CLASS-XII

SEMESTER-III

UNIT-3 (DRAMA)

‘The Glass Menagerie’ by Tennessee Williams (Scene I to IV) Short Questions and Answers 2025

Important Questions

Scene I

1. Who is the narrator of the play?

Answer: Tom Wingfield is the narrator of the play.

2. What kind of play does Tom describe ‘The Glass Menagerie’ as?

Answer: Tom describes ‘The Glass Menagerie’ as a “memory play.”

3. Where does the play take place?

Answer: The play takes place in the Wingfield apartment in St. Louis.

4. What is the significance of the fire escape in the play?

Answer: The fire escape symbolizes an escape from the oppressive environment of the Wingfield apartment, particularly for Tom.

5. Who are the members of the Wingfield family?

Answer: The members of the Wingfield family are Amanda Wingfield (the mother), Tom Wingfield (the son), and Laura Wingfield (the daughter).

6. What is the historical context mentioned by Tom at the beginning of the play?

Answer: Tom mentions the 1930s during the Great Depression and references events like the Spanish Civil War and the rise of fascism.

7. How does Amanda reminisce about her past?

Answer: Amanda frequently reminisces about her youth in the South and the numerous gentlemen callers she had.

8. How does the setting of the Wingfield apartment contribute to the play’s themes?

Answer: The cramped and shabby setting of the Wingfield apartment reflects the family’s economic struggles and the emotional confinement experienced by the characters.

9. What does Tom mean by calling himself the “opposite of a stage magician”?

Answer: Tom means that unlike a stage magician who creates illusions, he is going to show the harsh reality of their lives.

10. What role does the portrait of Mr. Wingfield play in the dynamics of the Wingfield family?

Answer: The portrait of Mr. Wingfield looms over the family, serving as a reminder of his abandonment and the struggles they face due to his absence.

11. How does Tom’s description of the play as a “memory play” affect the audience’s perception of the events?

Answer: It suggests that the events may be distorted by emotions and personal biases, emphasizing the subjective nature of memory.

Scene II

1. What does Amanda discover about Laura in this scene?

Answer: Amanda discovers that Laura has dropped out of her business college and has been pretending to go to class.

2. How does Amanda react to Laura’s deception about her schooling?

Answer: Amanda is shocked and disappointed. She becomes anxious about Laura’s future and her prospects for marriage.

3. What does Laura spend her time doing instead of attending classes?

Answer: Laura spends her time wandering around the park and visiting the zoo, as well as spending time at the art museum.

4. What is Laura’s prized possession?

Answer: Laura’s prized possession is her collection of glass animals, which she calls her “glass menagerie.”

5. Why is Laura shy and self-conscious?

Answer: Laura is shy and self-conscious due to her physical disability (a limp) and her perceived lack of social skills.

6. What does Amanda’s concern about Laura’s future reveal about her character?

Answer: Amanda’s concern about Laura’s future reveals her practical nature and deep anxiety about economic security, as well as her traditional views on women’s roles.

7. How does Amanda’s obsession with finding a suitor for Laura affect Laura?

Answer: Amanda’s obsession increases Laura’s anxiety and sense of inadequacy, making her more withdrawn and insecure.

8. What does the Victrola symbolize in the play?

Answer: The Victrola symbolizes Laura’s retreat into a fantasy world, away from the harsh realities of life.

9. What is Amanda’s reaction to Laura dropping out of Rubicam’s Business College?

Answer: Amanda is devastated and frustrated, fearing for Laura’s future prospects and feeling betrayed by Laura’s deception.

10. How does Amanda’s past influence her expectations for Laura?

Answer: Amanda’s past, filled with gentlemen callers and social success, creates unrealistic expectations for Laura to find a suitable husband and secure a stable future.

Scene III

1.How does Amanda plan to secure a future for Laura?

Answer: Amanda plans to find a “gentleman caller” for Laura, hoping that she will marry and be taken care of.

2. What does Tom do that angers Amanda?

Answer: Tom spends his evenings going to the movies and returning home late, which angers Amanda because she believes he is being irresponsible.

3. What does Tom want to do with his life, and what is preventing him?

Answer: Tom wants to escape his stifling home life and pursue adventure, possibly joining the Merchant Marines. However, he feels obligated to stay and support his family.

4. What does Tom do in anger at the end of Scene III?

Answer: In anger, Tom accidentally breaks some of Laura’s glass animals while putting on his coat to leave.

5. What does the dialogue between Tom and Amanda reveal about their relationship?

Answer: The dialogue reveals tension and conflict between Tom and Amanda, with Amanda’s overbearing nature clashing with Tom’s desire for independence.

6. What is Tom’s secret activity that he mentions to Laura?

Answer: Tom tells Laura that he writes poetry secretly.

