Question

Read the excerpts from Alice Gerstenbergs’s play, Fourteen, and “The Dinner Party”, which show an event in the story differently. Which statement describes the difference between Gerstenberg’s play and the short story?

From Fourteen:

MRS. PRINGLE: . . . There’s the front doorbell, Dunham . . . go, peek into the drawing-room and tell me who it is — [As DUNHAM goes out, the telephone rings. MRS. PRINGLE eyes it suspiciously.] . . . Now what? Hello! Who! Mr. Farnsworth! Mr. Oliver Farnsworth? No . . . He’s what? Instructed you to make his excuses! He had to leave for Boston at once on very important business — Oh! [She hangs up the receiver without completing the conversation and hits the telephone in a temper, then rises and paces back and forth in a rage.] How dare he! How dare he! The last moment like this! No regard for a hostess’s feelings! No regard for the efforts she goes to provide an evening’s enjoyment! And such a good dinner I planned — and he promised he would come — business! I don’t believe it! He didn’t want to exert himself — was afraid of freezing in the blizzard — as if he didn’t have half a dozen limousines to carry him to the door — selfishness — downright rudeness — and worth millions — just a match for you, Elaine — and I was bound you should meet him and sit next to him at the table [she tears up his card], and now I don’t know when I can give you a chance like that again! I’m perfectly furious — I’ll never speak to him again! I won’t be treated that way —

From “The Dinner Party”:

While Dunham went to answer the door, Mrs. Pringle snatched the receiver up to her ear. It was the secretary for Oliver Farnworth. Before the poor man could explain their cancelation, Mrs. Pringle hung up and flew into a rage. “HOW DARE HE!” she roared. “At the last moment! So inconsiderate of him! Everything’s ruined now! I will not be treated this way by anyone!” Then she turned on Elaine. “And how will I ever find a suitor for you now?”

A.
The short story focuses on more significant insights into why Mrs. Pringle is upset than the play.
B.
The wording and the length of the dialogue in the play paints a more vivid picture of Mrs. Pringle’s feelings than the text of the shorty story.
C.
The play tells more about what Dunham did when Mrs. Pringle got bad news than the short story.
D.
The short story includes details about Oliver Farnsworth’s reasons for canceling that the play does not.

Answer 1

Answer:

B.  The wording and the length of the dialogue in the play paints a more vivid picture of Mrs. Pringle’s feelings than the text of the shorty story.

Explanation:

In the given two excerpts about the same event but in different forms, the two has some differences in their presentation.

In the play version, the dialogue of Mrs. Pringle paints a more vivid picture of what or how she was feeling after Mr. Farnworth canceled their dinner plans. She expressed her utmost feelings and outbursts her anger. Whereas, the short story version merely presents a momentary feeling of anger and rejection.

Thus, the correct answer is option B.

Answer 2

Answer:

The wording and the length of the dialogue in the play paints a more vivid picture of Mrs. Pringle’s feelings than the text of the shorty story.

Explanation: