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9
The Media and U.S. Politics
 Multiple-Choice Questions
1. The Internet began as a(n) __________.
a. bet between two math professors

b. outgrowth of IBM’s interest in computers
c. military project in the 1960s
d. project by Google
Answer: c
Test Bank Item Title: TB_Q9.1.1
Topic: The Influence of the Media on Politics
Learning Objective: LO 9.1: Describe changes in the nature and extent of the
political influence of the various news media.
Page Reference: 271
Skill Level: Remember the Facts
Difficulty Level: Easy
2. In the last half century, ___________ have become a more important source of
information about candidates and issues.
a. newspapers
b. television news stories
c. television commercials
d. political mailings
Answer: c
Page Reference: 268
273
3. The average American watches approximately__________ hour(s) of television a

day.
a. one
b. three
c. five
d. six
Answer: c
Page Reference: 268
4. New York Tribune editor Whitelaw Reid saw __________ as the watchword of a
new breed of objective journalist in the early twentieth century.
a. independent journalism
b. yellow journalism
c. accurate writing
d. new journalism
Answer: a
Topic: The Changing Role of the U.S. News Media
Learning Objective: LO 9.2: Trace the evolution of the news media over the
course of U.S. history.
Page Reference: 273
5. As the print press media became less tied to political parties, candidates in the
1930s relied more on __________ to communicate personally with voters.
a. campaign flyers
b. radio
c. public speeches
d. door-to-door campaigning
Answer: b
274
Page Reference: 274
Skill Level: Understand the Concepts
6. The role media played in revealing the National Security Administration’s secret
surveillance operation is an example of __________ journalism.
a. new
b. investigatory
c. television
d. gonzo
Answer: b
Page Reference: 275
Difficulty Level: Moderate
7. The __________ is an independent regulatory agency charged with licensing

television and radio stations.
a. EPA
b. FDA
c. FCC
d. FED
Answer: c
Page Reference: 277
8. Fragmentation of the media audience has tended to __________.
a. counteract the impact of media conglomeration

b. increase the probability of media becoming more concentrated
275
c. create situations in which the media dictate what is right and wrong
d. make the audience less concerned with whether the information is true
Answer: a
Topic: The Media and Public Opinion
Learning Objective: LO 9.3: Evaluate the media’s influence on public opinion
and attention.
Page Reference: 282
9. How has television coverage of politics changed over time?
a. Television stations now devote more time to reporting on Congress.

b. Television stations now devote less time to reporting on elections.
c. Television coverage of politics has become increasingly liberal.
d. Television coverage of politics now focuses more on policymaking.
Answer: b
Page Reference: 268
10. Small groups of people who are asked questions about candidates and issues in a
discussion setting are known as __________.
a. task-oriented groups
b. buzz groups
c. issue groups
d. focus groups
Answer: d
Topic: The Media and Elections
Learning Objective: LO 9.4: Describe the media’s role in elections and the
associated problems and benefits.
Page Reference: 268
11. In which type of election is news coverage likely to be most influential?
276
a. a city council election
b. a House race
c. a Senate race
d. a presidential election
Answer: a
Page Reference: 283
Skill Level: Apply What You Know
Difficulty Level: Difficult
12. The network news is reporting that a prominent U.S. Senate race is very close,
with the polls showing that the incumbent leads the challenger by just two
percentage points. This is an example of what type of news coverage?
a. horse race coverage

b. yellow journalism
c. non-substantive
d. partisan-based
Answer: a
Page Reference: 287
13. The media’s power to set the agenda is limited by __________.
a. the audience and the nature of any particular issue

b. the fact that people rarely pay attention to media
c. rules set by the FCC
d. the 24/7 news cycle
Answer: a
and attention.
Page Reference: 279
277
Skill Level: Analyze It
14. Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting (FAIR) has as its mission to inform the
public of _________.
a. their role as media consumers

b. talk radio’s deleterious influence
c. bias in the media at large
d. high journalistic standards and where to find them
Answer: c
and attention.
Page Reference: 281
15. Which of the following depends least on the press for political support?
a. the Supreme Court

b. the executive branch
c. the Senate
d. the House of Representatives
Answer: a
Topic: The Media and Governance
Learning Objective: LO 9.5: Assess the media’s relationship to governance in
the United States.
Page Reference: 289 – 290
16. Internet piracy legislation has been proposed as a way to prevent __________
theft.
a. personal property
b. intellectual property
c. identity
d. patent
Answer: b
278
Page Reference: 283
17. The majority of Americans sees the press as __________.
a. biased toward a particular political party

b. more conservative than liberal
c. a watchdog over the government
d. unlikely to mold public opinion
Answer: c
the United States.
Page Reference: 290
18. What do most campaign consultants believe about negative campaigning?
a. that it is less effective than positive advertising

b. that it galvanizes the opposition
c. that it suppresses voter turnout
d. that it is effective
Answer: d
Page Reference: 287
19. More than any other invention, __________ has changed U.S. politics.
a. the printing press

b. Facebook
c. television
d. radio
279
Answer: c
Page Reference: 267
20. The decline in newspaper readership is especially pronounced among

__________.
a. young people
b. nonvoters
c. the elderly
d. Independent voters
Answer: a
Page Reference: 270
21. In the modern history of investigatory journalism, the code name that is
associated with Mark Felt is which of the following?
a. Tricky Dick
b. Carl Bernstein
c. Space Ghost
d. Deep Throat
Answer: d
Page Reference: 275
22. During the period between 1820 and 1830, newspapers began to shift their appeal
away from an upper-class, English-speaking readership to which demographic
group?
280
a. the carriage trade
b. the merchant class
c. common men and women
d. Abolitionists
Answer: c
Page Reference: 273
23. The __________ enabled newspapers to be more financially independent, moving

away from the financial support of political parties to profit from an expanded
circulation and advertising.
a. reliance on home delivery

b. yearly subscription fees
c. penny press
d. quarterly subscription fees
Answer: c
Page Reference: 273
24. When a gun owner does not agree with an editorial writer’s call for a ban on
assault rifles, it can be attributed, in part, to her __________.
a. regionalism
b. selective exposure
c. lack of education
d. selective perception
Answer: d
and attention.
281
Page Reference: 281
25. President Barrack Obama __________ because his campaign understood that
younger voters get most of their information and news this way.
a. participated in television debates

b. appeared on as many magazine covers as possible
c. reached out to voters via the Internet
d. wrote two memoirs
Answer: c
Page Reference: 272
26. What was the original motivation for the creation of the Internet?
a. to create a communications network that could survive a nuclear attack

b. to create new revenue sources for media conglomerates
c. to facilitate communication between government and citizens
d. to enable large scale social networking
Answer: a
Page Reference: 271
27. What is the top circulating U.S. newspaper?
a. USA Today
b. the Wall Street Journal
c. the New York Times
d. the Washington Post
Answer: b
282
Page Reference: 271
28. When politicians try to influence the “spin” the media give to their actions or
issues, they engage in which of these?
a. issue control
b. issue framing
c. media control
d. issue politicizing
Answer: b
and attention.
Page Reference: 280
29. When individuals perceive only what they want to in the media, it is known as
__________.
a. political association
b. political bias
c. selective perception
d. biased perception
Answer: c
and attention.
Page Reference: 281
30. The greatest amount of news coverage during political campaigns occurs in which
type of race?
a. state legislative
b. governor
283
c. presidential
d. congressional
Answer: c
Page Reference: 283
31. What impact did wire services have on the content of news?
a. They led to greater sensationalism in news coverage.

