All My Sons

Question 1

How does Keller describe the cylinder cracks?

Answer 1

“A fine, hairline crack.”

Question 2

What’s Keller’s message to Ann regarding his father’s regrettable mischief?

Answer 2

“That’s a mistake, but it ain’t murder. You mustn’t feel that way about him. You understand me? It ain’t right.”

Question 3

What does Ann say to Chris regarding his relationship with his parents?

Answer 3

“You’re the only one I know who loves his parents.”

Question 4

Point out an instance where Ann expresses her sincere sadness about what Keller has done.

Answer 4

“[with a sudden touch of sadness] It’s alright. It’s a good thing.”

Question 5

Point out an evidence of Keller’s dependence on Kate.

Answer 5

“Joe, you’re doing the same thing again. All your life whenever there’s trouble you yell at me and you think that settles it.”

Question 6

Point out an evidence that Kate is also accountable for Keller’s wrongdoing.

Answer 6

“You wanted money so I made money, so I made money. What must I be forgiven?”

Question 7

Point out an evidence that his love for family has led to Keller’s expedient act.

Answer 7

“I could live on a quarter a day myself, but I got a family so I-“

Question 8

What is Keller’s unrealistic expectation on Chris?

Answer 8

“There’s nothing he could do that I wouldn’t forgive. Because he’s my son. Because I’m his father and he’s my son.”

Question 9

What is Keller’s final ultimatum regarding the values of family?

Answer 9

“Nothing’s bigger than that. And you’re going to tell him, you understand? I’m his father and he’s my son, and if there’s something bigger than that I’ll put a bullet in my head!”

Question 10

What does Kate say regarding her familiarity with Chris?

Answer 10

“I’m beginning to think we don’t really know him. They say in the war he was such a killer. Here he was always afraid of mice. I don’t know him.”

Question 11

Quote an evidence of Chris’s admiration of Keller’s accomplishments.

Answer 11

“Oh Annie, Annie…I’m going to make a fortune for you!”

Question 12

Quote an evidence that Chris feels guilty to marry Ann in his house.

Answer 12

“I’m embarrassing you. I didn’t want to tell it to you here. I wanted some place we’d never been, a place where we’d be brand new to each other… You feel it’s wrong here, don’t you? This yard, this chair?”

Question 13

What does Keller say that reflects the spirit of business during post-war America?

Answer 13

“Cut-throat competition”

Question 14

What does Keller say to Ann about George’s career?

Answer 14

“I’m very friendly with some big lawyers in town. I could set George up here.”

Question 15

What does Keller say to Ann about her father when he leaves the prison?

Answer 15

“Dad, Joe wants to bring you into the business when you get out.”

Question 16

How is George introduced to the audience?

Answer 16

“George is Chris’s age, but a paler man, on the edge of his self-restraint.”

Question 17

What is George’s opinion about ethics in American society?

Answer 17

“When I was studying in the hospital it seemed sensible, but outside there doesn’t seem to be much of a law.”

Question 18

What does George say about Chris that perhaps bears some truth?

Answer 18

“The court didn’t know your father! But you know him. You know in the heart Joe did it.”

Question 19

How does George convince Ann that Chris is lying about his father’s innocence?

Answer 19

“How can he tell you? It’s his father.”

Question 20

What does George say that threatens Chris’s image of an infallible father?

Answer 20

“Let me go up and talk to your father. In ten minutes you’ll have the answer. Or are you afraid of the answer?”

Question 21

What does Kate say to George to remind him of their past?

Answer 21

“None of us changed, Georgie.”

Question 22

How does Kate suppress George’s anger with the family?

Answer 22

“Why should he argue? Georgie and U.S. Have no argument. How can we have an argument, Georgie?”

Question 23

What does George say about Kate’s impact on the situation which is at first about to burst into conflict?

Answer 23

“(Looks around longingly; and softly, with a catch in his throat) She makes it seem so nice around here.”

Question 24

How does Kate exert her matriarchal command on George?

Answer 24

“Why must you make believe you hate us? Is that another principle? -that you have to hate us? You don’t hate us, George. I know you, you can’t fool me, I diapered you.”

Question 25

What is Kate’s irrevocable slip that leads to The revelation of Keller’s culpability?

Answer 25

“He hasn’t been laid up in fifteen years.”
“Except my flu during the war.”
“Huhh?”

Question 26

What does Keller say that betrays his tacit contract with Kate?

Answer 26

“(cruelly) I got plenty to say. Three and a half years you been talking like a maniac-“

Mother: smashes him across the face.

Question 27

What is Keller’s description of business during wartime?

Answer 27

“It was a madhouse.”