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This test consists of 15 multiple choice questions and 5 short answer questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What does the Messenger call the relationship between the King and the Archbishop?
(a) A violent affair.
(b) A peaceful affair.
(c) A patched-up affair.
(d) A silly affair.

2. What ruler of England does the Second Priest refer to as "the stubborn King?"
(a) Henry II.
(b) Edward III.
(c) Richard I.
(d) James I.

3. What important message does the Messenger convey to the Priests?
(a) The Archbishop has left France.
(b) The Archbishop has arrived at the city.
(c) The King has ordered the execution of Thomas Becket.
(d) The Pope has excommunicated the King

4. How does Thomas Beckett's thought end?: "If the Archbishop cannot trust the Throne/ He has good cause to trust none but _____________"
(a) Himself alone.
(b) His people alone.
(c) The Pope alone.
(d) God alone.

5. In what year does Murder in the Cathedral take place?
(a) 1070.
(b) 1710.
(c) 1077.
(d) 1170.

6. What does Beckett claim the Fourth Tempter offers?
(a) Hopes that Die.
(b) Dreams to Damnation.
(c) Promises of Nothing.
(d) An End to Suffering.

7. How does the chorus define its time in Canterbury since the Archbishop left seven years previous?
(a) Living and partly dying.
(b) Living and partly living.
(c) Living and partly suffering.
(d) Dying and partly dying.

8. According to the Third Tempter, what does friendship depend upon?
(a) Peace.
(b) Circumstance.
(c) Time.
(d) Happiness.

9. Fill in the blank: "I leave you to the pleasure of your __________, Which will have to be paid for at ______________."
(a) life; your strife.
(b) lies; the end.
(c) piety; reckoning.
(d) higher vices; higher prices.

10. Who does the Third Tempter represent?
(a) English barons.
(b) The King.
(c) The People of Canterbury.
(d) English Merchants.

11. What is the first idea that Becket relates to his audience and what does he insist that the Chorus "know and do not know?"
(a) The world is suffering and they are the world.
(b) Life is suffering and suffering is death.
(c) Action is suffering and suffering is action.
(d) Suffering is everything and everything is suffering.

12. What does the First Priest believe was Becket's character flaw that ultimately brought an end to his friendship with the King?
(a) Self-loathing.
(b) Cowardliness.
(c) Laziness.
(d) Pride.

13. How does the Fourth Tempter claim Beckett can have ultimate glory and power over the King of England?
(a) By becoming the Chancellor again.
(b) By becoming a martyr.
(c) By giving his money to the people.
(d) By killing the King.

14. Who does Becket say may have intercepted his letters and planned his demise?
(a) The King of France.
(b) Greedy merchants.
(c) King Henry II.
(d) Rebellious bishops.

15. What is one thing the Third Tempter and his party want from Beckett?
(a) Favor from the Church.
(b) Happiness for the People of England.
(c) Money.
(d) The blessing of God.

Short Answer Questions

1. How many visitors did Beckett expect?

2. Who states that "Power is present. Holiness hereafter?"

3. In what city of England does the story take place?

4. What character(s) opens the play with the first monologue?

5. What does the Chorus claim is their purpose in the action of the play?

(see the answer keys)

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