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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. How does Bloom characterize Theseus in "Two Noble Kinsmen"?
(a) An illegitimate child of Shakespeare's genius.
(b) Shakespeare's last poetic voice.
(c) The summit of Shakespeare's poetic philosophy.
(d) Shakespeare's dying gasp.

2. Why does Janet Adelman say that Cordelia had to be murdered in "King Lear"?
(a) To prevent love from being triumphant.
(b) To protect the masculinity of the play.
(c) To preserve the play's philosophy consistently.
(d) To counter the demise of Regan and Goneril.

3. What pleased Ben Jonson about Shakespeare's "Henry VIII"?
(a) Its departure from historical facts.
(b) Its praise of the royal line.
(c) Its exposure of royal corruption.
(d) Its improvement on history.

4. How does Bloom characterize the Falstaff of "The Merry Wives of Windsor"?
(a) A false Falstaff.
(b) A precursor to later villains.
(c) The genuine Falstaff.
(d) A bastardization of Henry IV.

5. What does Iago triumph over, in Bloom's interpretation?
(a) Shallower evil characters.
(b) Subordinate races.
(c) Conventional morality.
(d) Himself.

6. Whose skepticism does Bloom describe behind Hamlet's philosophizing?
(a) Socrates'.
(b) Diogenes'.
(c) Montaigne's.
(d) Plato's.

7. How does A. C. Bradley describe Cleopatra?
(a) As the summit of selfishness.
(b) As the strongest of Shakespeare's women.
(c) As an inexhaustible character.
(d) As a bore.

8. Whose appearance marks a shift in Act IV of "Winter's Tale"?
(a) Hermione.
(b) Paula.
(c) Perdita.
(d) Autolycus.

9. M. C. Bradbrook describes "Pericles" as half spectacle and half what?
(a) Satyr play.
(b) Farce.
(c) Tragedy.
(d) Prophetic vision.

10. How does Bloom say "Henry V" has been used in England?
(a) As a patriotic statement.
(b) As anti-communist propaganda.
(c) As a criticism of the French.
(d) As propaganda for the socialist state.

11. What does Bloom say love causes in "King Lear"?
(a) Tragedy.
(b) Harmony.
(c) Justice.
(d) Resolution.

12. How does the porter describe the effects of alcohol?
(a) It confuses family lines in improvident matches.
(b) It makes people equal, but removes the ability to have sex.
(c) It reveals people's true characters.
(d) It blinds people to their own death, and perpetuates their genetic lines.

13. What does Bloom say is the heart of "Antony and Cleopatra"?
(a) The battle between East and West.
(b) The battle between love and politics.
(c) The battle between the sexes.
(d) The battle between Rome and Egypt.

14. What does Iachino want from Imogen?
(a) To marry her.
(b) To convince her to betray her husband's political power.
(c) To seduce her or see her killed.
(d) To make her queen.

15. What does Bloom say "The Merry Wives of Windsor" might have been designed to do?
(a) Urge the government to make reforms.
(b) Propitiate the queen with light humor.
(c) Make a lot of money for the theatre company.
(d) Resolve personal quandaries of Shakespeare's.

Short Answer Questions

1. For whom did Cressida betray Troilus?

2. What opera is based on "The Merry Wives of Windsor"?

3. How does Bloom characterize the love affair between Antony and Cleopatra?

4. Whose greatness does "Henry VIII" prophecy?

5. What does Bloom say in response to the criticism that Shakespeare copied Hamlet from other sources?

(see the answer keys)

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