Rhinoceros
Questions
Name:
Date:
Humanities Teacher Name:
ACT ONE
1. Compare Berenger and Jean. Also comment on what each “says” about society and its “rules.”
"There are certain things which enter the minds of even people without one." Explain
what Jean means in terms of the overarching metaphor of the play.
2. Explain the various reactions to the Rhinoceros. What IS a rhinoceros? Describe it!
3.
Point out and explain the effect of simultaneous conversations.
4. Why does the cat die? What “metaphoric” PURPOSE does the “pussy” serve?
"So then logically speaking, my dog must be a cat?"
"Logically, yes. But the contrary is also true."
Explain this quote in terms of the metaphor.
5. Why do they fight about Asiatic v. African Rhinoceros? (Facist v. Nazi, etc.)Absurdity?
6. Explain why Berenger would say, “I sometimes wonder if I exist myself” (Ionesco 19).
Remember your Existentialism!
Rhinoceros
Name:
Date:
Questions
Humanities Teacher Name:
ACT TWO, scene i
1. Why does this act open in an office? What “absurdity” happens in offices?
2. What is the significance of the following lines...
“I wasn’t alone when I saw the rhinoceros” (Ionesco 43)
“No rhinoceros has ever been seen in this country” (Ionesco 44)
3. Boeuf (means COW in French) What happens with Mr. and Mrs. Boeuf? Significance?
4. Botard (Bow tie) asks, “How can this be possible in a civilized country ... “ (Ionesco 49) EXPLAIN.
5. Botard (Bow tie) and Dudard (dullard or dull one) argue. EXPLAIN their arguments.
ACT TWO, scene ii
1. What happens when Berenger visits Jean? What is the question of ONE or TWO horns?
2. Explain the significance of Jean’s “metamorphosis” - examine the larger allegorical ideas.
3. What arguments about rights occurs? About nature and men?
4. What is the irony of Berenger’s commentary, “You really must be out of your mind”? (Ionesco 68)
5. Explain the last lines of this scene, “What’s to be done?”
“Rhinoceros! Rhinoceros!”
ACT THREE
1. Follow the philosophic progression that precedes Dudard’s (dullard) physical transformation.
How does he explain the phenomenon of the rhinoceros? How does he talk about the rhinos?
How does he answer Berenger’s fears and accusations? What pushes him to
metamorphosize? Is the change voluntary or involuntary? How does he justify it?
"When you're involved yourself…you can't help feeling directly concerned."
2. When we see Daisy is she, too, going to join the rhino troop? Trace the progression of this transformation.
3. Follow Berenger’s changes in attitude when he finally realizes that he is alone.
"I'm not capitulating!"
4. Trace the progression of harm and violence in the play and the characters' reactions to it. Use John Stuart Mill's
"harm principle" from On Liberty as a starting point (the harm principle states that individual freedom should be
preserved so long as it does not directly harm anyone else).
Quiz
Name
1. The dramatic movement Ionesco helped launch in 1950s France was called the Theatre of the...
(A) Ridiculous
(B) Absurd
(C) Intellect
(D) Pretentious Frenchmen
2. What does "Boeuf" mean in French?
(A) Savage
(B) Rhinoceros
(C) Beef
(D) Pretentious Englishman
3. Who is Berenger's rival for Daisy?
(A) Dudard
(B) Jean
(C) Papillon
(D) Mrs. Boeuf
4. Who claims he never dreams?
(A) Berenger
(B) The Logician
(C) Botard
(D) Jean
5. What staple of logic does the Logician teach the Old Gentleman?
(A) A presupposition
(B) A syllogism
(C) A contradiction
(D) Reductio ad absurdum
6. What philosopher greatly influenced the existentialists with his formula "existence precedes essence"?
(A) Plato
(B) Kierkegaard
(C) Wittgenstein
(D) Kant
7. What is a recurring problem of Berenger's?
(A) His voice's hoarseness
(B) Metamorphosing
(C) His lateness
(D) Premature absurdity
8. Who is Berenger's boss?
(A) Daisy
(B) Self-employed
(C) Botard
(D) Papillon
9. What does the second rhinoceros trample?
(A) A hat
(B) A cat
(C) A mat
(D) A bat
10. Ionesco said he wrote the play as a direct response to what group?
(A) Nazis
(B) Anti-Semites
(C) Bourgeoisie
(D) Rationalists
11. Whose plays does Jean recommend Berenger see?
(A) His own
(B) Ionesco's
(C) Samuel Beckett's
(D) Wendy Wasserstein's
12. Why does the office call the Fire Department?
(A) To make sure they're still human
(B) Daisy has a crush on a fireman
(C) A rhino has trampled their stairs
(D) To spray a rhino downstairs
13. What breed were the first two rhinos?
(A) Asiatic
(B) It was undetermined
(C) African
(D) New York
14. Who is a rising star in Berenger's office?
(A) Dudard
(B) Daisy
(C) The Little Old Man's Wife
(D) Papillon
15. What media outlet do the rhinos take over?
(A) The Internet
(B) The television
(C) The newspaper
(D) The radio