b. They led to greater emphasis on local news.
c. They further strengthened the trend toward objectivity.
d. They led to a decrease in coverage of elections.
Answer: c
Page Reference: 274
32. Many political and campaign events do not receive attention from the media
because news outlets do not consider them to be __________.
a. framed
b. newsworthy
c. opportunistic
d. transparent
Answer: b
Page Reference: 284
284
33. Because of 24/7 news cycles and on-the-spot reporting, many citizens feel their
elected leaders should make decisions in what manner?
a. intelligently
b. deliberately
c. instantly
d. collaboratively
Answer: c
the United States.
Page Reference: 288
34. George W. Bush’s decision to embed reporters in the Iraq War was an example of
an elected official __________ the news coverage.
a. manipulating
b. exposing
c. clarifying
d. repudiating
Answer: a
the United States.
Page Reference: 288
35. Unlike the Supreme Court or the president, what kind of news coverage is
Congress likely to receive?
a. sporadic
b. positive
c. negative
d. balanced
Answer: c
285
the United States.
Page Reference: 289
36. A minority reporter would be most likely to work at which of the following
outlets?
a. a local television station

b. a local newspaper
c. a national newspaper
d. a radio station
Answer: c
Page Reference: 276
37. Newsweek, CNN, Fox News, the New York Times, National Public Radio, and the
Daily Dish blog are all examples of what?
a. biased media
b. objective media
c. mass media
d. self-regulation
Answer: c
Page Reference: 266
38. Media outlets that tell people what is happening in the world, regardless of the
level of entertainment, are known as __________.
a. infotainment
b. objective journalism
c. news media
286
d. subjective journalism
Answer: c
Page Reference: 266
39. How do the majority of people sometimes feel about the quality of news received
via the Internet?
a. skeptical
b. reassured
c. disinterested
d. informed
Answer: a
Page Reference: 267
40. Rupert Murdoch’s ownership of numerous television stations, newspapers, and

other media companies is an example of __________.
a. the privatization of the news

b. pack journalism
c. media consolidation
d. media fragmentation
Answer: c
287
41. Before the advent of objective journalism in the early twentieth century,
__________ focused on exaggeration and sensationalism.
a. yellow journalism
b. party journalism
c. junk journalism
d. biased journalism
Answer: a
Page Reference: 273
42. The process by which individuals develop their political attitudes, values, and
beliefs is called __________.
a. political socialization
b. social development
c. cultural assimilation
d. peer influence
Answer: a
and attention.
Page Reference: 281
43. The FCC fined CBS in 2004 for what infamous television violation?
a. swearing at the Super Bowl half-time show

b. swearing at the World Series opening ceremony
c. nudity at the Super Bowl half-time show
d. nudity at the World Series opening ceremony
Answer: c
288
Page Reference: 277
44. Most U.S. news media are committed to __________.
a. expressing liberal viewpoints

b. being unbiased
c. expressing conservative viewpoints
d. providing international coverage
Answer: b
and attention.
Page Reference: 280
45. Some of those who object to free trade with China are drawing attention to
Chinese human rights abuses. This type of action is known as what?
a. socializing
b. issue framing
c. media bias
e. political socialization
Answer: b
and attention.
Page Reference: 280
46. The increasing use of television advertising has added to the __________ in
political campaigns.
a. drama
b. clout
c. costs
d. bias
Answer: c
289
Page Reference: 284
47. Image making in politics has resulted in an increased number of what?
a. journalists
b. CEOs
c. political contributions
d. media consultants
Answer: d
Page Reference: 286
48. What political actor is considered newsworthy in any public activity, regardless of
whether it has a political function?
a. the president
b. the Senate majority leader
c. the vice president
d. the Speaker of the House
Answer: a
the United States.
Page Reference: 288
49. What television network provides uninterrupted coverage of congressional

deliberations and presidential nominating conventions?
a. CNN
b. C-SPAN
290
c. MSNBC
d. CBS
Answer: b
Page Reference: 275
50. One concern raised by proposals to crack down on Internet piracy is that it might
__________.
a. limit people’s access to the Internet

b. lead to censorship
c. inadvertently cause the Internet to crash
d. accelerate media consolidation
Answer: b
Page Reference: 283
51. Which type of media, with its immediacy, visual imagery, and drama, has an
emotional impact that cuts across age groups, educational levels, social classes,
and races?
a. newspapers
b. newsmagazines
c. the Internet
d. television
Answer: d
291
52. Which of the following is true of network news programs on ABC, CBS, and
NBC?
a. Viewership has decreased dramatically since the late 1980s.

b. They have been surpassed by cable news in terms of viewership.
c. They are biased in a liberal direction.
d. They provide more comprehensive coverage than radio programs.
Answer: a
Page Reference: 268
53. In terms of media consumption, how does the United States differ from other
countries?
a. A higher percentage of Americans turn to the Internet for news.

b. A higher percentage of Americans rely on the radio for news and information.
c. A lower percentage of Americans pay attention to political news.
d. A lower percentage of Americans read newspapers.
Answer: a
Page Reference: 269
54. Recent FCC rulings have produced a trend in media __________.
a. independence
b. regulation
c. conglomeration
d. bias
Answer: c
292
Page Reference: 277
55. How did the penny press alter the content of news?
a. It led to more political coverage.

b. It led to an increase in human-interest stories.
c. It led to more objectivity in news coverage.
d. It led to more liberal news coverage.
Answer: b
Page Reference: 273
56. When did the era of “objective journalism” begin?
a. in the early 1800s

b. in the 1870s
c. in the early twentieth century
d. in the 1950s
Answer: c
Page Reference: 273
57. How has competition from cable news stations influenced broadcast news
coverage?
a. It has led broadcast news to boost its entertainment value.

b. It has led broadcast news to provide extended news coverage.
c. It has led broadcast news to adopt an ideological perspective.
d. It has led broadcast news to provide more objective news coverage.
293
Answer: a
Page Reference: 268
58. Using a photo op and a large gathering of supporters to convey a specific message
as to whom the candidate really is, the politician is creating which of these?
a. a social event
b. a campaign event
c. a television operation
d. a horse race
Answer: b
Page Reference: 284
59. On election day, __________ inform(s) the public about who voted and why they
voted the way they did.
a. media consultants
b. campaign events
c. exit polls
d. the horse race
Answer: c
Page Reference: 288
60. Outside of family, the media are one of the strongest factors in __________.
a. political socialization
294
b. objectivity
c. the horse race
d. selective perception
Answer: a
and attention.
Page Reference: 281
True-False Questions
61. Mass media by definition disseminate messages to a large audience for a profit.
Answer: TRUE
Page Reference: 266
62. President Obama used the presidential press conference more than any other
president.
Answer: FALSE
the United States.
Page Reference: 289
63. During the 1820s and 1830s, newspapers began shifting their appeal from the elite
toward the masses.
Answer: TRUE
295
Page Reference: 273
64. Exaggeration and sensationalism are often associated with yellow journalism.
Answer: TRUE
Page Reference: 273
65. U.S. public opinion is not influenced by the images and events covered by
television.
Answer: FALSE
and attention.
Page Reference: 278
66. Campaign advertising has recently taken on a much more positive tone with
regard to the opposing candidate.
Answer: FALSE
Page Reference: 287
67. Most Americans believe that the media are a valuable watchdog over government.
Answer: TRUE
296
the United States.
Page Reference: 290
68. Political campaigns no longer use radio to communicate with voters.
Answer: FALSE
Page Reference: 270
69. The growth of the Internet has led to fragmentation of media audiences.
Answer: TRUE
and attention.
Page Reference: 282
70. Selective perception is the process by which we pick our political attitudes,
values, and beliefs.
Answer: FALSE
and attention.
Page Reference: 281
71. Media consultants are playing an increasingly important role in political

