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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What words are whispered at the beginning of the play?

2. Where does Salieri say he was born?

3. How does Salieri finally realize the extent of Mozart's talent?

4. What is Rosenberg's opinion of prodigies?

5. What quality does Salieri say he requires in a wife?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is the significance of the golden light that bathes the Emperor and his court?

2. In what way does Salieri believe God is torturing him?

3. In what way does Salieri claim to be different from his parents?

4. In what way does Mozart manage to insult Count Orsini-Rosenberg?

5. Why does Salieri rush out into the street on hearing Mozart's music?

6. What strategy does Salieri use in his attempt to seduce Constanze?

7. What is striking about Salieri's description of the Adagio from the Serenade for Thirteen Wind Instruments (K. 361)?

8. For what reason might the scene in the Baroness's library be considered ironic?

9. Comment on the conflict in this library scene.

10. What is Van Swieten's attitude to Salieri at this point in the play?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

'The real tragedy is Salieri's. He kills nothing but his own soul.' Do you agree?

Essay Topic 2

'Salieri is almost an archetypal hypocrite.' What is a hypocrite and does Salieri qualify for this label? Who else in Amadeus can be described as a Hypocrite? How does the behavior of such individuals affect others? Respond with close reference to the play.

Essay Topic 3

'Amadeus is a tale of the naive artist pitted against a social machine he is entirely unaware of.' Discuss with close reference to the play.

(see the answer keys)

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