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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 person do Cornelius and Mrs. Malloy have in common?

2. According to Mrs. Levi, Mr. Vandergelder's should-be bride's father is a what?

3. What type of shoes does Minnie wear?

4. In Act 1, what prevents Cornelius from an automatic promotion?

5. Ambrose tells Ermengarde she has the soul of a what?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Mr. Vandergelder disapprove of his niece's suitor?

2. What big plans does Mr. Vandergelder have at the beginning of The Matchmaker?

3. What worries Minnie about Mr. Vandergelder's potential marriage proposal?

4. How does Cornelius feel about Mrs. Malloy in Act 2? At what point is this revealed?

5. What does Mrs. Malloy tell Minnie the best part of marriage is?

6. Prior to Cornelius and Barnaby entering the hat shop, who does Mrs. Malloy claim and why?

7. At the beginning of The Matchmaker, what is the relationship between Cornelius and Mr. Vandergelder?

8. How does Mrs. Malloy feel about being a milliner?

9. Describe the character Ambrose.

10. Describe the character Ermengarde.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Analyze Miss Van H. and her lot in life. Why is this significant to the conclusion of The Matchmaker?

Essay Topic 2

At the beginning of the play, Mr. Vandergelder is seen as all powerful, controlling many of the characters' lives. Citing examples from the text, examine how Mr. Vandergelder's hold over the characters lessens throughout The Matchmaker and why.

Essay Topic 3

Instead of exposing the fraud of Cornelius and Barnaby in Act 2, Mrs. Levi encourages it. Why does she do this?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 526 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample