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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 is Segismundo doing at this time?

2. If he is returned to the tower, what will Clotaldo tell him?

3. What does person in the answer to question #74 express?

4. Of whom is Estrella the daughter?

5. What do Astolfo and Estrella each desire?

Short Essay Questions

1. Are Segismundo's actions surprising?

2. Why do you think it is important to Rosaura to retrieve her locket?

3. Explain Clotaldo actions in regard to Segismundo at the beginning of this act.

4. Why is Basilio talking about his skills as a master astrologer?

5. How does Basilio know the kind of ruler Segismundo would be?

6. What is Basilio's response to hearing about why Rosaura and Clarnn are brought before him in chains?

7. What is Segismundo doing in this first scene?

8. What are some of the ways Segismundo demonstrates his unsuitability for the throne?

9. Explain Basilio's response to Clotaldo's actions and how part of Basilio's statement is a theme of the play.

10. Do you believe Rosaura should demand justice from the man who essentially rules the Dukedom in which she lives, or should she chalk the situation up to experience and get on with her life, as is later suggested by Caltalfo.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In Act 3, Scene 2, Rosaura delivers a long soliloquy about her perceived dishonor at the hands of Astolfo. Many plays have one or more soliloquy's. Write a cohesive essay addressing the questions below using specific examples from the text and your personal life.

Define soliloquy and lists the times in this play when one occurs. List who is speaking, summarize the content of the soliloquy and how it adds to the plot. What do you think is the purpose of a soliloquy? Would you find them interesting or too non-active if you were watching this play? Rosaura's soliloquy is quite long. How do you think today's audience would react to hearing such a long speech? Do you think the audience of the time when this play was written would react differently?

Essay Topic 2

In Act 3, Scene 1, Soldiers arrive at the prison tower and ask Segismundo to lead them in a rebellion against the king and his declaration of Asolfo and Estrella as joint heirs to the throne. Answer one of the following in a well-written essay using detailed examples from the book or other sources.

1. How often do you think a king or queen is overthrown by one is his/her children? What do you think are some of the reasons that a child overthrows his/her parent off a throne?

2. Would you be willing to depose your parent from the throne? Under what circumstances?

3. If you were the younger son/daughter and the older child was to inherit the throne but you knew he or she would be a murderous, tyrannous ruler, what would you do? Would you go so far as to have that sibling murdered?

4. Do you think the throne should be passed to the oldest child or to the child most able to rule? How would a parent decide who is most able?

Essay Topic 3

When King Basilio enters in Act 1, Scene 2, one of the topics upon which he expounds is that of Astrology.

Write an essay answering the following questions:

1. Do you believe astrology is a valid way to plan one's day/life?

2. How often do you read your daily astrological prediction and would you alter your plans based upon the daily chart? Why or why not.

3. If astrology were proven to be true and accurate, do you believe you could change your fate as predicted by the stars? How would you do so?

4. If science proved astrology to absolutely false, would you still read your daily advice from the astrology column in the newspaper? Why or why not. If you do not read the astrology column, why not?

(see the answer keys)

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