Part I: Preparation for a Gentleman Caller

English I Honors Name: Date: Period: The Glass Menagerie Part I: Preparation for a Gentleman Caller Answer all questions in complete sentences with supporting details.

Scene 1 1. At the opening, the fire escape and the father’s pictures are two objects that figure prominently in the set. Literally, what is the purpose of a fire escape? Symbolically, what may the fire escape represent?

2. Tom tells us that “the play is memory.” Why is the drama styled as a memory play and what does this mean? In what ways does the initial stage setting (music and lighting, as well as scenery) create the mood of a “memory play”?

3. Identify Amanda Wingfield, Laura Wingfield, and Tom Wingfield. Describe their characters and what you have learned about them so far.

4. This play is being narrated in flashback. In what period of time does the action take place? How long after this is he telling us the story?

5. How does Sc. 1 indicate that Amanda is overbearing and sometimes cruel yet clearly loves her children? 6. Summarize what the stage notes and Tom’s remarks tell about his family’s financial situation.

7. What differences in temperament do you notice between Tom as Narrator and Tom as Character?

8. To Amanda, what do the seventeen gentlemen callers represent?

Scene 2 9. Why did Laura quit business college?

10. What was Laura actually doing during the hours she was supposed to be in school? What does this tell you about her character?

11. What are Laura’s handicaps, both physical and non-physical?

12. How do you think Amanda knows “…what becomes of unmarried women who aren’t prepared to occupy a position”?

13. In what ways may Amanda unintentionally be making Laura’s problems worse? 14. Amanda realizes that Laura will not be able to cope with any kind of career. What is her solution for Laura’s future?

Scene 3 15. Why does Amanda attempt to sell magazines by telephone?

16. What character traits are shown by these sales calls?

17. What ignited the argument between Tom and Amanda?

18. Why is Tom mad?

19. Why doesn’t Amanda believe Tom goes to the movies?

20. The pieces of the glass menagerie breaking accidentally are symbolic of Laura. Explain how.

21. Amanda says Tom cannot jeopardize his job because it is their only support. Is supporting his mother and sister Tom’s responsibility?

22. As Tom storms out of the apartment, he snags his coat. What is the obvious symbolism in that action?

Scene 4 23. Who is in a “nailed up coffin” and who found a way out of one?

24. Laura leaves the apartment once and slips on the fire escape. What is Williams symbolically telling us?

25. Tom and Amanda disagree over what the causes of human actions should be. What does Tom think? What does Amanda think?

26. What does Amanda ask of Tom?

Scene 5 27. What is Amanda’s reaction to Tom’s news that a gentleman caller is coming the next day?

28. Why does Tom try to warn Amanda that Laura is not like other girls and not to count on too much from her when Jim calls?

29. What can we gather about Amanda’s husband’s character? Even though we do not see him in the play, we learn some things about him, things which reflect particularly in Tom and Amanda.

30. How does this scene advance the action of the plot? 31. What indication is there of the fate of Amanda’s plan? Think about foreshadowing.

32. What does Amanda mean when she says “the future becomes the present, the present the past, and the past turns into everlasting regret if you don’t plan for it!”? English I Honors Name: Date: Period: The Glass Menagerie Part II: The Gentleman Calls Answer all questions in complete sentences with supporting details.

Scene 6 1. Why does Tom feel he is valuable to Jim?

2. Why is Jim valuable to Tom?

3. Amanda makes both of these statements: “All pretty girls are a trap, a pretty trap, and men expect them to be.” “No girl can do worse than put herself at the mercy of a handsome appearance.” Explain Amanda’s double standard.

4. Give examples showing that Amanda does not understand Laura’s feelings of fear.

5. What does Laura do after she opens the door for Tom and Jim?

6. What are Tom’s plans for the future?

7. How does Amanda act toward Jim?

Scene 7 8. Where is Laura? Why? 9. Jim sits on the floor by Laura and talks to her. How does she react?

10. What is the significance of Laura’s unicorn?

11. Why does Jim ask Laura to dance?

12. Jim has made Laura feel more normal than she has ever felt. Explain the significance of the unicorn’s being broken.

13. Why does Jim kiss Laura?

14. How does Laura react to the kiss?

15. What causes Laura to retreat back into her solitary world?

16. Laura sees Jim as a hero with exceptional capabilities. What is Jim actually?

17. Why does Amanda blame Tom for the evening’s failure?