40 Study Guide           The Glass Menagerie                              Part 1: Preparation for a Gentleman Caller Scene 1 1. Why is the physical setting of the play described in careful detail? 2. Tom is dressed in a merchant sailor s uniform. What effect does his clothing have? 3. Why does Tom' s speech open with a comparison of his role to that of a stage magician? 4. Why is the drama styled as a  memory play ? 5.  What results from Tom 's role as both character and narrator? 6 . Why does Tom say there is a fifth character in the play? 7.  What is the reason for using the scrims (transparent gauze curtains) to separate and differentiate the various scenes? 8.  What do we learn about Laura? 9.  How is Amanda portrayed? Scene 2 1. As Amanda comes up the fire escape , Laura s actions are described. What are those actions and what do they reveal about her? 2. What has Amanda done that day? 3. How can Amanda s behavior during the first part of the scene be characterized? 4. What does Laura do during school hours? 5. Why is Amanda upset about Laura s failure in school? 6. What is Amanda 's decision about Laura s future? 7. How does Laura feel about this decision? 8. What is revealed about Mr. Wingfield in this scene? 9. How is Jim described in this scene? Scene 3 1. What does Amanda 's obsession become? 2. What does Amanda do about this obsession? 3. Scene Three consists largely of a quarrel between Tom and Amanda. Are they the principal actors during the scene? 4. What is the quarrel about? 5. Why does Amanda believe that Tom id doing things he s ashamed of? 6. The final moments of the scene show Tom picking up pieces of glass , glancing at Laura as though he wants to say something. Tell what these actions reveal about Tom. Scene 4 1.  When does Tom return from the movies? 2.  What does he tell Laura he has seen? 3.  What is the significance of the magician nailed in a coffin? 4.  Why does the Magic Show intrigue Tom? 5.  What happens on the fire escape when Amanda sends Laura for some butter? What does it symbolize? 6.  Tom apologizes to Amanda for calling her a witch. How does Amanda respond? 7.  What does Amanda want to talk about with Tom? 8.  Amanda s statements about selfishness are ironic. Why? 9.  What is Amanda most pressing concern? 10. What is Amanda .s solution to the problem? Scene 5 1. How does Tom perceive the fire escape? 2. What does he see when he stands on the fire escape? 3. How does Amanda view the fire escape? 4. What does she see as she sits on the fire escape? 5.Tom guesses her wish and is able to grant it. What is the wish? 6.  What is Amanda. s response when Tom says he is bringing a young man home to dinner? 7.  How does Tom react to this? 8.  What do we find out about the gentleman caller in the next conversation between Amanda and Tom? 9. Amanda s  discreet inquiries  produce information. In dramatic terms , this is called exposition. Why is this scene dramatically satisfying and suspenseful even though it lacks action? 10. As a Amanda begins to fuss and plan , what does Tom remind her about? 11. Why does Amanda tell Laura to make a wish? 12. Why does Tom abruptly leave for the movies?   Scene 6 1. Why does Tom feel he is valuable to Jim? 2. Why is Jim valuable to Tom? 3. Have Amanda' s preparations for the dinner been successful? 4. How does Amanda dress for the gentleman caller? 5.  Why does Laura dread the evening? 6. Describe the way Laura answers the door. 7.   What does Jim recommend for Tom? 8.   What does Jim tell Tom about his job? 9.   Is Tom concerned about this warning? Why? 10. What first step has Tom already taken? 11. With whom does Tom identify as he talks of his plans? 12. How do Tom and Jim respond to Amanda s entrance and chatter? 13. Does everyone enjoy the dinner? Scene 7 1. What happens as they finish dinner? 2. What lighting do they use instead? 3. What is Jim 's first assessment of Laura? 4. Does Jim recognize Laura? 5.  How does Jim react to Laura' s confession of her shyness and the reason she gives for it ---- the brace on her leg? 6.  How is Jim discovering his own excellence? 7.  Why does Laura shoe Jim the unicorn? 8.  What is Jim 's next step in curing Laura 's inferiority complex? 9.  What happens as they dance? 10. Jim notes Laura' s unusual prettiness as she examines the broken unicorn. What is his next move to help her? 11. Jim calls himself a stumble-John as he realizes Laura is overcome by the kiss. How does he recognize her reaction? 12. As Jim forthrightly tells Laura about Betty and their marriage plans , how does Laura react? 13. What is the significance of Laura' s gift to Jim? 14. What is Amanda' s reaction to Jim' s engagement? 15. Tom' s final speech coincides with the silent scene played by Laura and A...