Study Questions &
Essay Topics
Study Questions
1. Tom calls Laura
“peculiar,” but Amanda bristles at this word. What is “peculiar”
about Laura?
2. Why is the
fire escape important in the play?
3. Which aspects
of
The Glass Menagerie are realistic? Which aspects
are the most nonrealistic? What function do the nonrealistic elements
serve?
Suggested Essay Topics
1. Who do you think is the main
character of the play—Tom, Laura, or Amanda? Why? Is the main character
the protagonist? Is there an antagonist?
2. What might happen to Laura
after Tom’s departure? What might happen to Amanda?
3. What is the effect of the
images and phrases that appear on the screen throughout the play?
Do they enhance or detract from the mood of what is occurring onstage?
4. Discuss the symbol of the
glass menagerie. What does it represent? Does it represent the same
things throughout the play, or does its meaning change?
5. Generally, plays do not have
narrators. How does the fact that Tom is the narrator affect the
style and content of the play? Would your appraisal of the events
be different if there were no narrator?
