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 is likely to be Clotaldo's true feelings when he pronounces Astolfo as vile?

2. Where is the setting when this scene opens?

3. What is the dominant tension in this scene?

4. When Rosaura speaks at length about honor, how does Clotaldo respond?

5. Who arrives on the scene?

Short Essay Questions

1. Does it seem odd that Clarnn is cast into prison even though several servants assisted the process of getting Segismundo back to the prison tower?

2. What foreshadows a possible positive ending to what could be a bloody civil war?

3. Why has Clotaldo returned to the palace in such haste?

4. What transpires at the beginning of this scene?

5. How does Segismundo respond to the idea that the right thing should be done even if one is dreaming?

6. How does Clotaldo's waffling about this issue demonstrate the extent of the patriarchal culture in which he lives?

7. When this scene opens what is happening with Clarnn?

8. How do Clotaldo's actions in this scene give the audience a glimpse into a possible positive characteristic of the man?

9. How does Segismundo respond?

10. Why is Clarnn cast into prison?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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?

Essay Topic 2

In several scenes in the play, Clotaldo is noted as being ever loyal to the king, willing to follow the king's orders not matter the cost.

1. Do you believe there is ever a justifiable reason to disobey a law?

2. Would you disobey a law if you believe it to be immoral even if you knew you would suffer severe consequences? Why or why not?

3. In the military, obeying orders is required, else one sits for a court-martial; however, one is obligated to disobey an order if the order is not lawful. Do you believe you would disobey an order if told to do something illegal or immoral even if you were uncertain if your actions would be condoned as correct? Discuss thoroughly, giving a hypothetical example.

Essay Topic 3

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?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,131 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample