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A Streetcar Named Desire: Essay Questions

A list of potential essay questions to form revision and speed planning practice

‘Stella is the lynchpin within the play for better or for worse’ In light of this statement, explore William’s presentation of relationships in A Streetcar Named Desire. In your answer, you must consider relevant contextual factors.

‘Shame lies at the heart of each character’ In light of this statement, explore William’s presentation of self and identity in A Streetcar Named Desire. In your answer, you must consider relevant contextual factors.

‘A Streetcar Named Desire is a play emblematic of the modern era’ In light of this statement, explore William’s presentation of time and place in A Streetcar Named Desire. In your answer, you must consider relevant contextual factors.

‘Abuse is normalised as the strong dominate the weak’ In light of this statement, explore William’s presentation of power in A Streetcar Named Desire. In your answer, you must consider relevant contextual factors.

Examine the view that the conflict between Stanley and Blanche is primarily based on their difference in social class.

‘A play about secrets and the catastrophic consequences of their exposure’ In light of this statement explore Williams’ presentation of secrets and their revelation in A Streetcar named Desire .

To what extent can Blanche DuBois be considered a victim in A Streetcar named Desire ?

Discuss the importance of the past in A Streetcar named Desire .

‘This play explores the clash between two cultures not, two individuals’ Consider this perspective in A Streetcar named Desire .

‘The play essentially reveals to us the vulnerability of human beings’ Examine this view in A Streetcar named Desire .

Explore Williams’ use of music in the play, is it much more than a naturalistic device?

Blanche believes the opposite to death is desire. How is this theme developed throughout the play?

Discuss the role of music and other sound effects in A Streetcar named Desire .

Explore themes of morality in A Streetcar named Desire .

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Home — Essay Samples — Literature — Plays — A Streetcar Named Desire

Essays on A Streetcar Named Desire

Choosing the right essay topic is crucial for your success in college. Your creativity and personal interests play a significant role in the selection process. This webpage aims to provide you with a variety of A Streetcar Named Desire essay topics to inspire your writing and help you excel in your academic pursuits.

Essay Types and Topics

Argumentative.

• The role of gender in A Streetcar Named Desire
• The impact of societal norms on the characters' behaviors

Paragraph Example:

In Tennessee Williams' A Streetcar Named Desire, the portrayal of gender dynamics is a central theme that sheds light on the power struggles and societal expectations faced by the characters. This essay aims to explore the significance of gender in the play and its influence on the characters' decisions and relationships.

Through a close examination of the gender dynamics in A Streetcar Named Desire, this essay has highlighted the complexities of societal norms and their impact on individual lives. The characters' struggles serve as a reflection of the broader societal challenges, prompting us to reconsider our perceptions of gender roles and expectations.

Compare and Contrast

• The parallels between Blanche DuBois and Stanley Kowalski
• The contrasting symbols of light and darkness in the play

Descriptive

• The vivid imagery of New Orleans in the play
• The sensory experiences portrayed in A Streetcar Named Desire
• An argument for Blanche's mental state and its impact on her actions
• The case for the significance of the play's setting in shaping the characters
• Reimagining a key scene from a different character's perspective
• A personal reflection on the themes of illusion and reality in the play

Engagement and Creativity

As you explore these essay topics, remember to engage your critical thinking skills and bring your unique perspective to your writing. A Streetcar Named Desire offers a rich tapestry of themes and characters, providing ample opportunities for creative exploration in your essays.

Educational Value

Each essay type presents a valuable opportunity for you to develop different skills. Argumentative essays can refine your analytical thinking, while descriptive essays can enhance your ability to paint vivid pictures with words. Persuasive essays help you hone your persuasive writing skills, and narrative essays allow you to practice storytelling and narrative techniques.

Reality Versus Illusion in The Streetcar Named Desire

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How Blanche and Stella Rely on Self-delusion in a Streetcar Named Desire

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An Examination of The Character of Blanche in a Streetcar Named Desire

The flaws of blanche and why she ultimately failed, analysis of stanley kowalski’s role in tennessee williams’ book, a streetcar named desire, analysis of blanche and stella relationship in a streetcar named desire, get a personalized essay in under 3 hours.

