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This test consists of 15 multiple choice questions and 5 short answer questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Who does Becket say may have intercepted his letters and planned his demise?
(a) Greedy merchants.
(b) The King of France.
(c) Rebellious bishops.
(d) King Henry II.

2. When will the First Tempter remember Becket?
(a) At kissing time below the stairs.
(b) At night when the fires are lit.
(c) On ChristmasEve.
(d) On Christmas Day.

3. What does the First Priest believe was Becket's character flaw that ultimately brought an end to his friendship with the King?
(a) Self-loathing.
(b) Pride.
(c) Cowardliness.
(d) Laziness.

4. In what city of England does the story take place?
(a) Cambridge.
(b) Canterbury.
(c) York.
(d) London.

5. In what year does Murder in the Cathedral take place?
(a) 1710.
(b) 1170.
(c) 1077.
(d) 1070.

6. What group of people does the Chorus consist of?
(a) The Ghosts of Canterbury.
(b) The Hand of God.
(c) The Poor of Canterbury.
(d) The Women of Canturbury.

7. Who are the first two characters who speak of "the wheel" on separate occasions?
(a) The Third Priest and Thomas Becket.
(b) The First Priest and the Second Priest.
(c) The First Priest and the First Tempter.
(d) The Chorus and Thomas Becket.

8. What is one thing the Third Tempter and his party want from Beckett?
(a) Favor from the Church.
(b) The blessing of God.
(c) Money.
(d) Happiness for the People of England.

9. What important message does the Messenger convey to the Priests?
(a) The King has ordered the execution of Thomas Becket.
(b) The Archbishop has arrived at the city.
(c) The Archbishop has left France.
(d) The Pope has excommunicated the King

10. How does the structure of the dialogue change during Becket's first temptation?
(a) The play becomes one monologue.
(b) All of the characters other than Beckett fall silent.
(c) All of the characters speak in riddles.
(d) The First Tempter speaks in verse.

11. In Part One, where does the action of the play take place?
(a) The Archbishop's hall.
(b) The King's palace.
(c) The Cathedral.
(d) Outside the gates of the Cathedral.

12. According to the Third Tempter, what does friendship depend upon?
(a) Peace.
(b) Happiness.
(c) Circumstance.
(d) Time.

13. After the first scene featuring the three Priests, the Chorus speaks again. What do they wish the Archbishop to do?
(a) Turn the wheel.
(b) Return to France.
(c) Make peace with the King.
(d) Bless them.

14. What idea does the Fourth Tempter repeat that Beckett voiced on his first entrance?
(a) Action is suffering and suffering is action.
(b) Life is suffering and suffering is death.
(c) Suffering is life and life is action.
(d) Everything is suffering and suffering is everthing.

15. According to the Chorus, what does the Archbishop bring into Canterbury?
(a) War.
(b) Joy.
(c) Death.
(d) Wealth.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does the First Tempter predict for Becket if he does not "leave well alone?"

2. What is not one of the ways the Chorus, the priests and the Tempters describe an unexpected death?

3. What is it that the Second Tempter offers Becket?

4. Who does the Third Tempter represent?

5. What month does the Second Tempter say Beckett will have power?

(see the answer keys)

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