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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 Thebes in "Two Noble Kinsmen" refers to?

2. What does Bloom say brings Anthony back to Cleopatra?

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

4. For whom did Cressida betray Troilus?

5. M. C. Bradbrook describes "Pericles" as half spectacle and half what?

Short Essay Questions

1. What view does Bloom take on Iago's character?

2. What warning does Bloom say Emerson makes about ''King Lear"?

3. What does Bloom say is the focus of "Antony and Cleopatra"?

4. Where does Bloom say "Winter's Tale" sits in Shakespeare's folio?

5. How does Bloom say "Henry V" has been used in its history?

6. What does Bloom say is the heart of "The Tempest"?

7. What does Bloom say is the heart of "Macbeth"?

8. What does Bloom say was Shakespeare's role in "Two Noble Kinsmen"?

9. What does Bloom say is the moral of "All's Well That Ends Well"?

10. How does Bloom characterize the play "Pericles"?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Write a character sketch of the author based on his style and content. What values does he hold dear? What are his hopes and fears? What kind of person do you think he is? Anchor your sketch in passages in the book.

Essay Topic 2

Describe Shakespeare's hierarchy of values. What is most important to him. What is least? Similarly, describe Bloom's hierarchy of values.

Essay Topic 3

How useful is the categorical breakdown Bloom uses--histories, comedies, tragedies, problem plays, etc.? Is there too much overlap between plays for these terms to be useful? What use does this schema of categorization have?

(see the answer keys)

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