View a FREE sample

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

Short Answer Questions

1. What does Rosaura reply to Clotaldo's question about the item in #26?

2. What do Rosaura and her companion hear?

3. What is likely to be Segismundo's performance as a king?

4. Who comes onto the scene and what does he do?

5. What do Segismundo's guards wear?

Short Essay Questions

1. Estrella claims to be the legitimate heir to the throne based upon her being the firstborn of the elder sister; whereas, Astolfo claims the throne based on the fact of his gender. Do you believe one claim has more legitimacy than the other?

2. How do Estrella and Astolfo act when the Basilio appears?

3. What is Basilio's decision regarding who the heir is to the throne?

4. Of course, this type of scenario is quite unlikely to occur in one's experience today; however, what do you imagine you would think of finding a man in the state in which Segismundo is and how do you think you would respond?

5. What does Segismundo do upon hearing Rosaura's pleas for mercy?

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

7. Why do you think Astolfo praises Estrella's physical beauty?

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

9. What is Estrella's response to Astolfo's protestations of love and desire for marriage?

10. What is Segismundo doing in this first scene?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Choose one of the three options below and write an essay using details and examples from the play:

1. Almost all fiction contains some form of the idea of good versus evil. Take three characters and explain why they are good, evil, or a mixture and provide examples from the book

2. How would the story have changed if Clotaldo had revealed himself as Rosaura's father at the very beginning of the play? Take two scenes where Clotaldo and Rosaura appear and rewrite them as if Rosaura knows Clotaldo is her father.

3. Most fiction contains some examples of foreshadowing. Carefully re-read the play and list five places you believe foreshadow a future event in the play. Give details and explain why you chose each instance.

Essay Topic 2

In Act 2, Scene 1, Segismundo has been transported to the palace while unconscious from the administration of a narcotic. When Estrella arrives, Segismundo attempts to get close enough to her to rape her. In the process, Segismundo flings a servant who is protecting Estrella to his death. Write an essay answering the following questions:

1. Should Segismundo be held accountable for killing the servant? Why or why not?

2. In centuries past, servants were considered less important, and hence less valuable than nobles. Is this an acceptable attitude? Why or why not?

3. Segismundo is only verbally admonished for killing another human being. What would you have ordered to have happened to Segismundo for killing another human being?

4. What would be fair compensation to the servant's family for his death? Explain your answer.

5. Along this same lines, at the end of the play, Segismundo orders a soldier who assisted Segismundo's victory on the battlefield to be cast into prison for the rest of his life for speaking up to his "betters," i.e., the king. History is replete with examples of commoners (and very often nobles) being killed at the whim of the sovereign ruler. Discuss the idea of one person being able to legally decide without trial or any kind of legal recourse, the fate of another. Is this fair?

Essay Topic 3

Act 2, Scene One offers some complex themes and behaviors that are worth examining. One interesting idea is the differences and similarities among three of the men who appear in this scene. Answer the following questions thoroughly using detailed examples from Act 2, Scene 1, and any other examples from the rest of the play.

1. Compare and contrast the attitudes and behaviors of Astolfo, Segismundo, and Clotaldo towards women.

2. What are the similarities among the three? The differences?

3. Who do you think would be most likely to actually rape Estrella at this point in the play? What about in other scenes?

4. At the beginning of the play, how likely is it that Segismundo will rape a woman? By the end of the play how likely? Explain your response.

5. What do you think is the difference between how Clotaldo treated Violente, Astolfo treated Rosaura, and what Segismundo wants to do first to Estrella and then to Rosaura?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,255 words (approx. 5 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample