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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 does Bloom say is the relationship between "The Merchant of Venice" and "The Jew of Malta"?

2. How is Joan of Arc depicted in "Henry VI", in Bloom's account?

3. How does Shakespeare use "As You Like It" to comment on his own politics?

4. What did "Titus Andronicus" accomplish for Shakespeare, according to Bloom?

5. How does the play resolve the tension between Oberon and Titania?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Bloom characterize "Twelfth Night"?

2. What does Bloom say is the true subject of "Julius Caesar"?

3. What are the main themes of "King John", in Bloom's interpretation?

4. How does Bloom characterize Richard III?

5. How does Bloom characterize the character Shylock?

6. What is it about Falstaff that Bloom likes so much?

7. What is the cause of the comedy in "Love's Labor's Lost", according to Bloom?

8. How does Bloom characterize "Much Ado About Nothing"?

9. What is Marlowe's influence on "Titus Andronicus"?

10. How does Bloom defend "Midsummer Night's Dream" from criticism?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What is the role of love in Shakespeare's plays? How does Bloom describe the benefits and consequences of love?

Essay Topic 2

Describe Bloom's critical perspective. What matters to him, and what parts of Shakespeare's plays, and the commentary on them, is uninteresting? How does he justify his focus?

Essay Topic 3

Write an evaluative review of "Shakespeare: The Invention of the Human". What is this book's place in culture? What are its uses? Who is its audience? What are its limitations?

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