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The Concealed Homosexuality in a Streetcar Named Desire

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December 3, 1947, Tennessee Williams

Play; Southern Gothic

The French Quarter and Downtown New Orleans

Blanche DuBois, Stella Kowalski, Stanley Kowalski, Harold "Mitch" Mitchell

1. Vlasopolos, A. (1986). Authorizing History: Victimization in" A Streetcar Named Desire". Theatre Journal, 38(3), 322-338. (https://www.jstor.org/stable/3208047) 2. Corrigan, M. A. (1976). Realism and Theatricalism in A Streetcar Named Desire. Modern Drama, 19(4), 385-396. (https://muse.jhu.edu/pub/50/article/497088/summary) 3. Quirino, L. (1983). The Cards Indicate a Voyage on'A Streetcar Named Desire'. Contemporary Literary Criticism, 30. (https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CH1100001571&sid=googleScholar&v=2.1&it=r&linkaccess=abs&issn=00913421&p=LitRC&sw=w&userGroupName=anon%7E8abc495e) 4. Corrigan, M. A. (2019). Realism and Theatricalism in A Streetcar Named Desire. In Essays on Modern American Drama (pp. 27-38). University of Toronto Press. (https://www.degruyter.com/document/doi/10.3138/9781487577803-004/html?lang=de) 5. Van Duyvenbode, R. (2001). Darkness Made Visible: Miscegenation, Masquerade and the Signified Racial Other in Tennessee Williams' Baby Doll and A Streetcar Named Desire. Journal of American Studies, 35(2), 203-215. (https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/journal-of-american-studies/article/abs/darkness-made-visible-miscegenation-masquerade-and-the-signified-racial-other-in-tennessee-williams-baby-doll-and-a-streetcar-named-desire/B73C386D2422793FB8DC00E0B79B7331) 6. Cahir, L. C. (1994). The Artful Rerouting of A Streetcar Named Desire. Literature/Film Quarterly, 22(2), 72. (https://www.proquest.com/openview/7040761d75f7fd8f9bf37a2f719a28a4/1?pq-origsite=gscholar&cbl=5938) 7. Silvio, J. R. (2002). A Streetcar Named Desire—Psychoanalytic Perspectives. Journal of the American Academy of Psychoanalysis and Dynamic Psychiatry, 30(1), 135-144. (https://guilfordjournals.com/doi/abs/10.1521/jaap.30.1.135.21985) 8. Griffies, W. S. (2007). A streetcar named desire and tennessee Williams' object‐relational conflicts. International Journal of Applied Psychoanalytic Studies, 4(2), 110-127. (https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/aps.127) 9. Shackelford, D. (2000). Is There a Gay Man in This Text?: Subverting the Closet in A Streetcar Named Desire. In Literature and Homosexuality (pp. 135-159). Brill. (https://brill.com/display/book/9789004483460/B9789004483460_s010.xml)

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A Streetcar Named Desire

Tennessee williams, ask litcharts ai: the answer to your questions.

Welcome to the LitCharts study guide on Tennessee Williams's A Streetcar Named Desire . Created by the original team behind SparkNotes, LitCharts are the world's best literature guides.

A Streetcar Named Desire: Introduction

A streetcar named desire: plot summary, a streetcar named desire: detailed summary & analysis, a streetcar named desire: themes, a streetcar named desire: quotes, a streetcar named desire: characters, a streetcar named desire: symbols, a streetcar named desire: theme wheel, brief biography of tennessee williams.

Historical Context of A Streetcar Named Desire

Other books related to a streetcar named desire.

• Full Title: A Streetcar Named Desire
• When Written: 1946-7
• Where Written: New York, Los Angeles, and New Orleans
• When Published: Broadway premiere December 3, 1947
• Literary Period: Dramatic naturalism
• Genre: Psychological drama
• Setting: New Orleans, LA
• Climax: Stanley’s rape of Blanche at the end of Scene Ten
• Antagonist: Stanley Kowalski

Extra Credit for A Streetcar Named Desire

That Rattle-trap Streetcar Named Desire. The Desire streetcar line operated in New Orleans from 1920 to 1948, going through the French Quarter to its final stop on Desire Street.

Streetcar on the silver screen. The original 1947 Broadway production of Streetcar shot Marlon Brando, who played Stanley Kowalski, to stardom. Brando’s legendary performance cemented the actor’s status as a sex symbol of the stage and screen. Elia Kazan, who directed both the original Broadway production and the 1951 film adaptation, used the Stanislavski method-acting system, which focuses on realism and natural characters instead of melodrama. The Stanislavski system asks actors to use their memories to help give the characters real emotions. Brando based his depiction of Stanley on the boxer Rocky Graziano, going to his gym to study his movements and mannerisms. Largely due to Brando’s Stanley and Vivian Leigh’s iconic Blanche, Kazan’s film has become a cultural touchstone, particularly Brando’s famous bellowing of “STELL-LAHHHHH!”

Oh, Streetcar! In an episode of The Simpsons , the characters stage a musical version of A Streetcar Named Desire called Oh, Streetcar! Mild-mannered Ned Flanders as Stanley gives the famous “STELLA” yell, singing, “Can’t you hear me yell-a? You’re putting me through hell-a!”

Welcome to Seneca Revision Notes

Short and effective seneca revision notes for a-level & gcse.

1 Context & Overview

1.1 The Author

1.1.1 Tennessee Williams

1.2 Social Context & Setting

1.2.1 Social Context

1.2.2 Social Issues

1.2.3 Setting

1.3 Tragedy

1.3.1 Overview of the Tragic Genre

1.3.2 Modern Domestic Tragedy

1.3.3 End of Topic Test - Author, Context & Tragedy

2 Scene Summaries

2.1 Scene One

2.1.1 Scene One: Summary

2.1.2 Scene One: Tragedy Ideas

2.2 Scene Two

2.2.1 Scene Two: Summary & Tragedy Ideas

2.2.2 End of Topic Test - Scenes One-Two

2.3 Scene Three

2.3.1 Scene Three: Summary & Tragedy Ideas

2.4 Scene Four

2.4.1 Scene Four: Summary & Tragedy Ideas

2.4.2 End of Topic Test - Scenes Three & Four

2.5 Scene Five

2.5.1 Scene Five: Summary & Tragedy Ideas

2.6 Scene Six

2.6.1 Scene Six: Summary

2.7 Scene Seven

2.7.1 Scene Seven: Summary & Tragedy Ideas

2.8 Scene Eight

2.8.1 Scene Eight: Summary & Tragedy Ideas

2.8.2 End of Topic Test - Scenes Five-Eight

2.9 Scene Nine

2.9.1 Scene Nine: Summary & Tragedy Ideas

2.10 Scene Ten

2.10.1 Scene Ten: Summary & Tragedy Ideas

2.11 Scene Eleven

2.11.1 Scene Eleven: Summary & Tragedy Ideas

2.11.2 End of Topic Test - Scenes Nine-Eleven

3 Character Profiles

3.1 Blanche DuBois & Stanley Kowalski

3.1.1 Blanche DuBois - The Past & Illusions

3.1.2 Blanche DuBois - Relationship with Men & Breakdown

3.1.3 The Dynamic Between Blanche & Stanley

3.1.4 End of Topic Test - Blanche & Stanley

3.2 Stella Kowalski & Harold Mitchell (Mitch)

3.2.1 Stella Kowalski

3.2.2 Harold Mitchell (Mitch)

3.3 Minor Characters

3.3.1 The Hubbels & Other Characters

3.3.2 End of Topic Test - Stella, Mitch & Others

4 Key Ideas

4.1 Sex & Gender

4.1.1 Sex & Desire

4.1.2 Masculinity & Femininity

4.1.3 End of Topic Test - Sex, Desire & Gender

4.2 Appearances, Fantasy & Reality

4.2.1 Outer & Inner Appearances

4.2.2 Fantasy & Reality

4.2.3 End of Topic Test - Appearances, Fantasy...

5 Writing Techniques

5.1 Structure

5.1.1 Structure & Stage Design

5.1.2 Linking Devices

5.1.3 Recurring Motifs

5.2 Genre, Form & Language

5.2.1 Genre

5.2.2 Form & Language

5.2.3 End of Topic Test - Writing Techniques

6 Critical Debates

6.1 Early & Modern Reception

6.1.1 Interpreting Blanche & Self-Pity

6.1.2 Contemporary & Modern Reviews

6.2 Feminist, Psychoanalytic & Marxist Approach

6.2.1 Feminist Approach

6.2.2 Psychoanalytic Approach

6.2.3 Marxist Approach

6.2.4 End of Topic Test - Critical Debates

7 Ideas About Tragedy

7.1 Ideas About Tragedy

7.1.1 Tragic Ideas & Villain

7.1.2 Tragic Structure & Language

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A Level Study Notes and Revision Guides

A streetcar named desire: a level york notes, tennessee williams, a streetcar named desire : a snapshot, social class.

Blanche is a ‘Southern Belle’ – a rather snobbish member of an old-established land-owning family, one of the ‘plantation’ families that originally got rich by using slave labour. Stella has for the most part been happy to abandon the family’s standards in order to enjoy the animal passion she finds in Stanley, a proudly working-class man from a Polish immigrant family.

The American class system is different from the British, being based more on money and less on inherited status. These class issues still exist in modern Britain, albeit in different forms. Many people still attest to resentment and suspicion between classes, just as there is between Stanley and Blanche. In the play, these feelings drive the drama on.

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A* A-LEVEL ENGLISH LITERATURE A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE BUNDLE

Subject: English

Age range: 16+

Resource type: Assessment and revision

Last updated

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I achieved an A* at AQA English Litertaure A-Level. This is a 36 page revision bundle for A Streetcar Named Desire including a mix of timed essay answers, with written teacher feedback, essay plans, character/scene notes, quote analysis and context.

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