Tennessee Williams
What as the play which set off William's fame?
The Glass Menagerie
What illness does Big Mama think Big Daddy has?
Spastic Colon
Where does the play take place?
It takes place on a plantation in Missouri.
Brick: [Brick turns and smiles at her coolly over his fresh drink.]
What does this reveal about the character?
This stage direction reveals that alcohol brings Brick happiness when he smiles over his drink.
Who is the author of the play?
Tennessee Williams
What is William's writing style?
Southern Gothic Style
emotional intensity, complex characters, themes such as desire, illusion, and human condition
The name for all five of Gooper and Mae's children
Buster (Robert), Sonny (Saunders), Trixie (Marlene), Dixie, Polly
What are concepts of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof?
lies and deception, unrequited love and sexuality, death, difficulty of communication
Mae: [raising her arms and jangling her bracelets]: I wonder if the mosquitoes are active tonight?
What does this reveal about the character
This reveals how Mae does things out of character in order to get attention She changed the topic to get the attention back on her.
What does Brick's crutch represent?
His need and dependency upon alcohol
Describe William's Family
William's had a very dysfunctional family, an emotionally fragile sister, a father who would barely come home, a brother which he never liked
Why does Brick drink
Disgust
Mendacity or as a way to cope with his grief over skipper's death and to avoid confronting his feelings
In what act does Big Daddy demand that Brick must talk to him about Brick's relationship with Skipper. Brick also explodes revealing Big Daddy's condition
Act 2
BIG DADDY: Uh--huh. Expecting death made me blind.
BIG DADDY: Today the report come in from Ochsner Clinic. Y'know what they told me?
[His face glows with triumph.]
The only thing that they could detect with all the instruments of science in that great hospital is a little spastic condition of the colon! And nerves torn to pieces by all that worry about it.
I want you to know I breathed a sigh of relief almost as powerful as the Vicksburg tornado!
What does this reveal about the character?
This dialogue reveals that Big Daddy relief comes from not having to face his own mortality. Death would cause him to loss his power and control. Once it is revealed that he does have cancer, a immense amount of anxiety begins to build up.
What is the team which Brick played for?
Dixie Stars
The name of William's first lover, and how did his death affect Williams?
Frank Merlo
William's would turn to drugs and alcohol
A Plan or will for him to inherit the plantation
In what act does Maggie insinuate that Brick had once been in a relationship with Skipper. Brick throws his clutch at her and threatens to kill her.
Act 1
BIG DADDY: QUIET!--I ast you, Brick, if you was cuttin' you'self a piece o' poon-tang last night on that cinder track? I thought maybe you were chasin' poon-tang on that track an' tripped over something in the heat of the chase--'s that it?
[Gooper laughs, loud and false, others nervously following suit.]
What does this reveal about the character?
This reveals that Gooper wants to be like Big Daddy a little since Big Daddy is also loud.
The names of the couple that took Big Daddy under their wing when he was a child
Jack Straw
Peter Ochello
In what way did William's work aim to change theatre?
Making it less about entertainment and more about sensitive, controversial themes like mental illness, homosexuality, and how fragile human relationships can be.
What is the lie which is told by the end of the story?
Maggie is pregnant with Brick's child.
In which act does Big Daddy go to bed leading Big Mama to try and gather the family for a meeting. Gooper presents Big Mama with a will which disgust her, and attempt to embrace Brick.
Act 3
Maggie: [sweetly] Dixie, Trixie, Buster, Sonny, Poll! --Sounds like four dogs and a parrot--animal act in a circus!
What does this reveal about the character?
This stage direction reveals that Maggie is passive-aggressive since she has to make fun of Mae's children due to jealousy.
What does the Console which contains the liquor ad the phonograph Represent
Directly quoted from Tennessee Williams "this piece of furniture, this monument, is a very complete ad compact little shrine to virtually all the comforts and illusions behind which we hide from such things as the characters in the play are faced with..."
It shows how the characters are unable to cope anymore.