Take this A Streetcar Named Desire Quiz! Average Trivia | Authors

Answer: Elysian Fields

Elysian Fields was the land of the dead in Greek mythology. Blanche's route is reflective of her life: she gave herself up to all kinds of desires, which caused her figurative death in her hometown. When she went to stay with Stella, she was in somewhat of an afterlife.

Answer: White woods

Blanche tells Mitch that since the translation of "Blanche DuBois" is "white woods", he can remember her by thinking about an orchard in the spring. This is an example of Blanche portraying herself to Mitch in a way that doesn't represent the way she actually is.

Answer: Sunday

Sunday is a day of purity and piety, which sharply contrast with the characteristics of Blanche. She is a woman of sin who considers herself unworthy to go out on a day reserved for spirituality. In the same conversation, Mitch also tells Blanche that he has never seen her in the light. This is purposeful on the part of Blanche as she does not want to reveal to him her true self.

Answer: "It's Only a Paper Moon"

While Stanley tells Stella about Blanche's past in Laurel and the things Blanche made up and embellished, Blanche sings the song "It's Only a Paper Moon". There is much irony in this because the song is about the world being phony and make-believe, just as Blanche's world is.

Answer: True

Blanche was fired from her job as a high school English teacher because she had a relationship with a student. The encounter between Blanche and the young collector also functions as a reminder to Blanche of her husband Allan Grey, who committed suicide.

Answer: Tony Award-Best Play

Jessica Tandy, along with two other actresses, won the Tony for Best Actress in 1948. The Best Play award, however, went to "Mister Roberts". The movie version of "A Streetcar Named Desire" was also very successful, winning four Academy Awards out of twelve nominations.

Answer: Jessica Tandy as Blanche DuBois

Jessica Tandy was passed over for the role of Blanche in favor of Vivien Leigh because Leigh was thought to have more box office appeal. Just as Jessica Tandy had been successful in winning the Tony for Best Actress, Vivien Leigh won her second Oscar for Best Actress for her portrayal of Blanche.

Answer: True

"A Streetcar Named Desire" was far from his last play. He had experienced much success with "The Glass Menagerie" and his popularity only grew after "A Streetcar Named Desire" opened three years later. He achieved a great deal of fame and earned a second Pulitzer Prize in 1955 for "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof".

Answer: Magic

In what can be interpreted as the theme quote of the book, Blanche tells Mitch "I don't want realism. I want magic! Yes, yes, magic! I try to give that to people. I misrepresent things to them. I don't tell the truth, I tell what ought to be the truth."

Answer: strangers

Blanche's last line in the play is said to the Doctor: "Whoever you are---I have always depended on the kindness of strangers." This line exemplifies Blanche's total disunion with reality. She perceives the Doctor as someone like Shep Huntleigh who is rescuing her, but in actuality he is not rescuing her, but taking her to a mental institution.