The American Dream
by Edward Albee

This study guide accompanies Edward Albee’s absurdist one-act play, which satirizes conformity, materialism, and
the emptiness of the idealized ‘American Dream’ through a darkly comic family drama. Students will explore the
play’s biting dialogue, its surreal central allegory told by Grandma, and its critique of mid-century American values.
Questions are organized by the play’s five main sections and range from factual recall to deeper critical analysis.
This study guide contains 65 questions across 5 chapter sections (50 Factual + 15 Critical), 1 Crossword Puzzle (12
clues), and 1 Character Focus Activity.
What’s Included:
This study guide features 5 sets of 10 Factual Questions (50 total), 5 sets of 3 Critical Analysis Questions (15 total),
1 Crossword Puzzle (12 clues), and 1 Character Focus Activity (8 traits + evidence prompt + critical thinking
question).