The Glass Menagerie

Part 1: Scenes 1-5

Reading Check

1. Tom and Laura’s father (Scene 1)

2. She practiced the art of conversation. (Scene 1)

3. She was embarrassed to learn about Laura dropping out of business school. (Scene 2)

4. A record player (Scene 2)

5. Amanda yelling “Rise and shine!” (Scene 3)

6. Adventure (Scene 4)

7. The fire-escape landing (Scene 5)

8. Being the wife of a drunkard (Scene 5)

Short Answer

1. Tom says that in America, the middle class was being forced to confront the failing American economy, and there were violent labor actions in the cities. In Spain, there was revolution. (Scene 1)

2. The Jewel Box is a greenhouse where Laura spent many of her afternoons instead of attending business school. She calls it a “big glass house where they raise the tropical flowers.” (Scene 2)

3. Back in high school, when she told Jim that she had pleurosis, he misunderstood and heard “blue roses.” After that, he started calling her Blue Roses. (Scene 2)

4. She wants to earn money to prepare the apartment and Laura to properly receive a gentleman caller.