1.
What is the significance of the unicorn? What
does it represent and what does the breaking of it and Laura’s response to the
breaking reveal?
2.
Pick one thing that all the characters have in
common and explain why it is important to the play and the choices they make in
life in general.
3. Tom
finally agrees to bring the gentleman caller, and Amanda agrees that once
there's someone to take his place, he's free to leave. Therefore, Jim can be
viewed as a replacement for Tom. To emphasize this, Williams writes in many
parallels between Tom and Jim. What are some of these parallels and what is the
playwright trying to show about Tom by comparing him to Jim?
4.
Is Jim a likeable character? Why and/or why not?
Defend your opinion with evidence from the play.
5.
Discuss
the symbol of the fire escape. Why is it important? What does it show about the
family and how does it represent a common theme that exists throughout the
play.
6.
Tom is often seen smoking in the play. Why do
you think this is? What does this signify about his character and his
situation?
7.
Why does Amanda wear the old yellow dress when
Jim comes to their house? What does the dress represent and what does this
choice reveal about Amanda’s character?
8.
Tom reminds us in the beginning that this is a
memory play, that he is recalling these events from his past. Why is he doing
this? What is his motivation?
9.
How does Tom feel about Laura in the play itself
(in the past of the play)? Show evidence to back up your interpretation. How
does he feel about her after he has gone away from her for several years (in
the present of the play)? You can analyze how he feels in the present by
looking at the opening and ending monologues where he steps out of the past and
speaks directly to the audience.
10.
If you were to stage this play, how might you
use lighting and color to show the difference between the present and the past.
Be specific about the choices you would make and explain what you hope the
effect it would have on the audience.
11.
How could someone as shy as Laura open up and change
so much in the scene where she is alone with Jim? Explain how this could be
realistic and think about why this happens and what it shows about Laura as a
character.
12.
What is the significance of the old nickname Jim
had for Laura (“Blue Roses”). Explore why this is important to understanding Laura’s
character and why Laura has such a fond memory of this.
13.
Why does Jim behave toward Laura in the way that
he does? Is he sincere in some feelings for her or do you think he is simply
leading her on. Use evidence from the text to back up your idea.
14.
How is the family/household similar to the menagerie
and the characters like the little glass animals? Explain your answer.
15.
As a reader, are you able to sympathize with
Amanda even though she tries to control her children and ends up making their
lives miserable? Why do you think Amanda continues to do this even though she
realizes she is driving Tom away? What does that show about Amanda?
16.
What do you think happens to Amanda and Laura
after Tom leaves? If Laura could write an ending monologue addressed to Tom,
what do you think she would want to tell him?
17.
If you were to cast celebrities alive today in
these 4 roles, who would you choose and why? Think about body size, height,
voice, presence on stage, etc.
18.
Does anyone change by the end of the play? I
know that Tom changes where he lives, but does he undergo emotional or
personality change as well? What about Amanda and Laura? Use evidence to back
up your interpretation.
19.
We know that reading the play can feel
monotonous and repetitive, and this is what Tom is trying to show us about his
life with Amanda. If you were staging this play, what might you do to highlight
this sensation for the audience but also how would you keep the audience
interested?
20.
Discuss the opening dinner table scene. How is
this scene a metaphor for what we will learn about the characters later in the
play and how does it foreshadow what will happen?
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