"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

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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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