Worksheet for Inherit the Wind, by Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee
Directions: Fill in the blanks (or write a short answer) for each questions. Write the ACT
and SCENE and PAGE # in the margins to indicate where each answer was found.
1. In the opening scene, Rachel visits _______, her boyfriend, who is jailed because
______________________________________________.
2. The defendant in this case does what for a living? ___________________
3. Who is Matthew Harrison Brady and from where does he hail? Briefly describe how he is
portrayed in the opening scenes.
4. The townspeople raise a banner across Main St. that reads: _____________
________________________________________________
5. We know the story takes place in the South because of the following examples of local color:
a._______________________________________
b._______________________________________
c._______________________________________
6. We know that the story takes place in the past because of the following examples:
a._______________________________________
b._______________________________________
c._______________________________________
7. What is a hurdy-gurdy?____________________________
8. What is the definition of EVOLUTION, according to the dictionary?
9. Describe how the town greets Mr. Brady when he arrives in Hillsboro.
10. What do Rachel Brown and Bert Cates have in common with each other, other than that of
girlfriend/boyfriend?
11. Who is Henry Drummond and what do we learn of his background in ACT ONE?
12. Define agnostic.
13. How does Rev. Brown describe Henry Drummond?
14. How does Hornbeck get Rachel to listen to him?
15. Find 3 examples of Hornbeck’s clever use of language and allusions; then identify and
explain each one below:
16. How does ACT ONE, SCENE ONE end?
17. How does the prosecution determine which jurors it wants?
18. Where does Mr. Drummond come from? When/How do we learn this?
19. What are galluses?
20. What is a venireman?
21. In what way(s) is Henry Drummond “clever” and “tricky” during the jury selection process?
22. What does the following excerpt mean? “When you lose your power to laugh, you lose your
power to think straight?” Who spoke these words and why?
23. Why is Bert Cates afraid at the end of ACT ONE? Be specific.
24. What does Drummond mean when he says, “And it takes strength for a woman to love such a
man. Especially when he’s a pariah in the community.”?
ACT TWO
25. Rev. Brown tells Brady, “You will find our people are fervent in their belief.” What does
fervent mean?
26. What story from the Bible does Rev. Brown refer to during his prayer meeting and why/how
is it relevant?
27. From where does the title of the play come? (Write the entire excerpt.) What does it mean?
28. Define creationism.
29. Briefly describe the effect Howard Blair’s testimony had.
30. What is Drummond’s purpose when he asks Howard questions about a tractor and a
telephone?
31. When Rachel testifies, Drummond vehemently objects. Why?
32. What is zoology and what is its relevance to the trial?
33. Who is Charles Darwin and what did he believe?
34. Why does Drummond call Mr. Brady to the stand as a witness? Why does he refer to the
Biblical passage of “Jonah and the Whale” and “Joshua and the sun?”
35. Why does Drummond spend so much time asking Brady about what he thinks?
ACT THREE
36. Why and how does Drummond compare the trial to a horse race? Why is this trial referred to
as the “Monkey Trial” case?
37. What is meant by a “Chautauqua tent?”
38. Drummond tells Cates that Cates won. What does he mean?