he stands on the fire escape?

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______5. How does Amanda view the fire escape?

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6. What does she see as she sits on the fire escape?

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7. Tom guesses her wish and is able to grant it. What is the wish?

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8. What is Amanda’s response when Tom says he is bringing a young man home to dinner?

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______9. How does Tom react to this?

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10. What do we find out about the gentleman caller in the next conversation between Tom and Amanda?

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11. Amanda’s “discreet inquiries” produce information. In dramatic terms, this is called exposition. But why is this scene dramatically satisfying and suspenseful even though it lacks action?

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12. As Amanda begins to fuss and plan, what does Tom remind her about?

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______13. Why does Tom leave abruptly for the movies?

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14. What does Amanda tell Laura to do?

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Part II: The Gentleman Calls

Scene Six

1. Why does Tom feel he is valuable to Jim?

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2. Why is Jim valuable to Tom?

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______3. Have Amanda’s preparations for the dinner been successful?

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4. How does Amanda dress for the gentleman caller?

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5. Why does Laura dread the evening?

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6. Describe the way Laura answers the door.

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______7. What does Jim recommend for Tom?

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8. What does Jim tell Tom about his job?

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9. Is Tom concerned about this warning? Why?

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10. What first steps has Tom already taken?

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______11. With whom does Tom identify as he talks of his plans?

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12. How do Tom and Jim respond to Amanda’s entrance and chatter?

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13. Does everyone enjoy dinner?

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Scene Seven

1. What happens as they finish dinner?

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2. What lighting do they use instead?

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______3. What is Jim’s first assessment of Laura?

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4. Does Jim recognize Laura?

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5. How does Jim react to Laura’s confession of her shyness and the reason she gives for it-the brace on her leg?

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6. How is Jim discovering his own excellence?

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______7. What is Jim’s view of democracy?

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8. Why does Laura show Jim the unicorn?

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9. What is Jim’s next step in curing Laura’s inferiority complex?

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10. What happens as they dance?

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______11. Jim notes Laura’s unusual prettiness as she examines the broken unicorn. What is his next move to erase her feelings of inferiority?

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12. Jim calls himself a stumble-john as he realizes that Laura is overcome by the kiss. How does he recognize her reaction?

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13. As Jim forthrightly tells Laura about Betty and their marriage plans, how does Laura react?

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14. What happens as Amanda and Tom enter with the lemonade?

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15. What is the significance of Laura’s gift to Jim?

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______16. What is Amanda’s reaction to Jim’s engagement?

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17. Tom’s final speech coincides with the silent scene played by Laura and Amanda. As he talks, what happens on the stage?

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18. What is Tom’s final realization?

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