"A Defenseless Creature"

PART A: What can the reader conclude about the relationship between Kistunov and the woman?

• The woman plans to use Kistunov to get what she wants.

• Kistunov knows the woman’s husband on a personal level.

• Kistunov has more power and control than the woman.

• The woman was treated badly by Kistunov in the past.

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PART B: Select the detail that supports the inference in PART A.

• Kistunov: “It’s really not necessary. I know full well how your husband must be suffering.” (page 2)

• Woman: (Stares at him) “You lied to me. I took you as a man of your word and you lied to me.” (page 3)

• Woman: “Don’t take advantage of me just because I’m a weak, defenseless woman. Do me the simple courtesy of reading the doctor’s certificate. That’s all I ask. Read it, and then I’ll go.” (page 3)

• Woman: “Oh, there’s one other thing, sir. I’ll need a letter of recommendation so my husband can get another job. Don’t bother yourself about it today. I’ll be back in the morning.” (page 4)

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PART A: What is a theme of the play?

• 1.  Bad behavior can still result in rewards.

• 1.  The threat of violence corrects bad behavior.

• 1.  Greed can build an unlikely friendship.

• 1.  Communication is key to maintaining a family.

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PART B: Which sentence from the passage helps develop the theme in PART A?

• 1. Woman: “I faint at the least provocation… Watch. (She swoons to the floor.) Did you see? You just saw how I fainted? Eight times a day that happens.” (page 3)

• 1. Kistunov: “Beat her, you fool. Kick her while you’ve got the chance. We’ll never get her out of here. Knock her senseless!” (page 4)

• 1. Kistunov: “Pochatkin, give her the money. Give her what she wants. Give her anything — only get her out of here!” (page 4)

• 1. Woman: “God bless you, sir. You’re a kind man. I remove the curse. (With a gesture) Curse be gone! Onions to money, potatoes to gold—” (page 4)

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How does the dialogue between Kistunov and the woman affect the plot?

• 1. It creates a sense of internal conflict for the woman.

• 1. It builds the audience’s sympathy for the woman.

• 1. It creates comedy by becoming increasingly absurd.

• 1. It lessens the sense of conflict for the audience.

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On page 1, before meeting the woman, Kistunov explains the following:

“It’s just that my gout is acting up again and my nerves are like little firecrackers. The least little friction can set them off.”

How does this detail affect the plot?

• It increases conflict by making Kistunov more helpless.

• It lessens conflict by making the woman more powerful.

• It reveals the setting as a place of quiet and isolation.

• It decreases the humor due to Kistunov’s health issue

On page 1, the woman begins to cry. What does the phrase “the kind of wail that melts the spine of strong men” suggest about the woman?

• 1. Her cry is genuine and full of real emotional pain.

• 1. She has the power to change anyone’s behavior.

• 1. Her cry can literally break people’s bones.

• 1. She is powerless in getting what she wants.

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On page 4, Kistunov says to the woman, “You are as defenseless as a charging rhinoceros!”
What does this statement suggest?

• The woman is not defenseless at all — she is aggressive.

• The woman needs protection, like an endangered species.

• Kistunov plans to attack the woman like an animal would.

• Kistunov wants the woman to feel confident and strong.

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