Angels in America
Research Paper Book Exam
Directions:
-
You will have two periods to finish this exam (extra time people should plan on having four periods to
finish, but need to check in with me about how)
You may use any handwritten notes (or approved typed notes) you have taken during the reading
process.
You must answer four of the five questions. You must answer the first question and then three of the
remaining questions.
You will answer the questions on the computer and will submit the answers to turnitin.com.
Each question will be worth 25 points for a total of 100 points.
The grade will count for English class only.
You should use at least one example in each answer. (no quotes needed – no books – you could have
some quotes in your notes, however – just not an expectation that you will use quotes).
When answering one question, you must do your best at not overlapping the answer from another
question. A little overlap (the mentioning of a character or a setting in more than one answer) is fine,
but the purposes of this exercise – to prove that you read and understand the entire book and to
start working toward some of the main ideas you will research - are frustrated if there is too much
overlap. Thus, your grade would be lowered accordingly.
1. Describe Proctor’s feelings and experiences near the end of the book, especially his feelings as
the angel descends from the ceiling. How do these feelings and experiences at the end of the
play relate to at least one earlier scene or feeling from the play? Explain.
“Prior: That sound, that sound, it…What is that, like birds or something, like a really big bird, I’m
frightened, I…no, no fear, find the anger, find the…anger, my blood is clean, my brain is fine, I
can handle pressure, I am a gay man and I am used to pressure, to trouble, I am tough and
strong and…Oh. Oh my goodness. I… (He is washed over by an intense sexual feeling)
Ooohhhh…I’m hot, I’m…so…aw Jeez what is going on here I…must have a fever I…
(The bedside lamp flickers wildly as the bed begins to roll forward and back. There is a deep bass
creaking and groaning from the bedroom ceiling, like the timbers of a ship under immense stress,
and from above a fine rain of plaster dust.)
Prior: OH!
PLEASE, OH PLEASE! Something’s coming in here, I’m scared, I don’t like this at all,
something’s approaching and I…OH!
(There is a great blaze of triumphal music, heralding. The light turns an extraordinary harsh,
cold, pale blue, then a rich, brilliant warm golden color, then a hot, bilious green and then finally
a spectacular royal purple. Then Silence.)
Prior: (An Awestruck Whisper) God almighty…Very Steven Spielberg” (123-124).
2. Choose one of the following minor characters. Explain the importance of that character to
Louis’ life, even if that importance is not direct.
a. Belize
b. Martin
c. The man in the park
d. The rabbi who eulogizes Louis’ grandmother
e. The nurse who talks to Luis when Prior is admitted to the hospital
3. Choose two of the following settings and describe how Joe is different in each and why:
a. Bathroom of the appeals court with Louis
b. Joe and Harper’s Apartment with Harper.
c. Roy’s office with Roy and the phones.
d. The restaurant with Roy and Martin
e. The granite steps outside the Hall of Justice with Louis.
f. The payphone booth with his mom on the other line, Hannah.
g. Roy’s study in his brownstone, with Roy.
h. Central Park with Louis…
4. This play blends together reality and fantasy. Prior and Harper, in particular, seem to live in
their minds as much as they live in a world where they have to talk to other people. Mr. Lies
infiltrates Harper’s dreams, the other Priors (the historical ones) infiltrate Prior’s dreams, and
then Prior and Harper even infiltrate each other’s dreams. Choose one of these fantasy
sequences and explain its meaning and importance to the themes of the play as a whole.
5. We have read several examples this year of characters who are outsiders and who are trying to
reinvent themselves, such as Autobiography of Ben Franklin, The Narrative Life of Frederick
Douglass; The Awakening; and Passing. To what extent is Angels in America a story about
outsiders and reinvention? Explain, using specific examples not used elsewhere on your exam.