campaigns.
Answer: TRUE
297
Page Reference: 286
72. Of the three branches of government, the executive branch depends least on the
press.
Answer: FALSE
the United States.
Page Reference: 289
73. The Internet and social media have become increasingly important largely
because they are easily accessible.
Answer: TRUE
Page Reference: 267
74. Politicians are friendly with the press in part because of the level of influence the
media have on the voting public.
Answer: TRUE
and attention.
Page Reference: 280
75. For a potential candidate, looking and sounding good on television are
increasingly important.
298
Answer: TRUE
Page Reference: 284
 Fill-in-the-Blank Questions
76. The television networks ABC, NBC, and CBS are known as __________.
Answer: the big three

Page Reference: 268
77. Party identification acts as a(n) __________ through which people view the
media.
Answer: filter
and attention.
Page Reference: 281
78. The nickname __________ was given to Ronald Reagan.
Answer: the “Great Communicator”

and attention.
Page Reference: 279
299
79. Before the ___________, all news that was reported was political.
Answer: penny press

Page Reference: 273
80. The primary responsibility of a(n) __________ is to provide a positive image of

the candidate and to reinforce negative images of the opponent.
Answer: media consultant

Page Reference: 286
81. __________ of types of media used in campaigns lessens the ability of any one
medium to influence election outcomes.
Answer: Diversification
Page Reference: 283
82. The Supreme Court does not allow the use of ___________ to cover oral
arguments.
Answer: television cameras

the United States.
300
83. Newspapers, the Internet, and radio are all examples of __________.
Answer: mass media

Page Reference: 266
84. The first newspapers in the early 1800s were run by __________.
Answer: political parties

Page Reference: 273
85. The commercial tradition of exaggeration and sensationalism in selling

newspapers is called __________.
Answer: yellow journalism

Page Reference: 273
86. All serious candidates today have ___________ to make their positions and
policies accessible to the electorate via the computer.
Answer: Web sites

Page Reference: 272
301
87. __________ held the largest number of press conferences of any president in U.S.
history.
Answer: Franklin D. Roosevelt

the United States.
Page Reference: 289
88. When Walter Mondale famously said that he would give up the right to veto any
law Congress sent him for media access, he was simply acknowledging the power
of __________ news during the 1970s and 1980s.
Answer: television
and attention.
Page Reference: 279
89. __________ often has far more impact on our opinions than the information or
views we get from an impersonal television program or newspaper article.
Answer: Peer pressure

and attention.
Page Reference: 281
90. Although the media insist that they pay attention to all candidates who have a
__________ to win, they also influence who gets such an opportunity.
Answer: chance
302
Page Reference: 284
 Short Answer Questions
91. What forms of media make up news media, and what has recently changed for
each of them?
Answer: An ideal response will:

1. Describe the different forms of news media including print media,
television, radio, and electronic media such as the Internet and social
media sites.
2. Explain how the print media have struggled to keep readership
numbers, while television and radio remain persistent in their reach to the
American public.
3. Discuss how the rapid growth of the Internet and social media sites has
greatly increased the ability of Americans to connect to each other in
addition to accessing news information quickly.

Page Reference: 266 – 268, 270 – 272
92. What is investigatory journalism, and what is its role in political reporting?

1. Explain that investigatory journalism is an outgrowth of the media’s
watchdog responsibility to expose corruption, wrongdoing, and
malfeasance by government and politicians.
2. Explain how investigatory reporting helps keep government
accountable to citizens, drawing upon specific examples such as the
Washington Post exposure of Watergate or the 60 Minutes report on the
torture of Iraqi prisoners at the Abu Ghraib prison.

303
Page Reference: 275
93. For many younger people, the era of the “big three” took place in the past.
Describe the new norm of 24/7 news and explain why it exists.

1. Explain the rise in news consumption.
2. List and describe the technologies that make such a cycle possible.

Page Reference: 268
94. Define and explain the role of agenda setting.

1. Define agenda setting as the media helping to determine what topics
will become the subject of public debate and legislation by drawing the
public’s attention to certain issues.
2. Note that while the media can help set the national agenda and spur
public discussion, they do not have absolute power and are limited by the
nature of the issues and the audience.

95. Explain the concept of yellow journalism. What type of new journalism did it give
rise to?

1. Explain that yellow journalism was a development in the newspaper
industry in the late nineteenth century that sought to appeal to new
304
immigrants and a mass population by relying on comics, color, and
sensationalism.
2. Discuss how the sensationalism of yellow journalism gave rise to
objective journalism, the sentiment that the media should be independent
and focus on facts, not exaggeration.

96. Explain campaign events. Why do political candidates stage these events, and
why do media sometimes choose not to cover them?

1. Define campaign events as scheduled events, such as press conferences
and interviews, that reinforce a candidate’s messages and public image.
2. Explain that candidates stage these events hoping to reach voters
through favorable media coverage.
3. Note that the media do not necessarily consider these events
newsworthy, or they believe they are too staged, and sometimes choose
not to cover them.

Page Reference: 284
97. What is media bias? In your opinion, is the media biased? Give concrete examples
and relate them to what you’ve learned.

1. Explain that media bias is the concern that the major media outlets
exhibit an ideological slant that affects the content of the news they
deliver.
2. Provide an argument as to whether or not the student thinks the media
exhibit bias, drawing upon specific examples such as the perceived bias of
Fox News, the New York Times, MSNBC, or AM talk radio.
3. Relate this argument and the accompanying examples back to the
discussion in the book.
305
and attention.
98. Explain audience fragmentation. Is it a good thing or not? What are some positive
and negative consequences of it?

1. Define audience fragmentation as the scattering of audiences across
multiple press outlets due to the growth of cable television and the Internet
and the subsequent specialization of the media content for those venues.
2. Make a clear argument for why fragmentation is or is not beneficial by
illustrating the benefits of fragmentation (diffuses the influence of the
media, works against the effects of conglomeration) versus the costs
(fragmentation and separation of audiences who cannot understand the
issues of others).

and attention.
Page Reference: 282
99. What does “personality over substance” mean as it pertains to political

candidates? Is there a case to be made that the media should cover candidates’
characters and personalities?

1. Explain that the media are criticized for focusing too much on a
candidate’s personality traits and background rather than on the substance
of issues and policy.
2. Explain that some people view character and personality as important
factors in their voting decisions, and they find the media’s focus
appropriate and even helpful.

306
Page Reference: 287
100. Explain issue framing, using one real-world example of an issue that can be
framed two different ways. In your opinion, is framing a good or bad thing? Why?

1. Define framing as the process by which the media creates a context for
a story that shapes the way the public thinks about it.
2. Using a real-world example, demonstrate how an issue can be framed
two different ways.
3. Provide a clear argument for why framing is either good (it helps shape
the dynamic of a discussion) or bad (it artificially constrains discussion
within a specific framework).

and attention.
Page Reference: 280
101. If you were a media consultant and your candidate had an “image problem,” what
would you do to fix it? Tie your ideas back to what you’ve learned.

1. Discuss generally that media consultants either try to make their
candidate look better or try to make the opposition candidate look worse
(or both).
2. Explain how the candidate could be coached on how to act and behave
on TV by using the results of focus groups and public opinion polls to
bring the candidate’s positions in line with what the public thinks is good.

102. Define and analyze the role of political socialization. What affect on politics does
it have?
307
1. Define political socialization as the education process by which citizens
acquire political beliefs, attitudes, and values.
2. Explain that while the media themselves are factors in the political
socialization process, our political beliefs and values provide a lens
through which we filter our perceptions of the media and the content they
deliver.
3. Illustrate the point by drawing upon the example in the text of how a
Republican from Arizona might see bias in the “liberal eastern networks”
(or some other relevant example).

and attention.
Page Reference: 281
103. Analyze the role of media consultants. Explain what contributed to their rise in
politics.

1. Explain that a media consultant is a campaign professional who
provides a candidate with advice and services regarding media relations,
advertising strategies, and opinion polling.
2. Explain that the rise of the consultant is in part attributed to the media’s
focus on a candidate’s personality and its highlighting of candidate gaffes.
It is also attributed to the need to reach a new mass audience and the
power of television as a political medium.

104. Explain what “horse race journalism” means and analyze its impact on political
campaign coverage.

1. Define horse race journalism as the media’s tendency to comment more
on who is ahead in the polls than on a candidate’s actual positions on
issues.
308
2. Explain how the obsession with “game,” or tactics and strategies of the
campaigns, that accompanies horse race journalism has the effect of
displacing the coverage of political issues.

Page Reference: 287
105. How has audience fragmentation affected broadcast media and newspapers?

1. Define audience fragmentation as the scattering of audiences across
multiple press outlets due to the growth of cable television and the
Internet.
2. Explain that due to audience fragmentation, the impact of the press has
become more diffuse and thus works to counteract the effects of media
conglomeration.
3. Note that this effect will be minimized as media conglomerates move to
both acquire cable stations and promote their own online Web sites.

and attention.
Page Reference: 282
 Essay Questions
106. What is media consolidation, and what role has it had in political reporting?

1. Define media conglomeration as the recent trend that multiple types of
media are owned by an increasingly limited number of corporations.
2. Discuss how the increase in the number of media outlets, due to the
Internet as well as cable and satellite TV, has increased the accessibility of
information.
309
3. Explain how conglomeration might actually constrict the amount of
information due to an echoing of the same information in different media
outlets.
4. Explain how the nationalization of the news media has led to the
creation of media news personalities, such as Sean Hannity, who have a
major influence due to their large presence on radio, TV, the Internet, and
in print books.
5. Provide a clear and concise conclusion.

107. What are two criticisms of mass media? Choose a political topic in the news
today. Drawing on the coverage of the topic and what you’ve learned, are these
criticisms justified, in your opinion?

1. Discuss two criticisms of mass media, which could include the media’s
role in framing issues for citizens, setting the agenda by helping to
determine what issues become subjects of popular debate and draft
legislation, and the worry about ideological bias (both liberal and
conservative) in the media.
2. Form an argument, using a topic currently being covered in the news
today, as to whether these criticisms are justified by giving a clear and
logical explanation with appropriate support.

and attention.
108. What are three factors that limit media influence on public opinion? Focus on one
or more of these factors and give an example of how they affected the media’s
influence on you.
310
1. Discuss three factors that limit media influence on public opinion,
which could include political socialization (our attitudes and beliefs
toward the media or specific media outlets), selectivity both in terms of
the media consumed and the information perceived, needs (why people
use media), and audience fragmentation (the diffusion of audiences across
multiple media venues).
2. Select one or two factors and provide an example of how they affected
the influence of the media on the student.

and attention.
109. Compare and contrast the political impact of radio communication with the
phenomenon of the Internet.

1. Note that even though the Internet seems to dominate, radio remains an
effective and widely utilized form of political communication.
2. Explain that these two forms of media both have the ability to reach
vast audiences and to target specific audiences for political
communication.
3. Discuss how the Internet provides a less expensive medium for political
communication and one that is more directly accessible for citizens when
it comes to searching for information.
4. Comment on how the dramatic rise of social media sites in the past
decade has increased the ability of specific political groups, e.g., African
Americans, to connect and for multiple forms of government, including
candidates, government agencies, elected politicians, and political
movements, to connect and share information.

Page Reference: 268, 271 – 272
311
110. Analyze how, over time, presidents have used the media to their benefit. Compare
and contrast two different presidents’ use of mass media.

1. Discuss how the mass media can serve as a political tool for presidents,
especially in keeping citizens informed.
2. Explain that as the nature of the media has changed, so has their utility
in advancing the political agendas of various presidents.
3. Note that the media provide the mechanism whereby presidents can
directly communicate their political agendas to the public and attempt to
sway public opinion in favor of their positions. For example, the student
might note how Roosevelt used the radio to have “fireside chats” with the
nation during the Great Depression and WWII.
4. Choose two presidents and compare and contrast their use of media. For
example, compare how Roosevelt and Obama both used the media to
connect directly with citizens but how the different media (radio versus
TV and social media) change the way that they mobilized the public.

312
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Relling. Credo che stia bene. Ho dovuto stare finora da Molvik che
più ubbriaco del solito, non voleva addormentarsi, temevo che non si
avesse a buttare....
Gina. Ma Erminio cosa dice?
Relling. Non dice nulla.
Edvige. Non ha mai parlato?
Relling. Da ieri non ha aperto bocca.
Greg. Lo capisco, è naturale.
Relling. Ora si è buttato sul divano per dormire un poco.
Edvige. Come può dormire lui? Io ho pianto tutta la notte.
Gina. Lui non sta mai fuori di notte.
Edvige. Forse, mamma, è un bene per lui dormire, non lo credi?
Gina. Speriamolo, per ora non lo voglio disturbare. (stende la mano
a Relling) Grazie, Relling, grazie. — Vieni, Edvige, andiamo a
mettere in ordine la casa.
(Edvige e Gina entrano da una porta di sinistra).
SCENA III.
Relling e Gregorio.
Greg. (a Relling) E lo stato morale di Erminio come va?

Relling. Non mi accorsi mai che soffrisse nel morale.
Greg. Non si prendono serie risoluzioni senza una seria ragione....
un uomo poi come Ekdal.
Relling. Lo credete dunque qualche cosa di straordinario?
Greg. Erminio ha avuto un’educazione....
Relling. Vi prego non parliamo, volete parlare delle sue due zie
isteriche e mezze matte?
Greg. Relling, io le conobbi e so che erano due angeli di donna; che
ad Erminio coltivarono sopratutto il cuore.... ma lei certe cose non le
comprende, ride su tutto.
Relling. Non sono disposto ora. Del resto io so che quelle due
pulzellone mi hanno fatto di Ekdal un uomo tutto rettorico, e che del
mondo non sa nulla. Erminio ha avuto una disgrazia, quella d’essere
stato sempre considerato dai suoi come un uomo superiore.
Greg. E non lo è forse? Il suo animo è nobile....
Relling. (interrompendo) Può essere, io non me ne sono mai
accorto. Che suo padre lo creda, passi, fu sempre un grande
ingenuo.
Greg. No, fu sempre un uomo buono.
Relling. Come vuole... quando Erminio Ekdal con fatiche e stenti,
riuscì ad essere studente, era già considerato fra i suoi camerati,
quale un genio del domani. Era un giovane bello ed attraente.
Bianco e rosso; uno di quei giovanetti che piacciono alle fanciulle
adolescenti, e poichè aveva l’animo facile alla commozione e la voce
insinuante e sapeva magnificamente declamare i versi e i pensieri
degli altri...
Greg. (con amarezza) Ma è proprio di Erminio Ekdal che lei parla?
Relling. (senza scomporsi) Sì, se lei me lo permette.... Ekdal è
malato, ed anche lei è malato.
Greg. Io?
Relling. Sicuro, è affetto da una esagerata febbre dell’onestà. Lei
poi, è sempre in caccia di un idolo da poter adorare, e non avendo
trovato nella sua famiglia, vicino a sè, l’uomo perfetto che sogna, lo
va, nuovo Diogene, cercando nelle case degli altri.
Greg. Pur troppo io vivevo in un ambiente viziato.
Relling. Ed ora se crede aver trovato in Ekdal la «mosca bianca» si
sbaglia, si sbaglia.... anche questo è un ambiente viziato, qui le sue
idee di perfezione non attecchiscono, creda a me, non
attecchiscono.
Greg. E allora, se ha di Erminio sì cattiva opinione, perchè continua
a vivere con lui?
Relling. Dio mio, io sono medico, non ho ammalati è ben giusto che
mi occupi della salute dei miei vicini.
Greg. Erminio dunque è ammalato?
Relling. Come tutti gli uomini.
Greg. E come lo cura?
Relling. Col mio solito metodo, lo illudo, maschero la vita reale.
Greg. Maschera la vita reale?
Relling. Sì, caro mio visionario, non si è felici che colla menzogna,
tutto è menzogna.
Greg. E qual è la menzogna che dovrebbe sostenere Erminio?
Relling. Questo poi non glielo dico. Lei è capace di far rovinare
tutta la mia opera. — Il mio metodo è infallibile e Molvik ne è una
prova. L’ho persuaso che il suo corpo rinserra uno spirito maligno
che lo trascina al male, e l’ho salvato, quell’uomo disprezzava tanto
sè stesso, che senza me a quest’ora da anni sarebbe sotto terra. —
Ma senza il mio metodo che sarebbe del vecchio luogotenente
Ekdal?
Greg. (stupito) Anche il vecchio Ekdal?
Relling. Sì, egli era infelice perchè non aveva più boschi, egli era
dominato da una idea terribile che lo avrebbe ucciso, temeva della
vendetta della foresta; ora questo intrepido cacciatore d’orsi si è
calmato, caccia in un solaio con una vecchia pistola galline e conigli,
con la stessa passione con cui cacciava i fagiani e le fiere, e i vecchi
e secchi alberi del Natale ora li ama più che non le annose piante del
suo caro bosco di Hördal. Ora non teme più la vendetta della foresta.
Greg. Anche quel povero vecchio dovette rinunciare ai suoi ideali
giovanili.
Relling. Ma, la prego, non ripeta questa parola: ideale, già è
sinonimo di menzogna.
Greg. E lei crede che si equivalgano?
Relling. Sì, come il tifo e la febbre perniciosa.
Greg. Dottor Relling, io non mi chiamerò contento che quando avrò
sottratto Erminio alla sua influenza.
Relling. Guai all’uomo che può mostrarsi a sè stesso nel suo vero
aspetto. (a Edvige che entra).
SCENA IV.
Edvige e detti.
Relling. Alza il visino, piccola madre dell’anitra selvatica, ora vado

a vedere se tuo padre riflette ancora sulla sua invenzione. (saluta
sorridendo Gregorio e parte)
Greg. (avvicinandosi a Edvige) Lei non ha ancora fatto quello che
aveva promesso?
Edvige. Lei intende parlare dell’anitra?... Cosa vuole, me ne manca
il coraggio. Ieri sera ero disposta a fare sì grande sacrificio,
stamane.... non lo posso stamane. Eppoi mi pare strano.
Greg. Anche lei dunque è cresciuta in troppo ristretto ambiente?
Edvige. (un poco seccata) Questo non c’entra ora.... Mi dica
piuttosto, tornerà, tornerà lui?
Greg. Lo desidera, e non ha il coraggio di richiamarlo con una prova
d’amore.... (avvicinandosi) Edvige, io la conosco, so che lei è
nobile.... spero che il coraggio verrà.... anzi ne sono certo, quasi
certissimo. (parte).
(Edvige resta pensierosa, poi come volendo cacciare
un brutto pensiero, si dirige verso la cucina, ma
sentendo battere al solaio, va ad aprire un battente, il
vecchio Ekdal entra ed Edvige richiude).
SCENA V.
Edvige e vecchio Ekdal poi Gina.
Ekdal. Mi annoia questo dovermene star solo stamane. (va vicino

alla stufa a riscaldarsi).
Edvige. E oggi non hai cacciato?
Ekdal. Il tempo non è adatto, è troppo scuro e non ci si vede.... eh?
Una volta cacciavo anche di notte. Mah!... (brontola tra sè parole
incomprensibili).
Edvige. Dimmi la verità, nonno, ti sei stancato di prendere di mira i
conigli?
Ekdal. No, no.... sono brave bestie.... e non è facile prenderle.
Edvige. (a bassa voce) E.... e l’anitra selvatica?
Ekdal. Povera piccina, temi forse che abbia a tirare sull’anitra? No,
no, sta tranquilla.... ho ancora l’occhio giusto e il polso sicuro.
Edvige. (non guardando il vecchio Ekdal) Capisco e poi, forse, ti
sarà troppo difficile.... il colpirla.
Ekdal. (sorpreso) Difficile?... Difficile a me?... Ma Edvige!....
Edvige. Dimmi, dunque, come faresti, se mai.... parlo così per
curiosità.
Ekdal. Cercherei di colpirla al petto, è il colpo più sicuro, ma
bisogna però tirare contro le penne, non nel verso delle piume....
Edvige. (stentata) E.... muore presto?
Ekdal. La morte è istantanea se il colpo è giusto. Ma lascia che
vada a vestirmi. (si avvicina sorridente a Edvige carezzandole il
volto) Oggi è la festa della mia nipotina e il nonno si veste in gran
gala.... ma che nonno? oggi io per te ridivento il luogotenente Ekdal.
(fa altre carezze ad Edvige e ritorna nella sua stanza borbottando:
«Il luogotenente.... il luogotenente....»)
Edvige. (guarda il vecchio Ekdal, che s’allontana, poi sta
pensierosa, si passa una mano sulla fronte mostrando di prendere
una grave risoluzione, quindi in punta di piedi va alla scansia in
fondo, ne apre un cassetto e prende la pistola, ma vedendo Gina
che viene dalla porta di sinistra lesta la ripone).
Gina. Non mettere a soqquadro le carte di Erminio.
Edvige. (avanzando) Volevo solamente ordinarle un poco.
SCENA VI.
Gina — Erminio e Edvige.
Gina. Edvige va in cucina e bada al caffè, voglio scendere a

portargliene una tazza, voglio parlargli.
(Edvige eseguisce, Gina prende una scopa che avrà
lasciato nell’altra stanza e scopa il laboratorio, dopo
breve pausa apre adagio adagio la porta di entrata ed
entra Erminio. Ha il paletot ed è senza cappello,
scarmigliato, ha l’aspetto di uomo stanco, accasciato).
Gina. (vedendolo resta un poco attonita, poi butta la scopa in un
angolo e fa due o tre passi verso lui) Ah! sei tu Erminio, sei arrivato
finalmente.
Erm. (con voce franca) Venni, ma per ripartirmene subito.
Gina. Sei padrone di fare quello che vuoi.... ma come ti sei
conciato!!... (Erminio sorride tristamente) Ed è l’abito nuovo che hai
ridotto così?
Edvige. (viene dalla cucina) Mamma, se vuoi andare.... (vede
Erminio, dà in un grido di gioia e corre a lui) Ah! Papà, papà.
Erm. (respingendola) No... stammi lontana, stammi lontana.... (non
volendo Edvige andarsene si rivolge a Gina) Dille dunque che se ne
vada.
Gina. (commossa) Edvige, va di là.... vuol parlare con me, si vede....
va di là Edvige.
(Edvige soffoca i singhiozzi, fissando Erminio,
obbedisce ed entra a sinistra).
Erm. (commosso va alla scansia e ne apre un cassetto) Voglio
prendere con me i miei libri.... (cercando) Ma dove sono?
Gina. Quali libri vuoi?
Erm. Le mie opere di scienza, i miei disegni.... la mia invenzione
insomma.
Gina. (cercando anch’essa) Sono quei quaderni con copertina
gialla?
Erm. (senza guardarla) Appunto.
Gina. (va alla tavola) Eccoli, sono questi? (Erminio se li prende e li
esamina) Dunque ci abbandoni?
Erm. (sempre scartabellando i libri) Avresti già dovuto
comprenderlo: (con forza) come posso io restare in questa casa....
ora che so tutto, che so chi sei.
Gina. Dio possa perdonarti il male che le tue parole mi fanno.
Erm. Provami che non sei quale si crede.
Gina. Sei tu che devi provarmi.
Erm. No.... dopo un passato come il tuo.
Gina. (con passione) Ma a tuo padre non pensi? Che ne sarà di lui?
Erm. So quale è il mio dovere. Me lo porto via con me; bisogna anzi
che trovi due stanze in città.... (fa per partire) Non sai se qualcuno
ha trovato il mio cappello sulle scale?
Gina. Perdesti il cappello?
Erm. Non lo so, ieri l’avevo e stamane.... non ho più la testa.... non
ho più la testa!
Gina. Erminio, dove sei stato questa notte con quegli scioperati?
Erm. E che so io, mi condussero per le birrerie e per le bettole, dove
si era assordati dalle grida, soffocati dal fumo, ma io era come un
automa, non mi ricordo più di nulla.
Gina. Erminio, tu sei malato.
(Erminio non le risponde, volge le spalle nel deporre i
libri sul tavolo, scorge la donazione di Werle che
nell’atto precedente egli ha stracciato, la mette da
parte vedendo Gina che sarà andata in cucina e torna
con un vassoio sul quale vi è una tazza di caffè con un
piatto di sandwich).
Gina. (posando il vassoio sul tavolo) Prendi una tazza di caffè, ne
hai bisogno; tu sei digiuno, manda giù un sandwich.
Erm. Non ne voglio. (prende i libri va verso la porta di sinistra dove è
entrata Edvige ed apre l’uscio, ma ritraendosi) Ancora lei....
Gina. Povera fanciulla non accasciarti.
(Edvige, tornando spaurita non osando guardare
Erminio, entra in scena. Erminio è sulla soglia
dell’uscio).
Erm. Ricordati Gina che per questi ultimi giorni che ho da restare in
questa casa non voglio essere molestato da persone che non mi
riguardano. (fa per entrare).
Edvige. (avvicinandosi a Gina con voce rotta dal pianto dice piano)
Mamma, allude forse a me?..
Gina. Sai, è di cattivo umore.... ma passerà, aspettami di là
(accenna alla cucina) non piangere mio angelo. (a Erminio) Non
andare di là, se hai bisogno di qualcosa dillo a me. (a Edvige) Va va
pure.
Edvige. (piangente s’avvia verso la cucina, ma poi è colpita da
un’idea, e a voce rauca) L’anitra, il sacrificio! (vedendo che Gina ed
Erminio non si accorgono della sua presenza, striscia piano piano
fino alla scansia, ne prende la pistola e senza far rumore apre un
battente del solaio, entra e richiude, non ermeticamente però).
Erm. (che non si è accorto di nulla mentre ha luogo l’azione di
Edvige dice a Gina) Spicciati, dunque, e dammi solo la borsa nera.
Gina. (entra e ritorna subito con una borsa) Ma questa non ti può
bastare?
Erm. (non risponde, rimette i suoi libri e altri oggetti che prende dalla
scrivania. Poi si leva il pastrano e lo butta sopra una sedia).
Gina. Bada il caffè ti si raffredda.
Erm. Sì, ne ho bisogno. (beve il caffè)
Gina. E come farai a trovare un solaio atto a contenere i conigli?
Ehm. Non intendo già trascinarmeli dietro...
Gina. Ma il vecchio ora senza i suoi conigli non può vivere.
Erm. Ci si avvezzerà, anche io dovrò rinunciare a tutto.
Gina (che si è avvicinata alla scansia) Vuoi anche il flauto?
Erm. No, è una distrazione inutile, dammi la pistola invece.
Gina. (spaventata) E per che farne?
Erm. Sta tranquilla non intendo uccidermi, la mia pistola e fa adagio
che è carica.
Gina. (cercando) Ma non l’avrà portata in solaio il nonno?
Erm. (con un sospiro) Povero vecchio. (mangia un sandwich e
finisce dì bere la tazza di caffè)
Gina. Se la stanza non fosse stata affittata....
Erm. (pronto) Restare presso di te?... Mai.
Gina. (con voce supplichevole) Erminio, per qualche giorno ancora!
Erm. No.
Gina. Se non vuoi restare in casa abita da Relling o da Molvik
purchè si possa sapere che sei vicino a noi.
Erm. (prendendo un altro sandwich) No... sono troppo viziosi...
(cerca sul vassoio)
Gina. Cosa cerchi?
Erm. Nulla, del burro.
Gina. (corre in cucina) Vado a prenderlo.
Erm. (gli grida) È inutile, è inutile, (tra sè) D’ora innanzi spesso avrò
da mangiare pane asciutto.
Gina. (rientra portando un pezzo di burro, gli versa un’altra tazza di
caffè, Erminio si siede sul divano e mangia in silenzio)
Erm. (guardandosi attorno) Quanto starei ancora volontieri in questa
stanza.
Gina. (ansiosa) E non sei padrone Erminio? Edvige e io non ci
muoveremo mai di camera nostra se tu lo comandi.
Erm. È impossibile... Eppoi in un giorno non posso portare via tutto.
Gina. Con questa neve che cade, poi. — E come farai a dire al
nonno che voi ci lasciate?
Erm. (pensieroso) Mah... Povero vecchio, povero vecchio. (vede la
donazione) Sempre questa carta sotto gli occhi.
Gina. Io non l’ho toccata, io non voglio trarne profitto.
Erm. Rispondi, rispondi, perchè non abbiate un giorno a dire che io
vi ho rovinate.
Gina. (prendendo la carta) Come vuoi... Ma per me se la vuoi
stracciare...
Erm. (come parlando tra sè) E poi non è cosa mia... è di mio padre...
Se vorrà fruirne...
Gina. (sorpresa) Povero vecchio, quanto ha da soffrire!...
Erm. Metti via quella carta, metti via quella carta. (Gina mette in
tasca la donazione)
SCENA VII.
Detti e Gregorio.
Greg. (entra e rimane meravigliato di vedere Erminio) Tu sei seduto

qui? E hai anche fatto colazione?
Erm. (alzandosi in fretta) Che vuoi, la stanchezza mi ha vinto.
Greg. Che decisione hai preso dunque?
Erm. Un uomo come me non può seguire che una strada... Fuggo
da questa casa. Vi tornerò per prendere i miei libri!...
Gina. (non guardando Gregorio) Allora farò la tua valigia.
Erm. Sì....
(Gina prende la borsa nera ed entra nella stanza a
sinistra, breve pausa, Erminio cammina per la stanza,
Gregorio lo segue cogli occhi).
Greg. Non avrei mai creduto che avesse a finire così! Dunque tu vai
via di casa?
Erm. (sempre camminando) Sì, che vuoi? Io non sono un’anima
grande che comprenda la nobiltà del perdono, io non posso vivere
con... con persone che ad ogni ora, ad ogni minuto mi ricordano il
mio disonore.
Greg. Erminio, prova, almeno il perdono, tu l’hai detto nobilita, e tu
che ora sai tutto, devi perdonare e vivere, vivere per la tua
invenzione.
Erm. Non mi parlare di invenzioni, cosa vuoi che inventi? Quello che
ieri mi pareva facile ora lo trovo impossibile... La mia opera però è
distrutta. Cosa vuoi che inventi?...
Greg. Distruggi dunque il lavoro continuo di tanti anni?
Erm. Sì, tutto, tutto... Relling mi aveva illuso ma ora mi sono destato.
Greg. Relling?
Erm. Sì, egli mi parlava sempre del mio talento, mi incitava a
lavorare, e io studiavo, studiavo... Ah! Come ero felice, come ero
felice allora!
Greg. (turbato) Eri felice?...
Erm. Sì... Molto, e sapevo che la mia Edvige alla mia invenzione ci
credeva, sapevo che lei mi riguardava come un genio... Era dunque
tutta una finzione?
Greg. Puoi solo supporre che Edvige abbia finto con te?
Erm. Oramai credo a tutto... (prendendolo per un braccio) Non
sapevi che Edvige, la mia Edvige d’ieri, oggi è d’imbarazzo, essa
sarà sempre il punto nero della mia vita?
Greg. Edvige? Tu parli così di Edvige?
Erm. E l’ho amata tanto quella fanciulla! Era la mia adorazione,
vivevo per lei. Le sue carezze mi empivano di gioia, mi facevano
bella questa modestissima dimora; ero beato quando lei mi fissava
con i suoi occhioni. Pazzo, pazzo, mi immaginavo che ella avesse
per me dell’adorazione, sì dell’adorazione.
Greg. Tu lo immaginavi?... Così dici?...
Erm. Posso forse esserne sicuro?... Chi me lo può provare?... A chi
debbo rivolgermi, a Gina forse?... Gregorio, tu devi sapere tutto ciò,
dubito che Gina non mi abbia mai amato.
Greg. Non lo supporre nemmeno.... (viene interrotto da un rumore
che s’ode sul solaio) Che c’è? È l’anitra selvatica?...
Erm. Mio padre deve essere sul solaio.
Greg. (contento) Erminio, tu vuoi una prova dell’amore di Edvige?
Erm. Che prova vuoi darmi? Che prova che possa farmi sicuro?...
(svolta a destra)
Greg. Edvige non finse mai con te.
Erm. È ciò che voglio veramente sapere. Ella crebbe tra Gina e la
Sorbi, chissà con quali idee l’educarono.... Eppoi la lettera di
donazione non può essere capitata così improvvisa.... Non è
naturale.
Greg. Tu vuoi trovare il pelo nell’uovo.
Erm. Dacchè mi è caduta la benda dagli occhi, io vedo tutto,
osservo tutto; ora capisco perchè la Sorbi si mostrò sempre tanto
premurosa per Edvige.... Chissà, forse aveva già combinato, col
vecchio di prendersela.
Greg. Vuoi che Edvige ti abbandoni?
Erm. Caro mio, la ricchezza è una calamita potente.... E io che l’ho
amata tanto.... Nessun padre fu più amoroso di me, eppure fui
tradito, vigliaccamente tradito, forse ella finse, non ebbe mai
affezione per me, aspettava il giorno per lasciarmi.
Greg. Erminio, tu parli da insensato.
Erm. Provami il contrario, caro Gregorio, tu sei un visionario,
neanche per un pugno d’oro mi dimenticherò, non dubitare, mi
dimenticherò...
Greg. (interrompendolo) Ne sei certo?
Erm. Sì, certo, certo (ridendo sardonicamente) Come sono certo che
se le domandassi il sacrificio della sua vita lei mi.... (un colpo di
pistola rimbomba sul solaio).
Greg. (con gioia) Erminio, eccoti la prova....
Erm. (spaventato) Mio padre uccise dunque?
Gina. (entrando spaventata) Che è successo?
Erm. (avvicinandosi verso il solaio) Lasciami andare a vedere....
Greg. (commosso) Erminio ora sarai contento, questa era la prova.
Erm. Di che?
Greg. Il sacrificio di una fanciulla; ti sacrificò ciò che più aveva di
caro, fece uccidere l’anitra.
Gina. La uccise? (Erminio resta stupito).
Greg. Lo fece per riacquistarti, non poteva vivere senza te.
Erm. (commosso) Povero angelo mio....
Gina. (piangendo) Erminio, Erminio, ti commovi ora?....
Erm. Dov’è, dov’è.... Edvige, Edvige!
Gina. Sarà in cucina, la vado a chiamare.
Erm. No, tocca a me. (entra in cucina e ne esce subito) Non c’è....
(Gina cerca inutilmente nelle altre stanze).
Gina. Non può essere uscita.
Erm. Ora sono guarito, ma cercatela, ma cercatela....
(Il vecchio Ekdal esce dalla sua camera in grande
uniforme di luogotenente di fanteria, con sciabola al
fianco).
Erm. (spaventato) Tu qui, papà, tu qui?...
Ekdal. (arrabbiato) Bravo, tu vai da solo, eh, a cacciare?...
Erm. (con ansia) Non eri tu che hai tirato?
Ekdal. Io?... Sei pazzo.
Greg. (a Erminio) Fu lei stessa... Il sacrificio è completo.
Erm. (c. s.) Che vuol dir ciò? (corre al solaio, ne apre i battenti ed
entra) Edvige, mia Edvige!
Gina. (correndo anch’essa al solaio) Mio dio! Mio dio! Non
risponde....
Greg. (spaventato) In terra? (corre al solaio).
Erm. (in preda a grande spavento) È stesa in terra.
Gina. (respinge tutti ed entra nel solaio) Edvige. (con un urlo) Ah!
(Erminio la segue).
Ekdal. E che? Anche lei si mette a cacciare? (si dirige verso il
solaio: Erminio, Gina e Gregorio trasportano Edvige che ha una
mano penzoloni con una pistola in pugno, con un urlo) Edvige,
Edvige!...
Erm. (fuori di sè) È morta, è morta!... Aiuto! Aiuto!
Gina. (correndo sull’uscio di entrata) Relling! Relling!... (Erminio e
Gregorio distendono Edvige sul divano, Gina si inginocchia davanti a
lei)
Ekdal. (in preda a grande turbamento, con voce rauca) È la
foresta.... La foresta che si è vendicata. (va al divano e si
inginocchia)
SCENA VIII.
Relling, Molvik e Detti.
Relling. (viene da casa seguito da Molvik) Che c’è, che è

