View a FREE sample

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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. How does Bloom characterize characters like Hamlet and Falstaff?
(a) Pure fiction.
(b) Larger than life.
(c) Purely literary.
(d) Creations of language itself.

2. What does Feste do to Malvolio?
(a) Idealize.
(b) Admire.
(c) Thwart.
(d) Torment.

3. In what way does Bloom say Shakespeare departs from Marlowe's precursor "The Jew of Malta"?
(a) The Jew is more monstrous.
(b) The play is more overtly anti-Semitic.
(c) The Jews are more caricaturist.
(d) The Christians are as vicious as the Jew.

4. What makes "Love's Labor's Lost" one of Bloom's favorite plays?
(a) Subtlety of inner dialogue.
(b) Verbal fireworks.
(c) Loveable characters.
(d) Complex plotting.

5. What first makes the character of Titus Andronicus unsympathetic?
(a) The sacrifice of Tamora's son.
(b) The death of Lavinia.
(c) The seduction of Desdemona.
(d) The arrest of Mercutio.

6. Where does Shakespeare use the themes of "Two Gentlemen of Verona", in Bloom's interpretation?
(a) "All's Well That Ends Well".
(b) "The Tempest".
(c) "Love's Labour's Lost".
(d) "Hamlet".

7. What are the relationships in "Love's Labor's Lost" motivated by?
(a) Physical lust.
(b) Religious longing.
(c) Fear of cuckolding.
(d) Political ambition.

8. What does Bloom say characterizes the play "Julius Caesar"?
(a) Heroism.
(b) Morality.
(c) Ambiguity.
(d) Virtue.

9. How does Bloom characterize the marriage between Beatrice and Benedick?
(a) Flawed.
(b) Pragmatic.
(c) Sufficient.
(d) Ideal.

10. How is Joan of Arc depicted in "Henry VI", in Bloom's account?
(a) As a maternal figure.
(b) As a whore/heroine.
(c) As a saint.
(d) As a sly, manipulative woman.

11. How does Bloom characterize the end of "Richard III"?
(a) Fulfilling.
(b) Symphonic.
(c) Disorganized.
(d) Repetitive.

12. What does Bloom say is King John's biggest problem?
(a) His father.
(b) His son.
(c) His mother.
(d) His brother.

13. How does Bloom characterize "Comedy of Errors"?
(a) As Shakespeare's most unified play.
(b) As Shakespeare's least organized play.
(c) As Shakespeare's longest, most complicated play.
(d) As Shakespeare's most playful play.

14. Who does Bloom say steals the show in "Romeo and Juliet"?
(a) Mercutio and the Nurse.
(b) Tybalt.
(c) Lords Capulet and Montague.
(d) Romeo and Juliet.

15. For what reason does Hal curse Falstaff in "Henry IV"?
(a) For debasing his character.
(b) For inconsistency.
(c) For losing the throne for him.
(d) For corrupting his youth.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does Bloom say "Love's Labor's Lost" has in common with other plays?

2. Who counters Richard II's character in "Richard II"?

3. What does Bloom reiterate about Christopher Marlowe?

4. How does "Taming of the Shrew" begin?

5. What does Bloom say writers began to write after Shakespeare?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 450 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample