"The Hitchhiker" and "Sorry, Wrong Number" Literary Analysis

What theme does Lucille Fletcher want the reader to learn from reading "The Hitchhiker:??

• Death only comes to people who have picked up hitchhikers on the road.

• Women are the only hitchhikers that you can safely give a ride to.

• Sometimes you are more insane than you realize.

• Death cannot be avoided because it always gets the person it comes for.

Answer explanation

The audience knows that the police are not actually coming to help Mrs. Stevenson, but she does not.

Which quote from “The Hitchhiker” supports that theme?

• “Somewhere among them, he [the hitchhiker] is waiting for me.”

• “I’ve read somewhere that love could banish demons.”

• “How does this door work?! I’m gettin’ outta here!”

• “Mother, I’ll be back. I’ll only be on the coast for three months.”

Answer explanation

The audience knows that the police are not actually coming to help Mrs. Stevenson, but she does not.

 Put these events in the order they occurred in The Hitchhiker:

I. The storekeeper threatens to call the sheriff if Ronald doesn’t leave immediately.

II. Ronald hears that he died 6 days earlier in an accident on the Brooklyn Bridge.

III. Ronald sees the Hitchhiker on the Brooklyn Bridge and swerves to avoid hitting him.

IV. The female hitchhiker fearfully runs away from Ronald after he almost kills them.

• I, II, III, IV

• IV, I, III, II

• III, I, IV, II

• II, IV, I, III

Answer explanation

It creates a sense of suspense and tension Explanation: The sound of the ticking clock in the background adds to the sense of suspense and tension in the story.

What important conclusion can you draw from Ronald’s conversation with Mrs. Whitney at the end of the play, "The Hitchhiker"?

• Ronald’s mother has died, and Mrs. Whitney, who now lives in his house, is pretending not to know Ronald.

• The female hitchhiker and the Hitchhiker are both evil beings who are trying to torture Ronald Adams as he takes his trip.

• When Ronald saw the Hitchhiker on the Brooklyn Bridge and swerved to miss him, he actually had a wreck and died.

• Ronald has been asleep throughout the entire story, and all of his encounters with the Hitchhiker have been a dream.

Which of the following issues greatly affects Mrs. Adams in “The Hitchhiker”?

• The death of her eldest, son Ronald

• The repeated appearance of the hitchhiker

• Ronald traveling alone in a car to California

• Ronald picking up the girl hitchhiker

What statement from “The Hitchhiker” is an example of foreshadowing?

• “Nice night, isn't it?”

• “No, not this time of night, mister! My wife's the cook, she's in bed!”

•  “Don't you worry. There isn't anything going to happen. It's just eight days of...driving.”

• “Mrs. Adams is not at home. She's still in the hospital.”

Answer explanation

The audience knows that the police are not actually coming to help Mrs. Stevenson, but she does not.

How does the author create a sense of isolation for Mrs. Stevenson?

• By having her trapped in her apartment

• By having her be the only character in the story

• By having her be physically disabled

• By having her be emotionally detached from others

Answer explanation

Mrs. Stevenson is unable to leave her apartment and is therefore physically isolated, which adds to the tension and suspense of the story.

What is the significance of the title, "Sorry, Wrong Number"?

• It suggests that the caller dialed the wrong number

• It implies that Mrs. Stevenson is the one who made the wrong call

• It highlights the role of miscommunication in the story

• It suggests that the story is about a mundane phone conversation

Answer explanation

It highlights the role of miscommunication in the story Explanation: The title refers to the wrong number dialed by the caller, which ultimately leads to a tragic outcome due to miscommunication.

How does Mrs. Stevenson's character change throughout the story?

• She becomes more confident and assertive

• She becomes more fearful and desperate

• She becomes more sympathetic to the caller

• She does not change throughout the story

Answer explanation

Mrs. Stevenson's character becomes increasingly panicked and fearful as the story progresses, especially as she realizes the severity of the situation.

What is the role of sound in the play?

• It creates a sense of atmosphere and mood

• It serves to distract the listener from the plot

• It is used to convey important plot points

• It is not significant in the story

Answer explanation

It creates a sense of atmosphere and mood Explanation: Sound is used to create a sense of tension and atmosphere, such as the sound of the ticking clock in the background.