successo?...
Gina. La mia Edvige.... è morta.... Crediamo (con urlo) Una
disgrazia.... È morta.
Erm. (prendendo Relling per un braccio) Vieni, salvala, salvala, se lo
puoi.
Relling. (mette da una parte il tavolo ed esamina il corpo di Edvige,
breve pausa, tutti piangono, il vecchio Ekdal fissa terribilmente
Relling) Coraggio, la vostra Edvige non è più..
Erm. (inginocchiandosi) Ed è per me, ed è per me. (singhiozza).
Relling. Ma come avvenne ciò?
Erm. Voleva uccidere l’anitra selvatica....
Gina. E... il colpo forse ferì lei....
Relling. (pensieroso guardando Gregorio) L’anitra selvatica?
Ekdal. (si alza e va nel fondo della scena, dominando tutti con il suo
sguardo) È la foresta, è la foresta che si è vendicata.
Erm. Dunque è morta?
Relling. La palla le è penetrata nel cuore, ora è nel buio eterno.
Greg. (piano a Relling) No, nella beatitudine eterna.
Relling. (alza le spalle senza rispondergli).
Erm. Se tu puoi renderle la vita, per un momento solo, per dirle che
l’amo.... No, no... (stringendo i pugni) Ma se è vero che una potenza
vi è lassù, come può permettere ciò?
Gina. Erminio, ella era un angelo, noi non eravamo degni di averla.
(Molvik è presso al divano e prega).
Relling. (tenta levargli la pistola) Non si può.... La porterà nella
tomba. Ora piuttosto portatela nel suo letto.
Gina. Tocca a noi Erminio, non ad altri.
(Erminio e Gina prendono Edvige e la portano nella
stanza di Erminio).
Molvik. (benedicendo il cadavere) Polvere eri, e polvere ritornasti.
(incrocia le mani sul petto e segue il cadavere).
(Gregorio si avvicina a Relling, durante il loro colloquio
il vecchio Ekdal li fissa agitato, commosso — il dialogo
tra Relling e Gregorio deve essere detto in brevissimo
tempo).
Relling. (a Gregorio) Quello non fu un colpo accidentale....
Greg. (commosso) Sarebbe a dire?
Relling. Ha puntato la pistola al petto.... È un suicidio non una
disgrazia.
Greg. (commosso) Osservò la nobiltà di cuore di Erminio?
Relling. Davanti alla morte tutti diventano tali.... In poco tempo non
si ricorderà più di lei.
Greg. E che, Erminio?...
Relling. Non parliamone ora.
Greg. (colpito da un’idea) Relling.... Temo d’avere questo torto.... La
vita non vale nulla.
Relling. Varrebbe ancora qualche cosa se voi vi rinunciaste e ci
lasciaste in pace. — Ma andiamo da loro. (via)
Ekdal. (va dalla parte ove uscirono Relling e Gregorio, è commosso
e pallido) Edvige, Edvige.... (con voce terribile) È la foresta, è la
foresta che si è vendicata, (va vacillando verso il solaio).
FINE
Nota del Trascrittore
Ortografia e punteggiatura originali sono state

mantenute, correggendo senza annotazione minimi
errori tipografici.
Copertina creata dal trascrittore e posta nel pubblico
dominio.
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Elections and Updates Edition 25th

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American Government and Politics Today 2013-2014

1. The Internet began as a(n) __________.

a. bet between two math professors

3. The average American watches approximately__________ hour(s) of television a

7. The __________ is an independent regulatory agency charged with licensing

8. Fragmentation of the media audience has tended to __________.

a. counteract the impact of media conglomeration

9. How has television coverage of politics changed over time?

a. Television stations now devote more time to reporting on Congress.

11. In which type of election is news coverage likely to be most influential?

a. horse race coverage

13. The media’s power to set the agenda is limited by __________.

a. the audience and the nature of any particular issue

a. their role as media consumers

a. the Supreme Court

17. The majority of Americans sees the press as __________.

a. biased toward a particular political party

18. What do most campaign consultants believe about negative campaigning?

a. that it is less effective than positive advertising

a. the printing press

20. The decline in newspaper readership is especially pronounced among

23. The __________ enabled newspapers to be more financially independent, moving

a. reliance on home delivery

a. participated in television debates

a. to create a communications network that could survive a nuclear attack

27. What is the top circulating U.S. newspaper?

a. They led to greater sensationalism in news coverage.

a. a local television station

40. Rupert Murdoch’s ownership of numerous television stations, newspapers, and

a. the privatization of the news

a. swearing at the Super Bowl half-time show

44. Most U.S. news media are committed to __________.

a. expressing liberal viewpoints

47. Image making in politics has resulted in an increased number of what?

49. What television network provides uninterrupted coverage of congressional

a. limit people’s access to the Internet

a. Viewership has decreased dramatically since the late 1980s.

a. A higher percentage of Americans turn to the Internet for news.

54. Recent FCC rulings have produced a trend in media __________.

a. It led to more political coverage.

56. When did the era of “objective journalism” begin?

a. in the early 1800s

a. It has led broadcast news to boost its entertainment value.

68. Political campaigns no longer use radio to communicate with voters.

71. Media consultants are playing an increasingly important role in political

Answer: the big three

78. The nickname __________ was given to Ronald Reagan.

Answer: the “Great Communicator”

Answer: penny press

80. The primary responsibility of a(n) __________ is to provide a positive image of

Answer: media consultant

Answer: television cameras

Answer: mass media

Answer: political parties