7. Why does Tom feel trapped in his life?

Answer: Tom feels trapped because he has to support his family, which prevents him from pursuing his own dreams and escaping the oppressive environment.

8. What is the significance of the movies for Tom?

Answer: The movies represent an escape for Tom, a temporary relief from his monotonous and confining life.

9. How does the argument between Tom and Amanda escalate?

Answer: The argument escalates as Tom expresses his frustration with his life and Amanda accuses him of being selfish, leading to a heated exchange where Tom ultimately storms out.

10. What does Amanda’s constant nagging about Tom’s habits reveal about her character?

Answer: Amanda’s nagging reveals her anxiety and need for control, as well as her fear of losing Tom like she lost her husband.

Scene IV

1. What is the aftermath of Tom’s outburst in Scene III?

Answer: After his outburst, Tom apologizes to Laura for breaking her glass animals.

2. What does Amanda ask Tom to do for Laura in this scene?

Answer: Amanda asks Tom to find a potential suitor at his workplace and invite him home for Laura.

3. How does Tom describe his feelings towards his job?

Answer: Tom describes his job at the warehouse as monotonous and unfulfilling, likening himself to a “nailed up coffin.”

4. What literary reference does Tom make to express his desire for escape?

Answer: Tom makes a reference to D. H. Lawrence’s works, which are known for their themes of liberation and escape.

5. How does Amanda try to motivate Tom to help Laura?

Answer: Amanda tries to motivate Tom by appealing to his sense of duty and responsibility towards the family.

6. What does Tom reveal about his nightly excursions to Laura?

Answer: Tom reveals that he goes to the movies to escape the pressures and frustrations of his life.

7. How does Amanda react when Tom agrees to find a suitor for Laura?

Answer: Amanda is pleased and hopeful when Tom agrees to find a suitor for Laura.

8. What does Laura’s collection of glass animals represent?

Answer: Laura’s collection of glass animals represents her delicate, fragile nature and her retreat into a fantasy world to escape reality.

9. How does the concept of escape manifest differently for each character?

Answer: For Tom, escape is through movies and dreams of adventure; for Laura, it is through her glass menagerie and music; for Amanda, it is through memories of her past.

10. How does Laura react to Tom’s apology for breaking the glass menagerie?

Answer: Laura is forgiving and tries to calm Tom down, showing her gentle and compassionate nature.

11. What does Tom mean when he says he’s planning a “pleasant disguise for the evening”?

Answer: Tom is referring to his nightly excursions to the movies, which he uses as an escape from his mundane and oppressive life.

12. How does Amanda’s approach to solving problems differ from Tom’s?

Answer: Amanda tries to solve problems through control and planning, particularly by focusing on securing a suitor for Laura, while Tom seeks escape and relief from his responsibilities.

General Questions

1. How does the fire escape function as a symbol in the play?

Answer: The fire escape symbolizes a means of escape from the difficulties of life for Tom, and possibly a way out for Laura from her insecurities and Amanda’s control.

2. How does the theme of memory shape the structure of the play?

Answer: The theme of memory shapes the structure by allowing events to be presented from Tom’s subjective perspective, often distorted by his emotions and regrets.

3. How does Amanda’s relationship with her children reflect her personality?

Answer: Amanda’s relationship with her children reflects her domineering and controlling personality, as well as her deep fears about their future and her nostalgia for the past.

4. What role does social and economic pressure play in the lives of the Wingfield family?

Answer: Social and economic pressure play a significant role in creating stress and shaping the characters’ actions, particularly Amanda’s insistence on securing a stable future for Laura through marriage.

5. How does the theme of illusion versus reality play out in the Wingfield family’s interactions?

Answer: The theme of illusion versus reality is evident in Amanda’s romanticized view of the past, Laura’s retreat into her glass menagerie, and Tom’s dreams of escape, contrasting with the harsh realities they face.

6. What significance does the title “The Glass Menagerie” have in relation to Laura’s character?

Answer: The title reflects Laura’s fragility and delicate nature, much like her collection of glass animals, and her tendency to live in a world of illusion to protect herself from reality.

7. How does the lighting in the play contribute to the mood and themes?

Answer: The dim, soft lighting often used in the play creates a dreamlike, nostalgic atmosphere, reinforcing the idea of the play being a memory and highlighting the fragility of the characters’ lives.

8. What is the significance of Tom’s desire to join the Merchant Marines?

9. Answer: Tom’s desire to join the Merchant Marines represents his yearning for freedom and adventure, and his need to break away from his confining life and responsibilities at home.

9. How does the economic context of the Great Depression impact the characters and their actions?

Answer: The economic struggles of the Great Depression heighten the family’s financial anxieties, influencing Amanda’s desperation for Laura to marry well and Tom’s frustration with his dead-end job.