A Streetcar Named Desire- Context Quiz

In which year was the play first published?

In which year was the play first performed?

Tennessee Williams was born in [blank_start]Mississippi[blank_end], with the birth name of '[blank_start]Thomas[blank_end]'. He earned the nickname 'Tennessee' for his [blank_start]very strong Southern[blank_end] accent. His father was often [blank_start]an aggressive[blank_end] man and also [blank_start]an alcoholic[blank_end].

Which two characters can be linked to Williams' sexuality (not just his homosexuality, but also his promiscuity)?

Williams had a sister called [blank_start]Rose[blank_end]. She was believed to have [blank_start]schizophrenia[blank_end], and had [blank_start]a pre-frontal lobotomy[blank_end] in an attempt to cure it. Unfortunately, it left her in [blank_start]a vegetative[blank_end] state. Williams sometimes likens his sister's vulnerability in her mental state to that of Blanche, highlighting her innocence.

When did the American Civil War start and end?

'In the American Civil War, the North supported the slave trade.' Is this statement true or false?

Who won the American Civil War, and what did that entail?

Slavery was abolished in [blank_start]1865[blank_end].

[blank_start]New Orleans[blank_end] is the setting of A Streetcar Named Desire. In the 1940s, it was renowned for its [blank_start]acceptance[blank_end] and [blank_start]diversity[blank_end].

In the 19[blank_start]30[blank_end]s, America suffered the Great Depression. This involved [blank_start]high[blank_end] unemployment rates and debt, but meant that, following WW2, America increased in prosperity. However, there were two major effects: the upper classes [blank_start]didn't trust[blank_end] the lower classes, and men started believing in the [blank_start]American Dream[blank_end]: that men should work hard and receive the fortune they deserve.

When was the Second World War?

The role of the Second World War [blank_start]Stanley[blank_end]: Fought in the war, aggressive and controlling as a result [blank_start]Stella and Eunice[blank_end]: Gained more independence during the war, but quickly lost it when the men returned and reclaimed their jobs. The baby boom that follows can be linked to [blank_start]Stella[blank_end]'s pregnancy [blank_start]Blanche[blank_end]: slept with young soldiers while still in Laurel

In which state is New Orleans?

The Old South: largely based on [blank_start]agriculture[blank_end], particularly with plantations The New South: largely based on [blank_start]industrialisation[blank_end]

What year was Tennessee Williams born?

How did Williams die?

Which family members was Williams especially close to?

How many universities did Williams attend between 1929 and 1940?

After a brief running at the Shubert, what was the name of the theatre in which the play premiered in New York?

For 14 years, Williams was in a relationship with Frank Merlo. Which word best describes their relationship?

Which family member heavily influenced the character of Stanley Kowalski?

Which literary genre was Williams' influenced by? It included authors such as William Faulkner and Edgar Allan Poe.

At the end of this quiz, click 'Review All Answers' to see expansions, explanations, and evaluative comments linked to the answers. For example, characteristics of Southern Gothic or the relevance of the play being performed in Barrymore Theatre. Click 'True' to conclude the quiz.