The life of Tennessee Williams:

Please answer the following questions about Williams’ life and lifestyle. Use the sources below and any sources you may find on the Web but remember check your answers to be sure it is a credible source.

  1. Tennessee Williams was actually born as ______in ______(state) in ______(year).
  1. His father, ______(name), was a ______salesman.
  1. His mother, ______(name), was a Southern belle who enjoyed her status in society.
  1. His father thought of Tennessee as ______and preferred his younger brother ______. He also had a sister named ______.
  1. His maternal grandfather was an ______but Williams converted to Roman Catholicism in 1969.
  1. His family moved to ______in 1918. The move to the metropolitan area was difficult for him and his sister, Rose. After the move, his father began to drink heavily and his mother began to resent losing her place in society and her close ties with her parents.
  1. It is said that his nickname, ______, was given to him by friends in college because______. He attended the University of Missouri from 1929-______and the Washington University in St. Louis from ______-1937 before earning a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Iowa in 19______.
  1. Tennessee’s sister Rose suffered from ______and spent most of her adult life in mental hospitals. Her parents eventually allowed a prefrontal ______to be performed in an effort to treat her. The operationwent ______and Rose remained incapacitated for the rest of her life.
  1. This surgery greatly affected Williams, which in turn lead to his abuse of ______and ______.
  1. After living in New York and Chicago and unable to find work he moved to ______. While living there he met and fell in love with ______. With this stability, Williams created some of his most famous plays.
  1. When ______died in 1963, Williams fell into a deep ______.
  2. Williams died on ______25th, ______in his hotel room. He died ______(how). However, many people believe it was caused by ______.
  1. What is one thing that critics and fans say was so unique about Williams’ writing?
  1. What was his first published piece of literature?
  1. Why did his family life prepare him to write about so much conflict and unhappiness? (own opinion, not necessarily on a website)
  1. How is his death an ironic end for Williams? (own opinion, not necessarily on a website)
  1. Name four of his most famous pieces.
  1. How many plays were made into movies?
  1. What writing awards did he win?
  1. List two other interesting things that are NOT discussed above.

New Orleans: French Quarter:

Please answer the following questions about New Orleans, the French Quarter and the time in which the play was written. Use the sources below and any sources you may find on the Web but remember check your answers to be sure it is a credible source.

  1. What is the French Quarter in New Orleans?
  1. How did the Civil War affect the F.Q.?
  1. Why was Tennessee Williams attracted to the F.Q. of New Orleans?
  1. How did WWI and WWII affect Southerners and New Orleans?
  1. Where did Tennessee Williams live (street name) while writing A Streetcar Named Desire?
  1. Where do the main characters live in A Streetcar Named Desire? (describe the setting- French Quarter is not specific enough) What does the street they live on mean in Greek Mythology?
  1. What is a streetcar?
  1. What is Belle Reeve? What do these words mean in French?