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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. Whose philosophy does Bloom say Iago embodies?

2. Whom does Bloom say Iachino in "Cymbeline" resembles?

3. What does critic Marc Shell say Shakespeare is criticizing in Angelo's strict enforcement of law in 'Measure for Measure'?

4. How does the porter describe the effects of alcohol?

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

Short Essay Questions

1. What is the moral of "Measure for Measure", in Bloom's account?

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

3. What does Bloom say makes "Hamlet" so fascinating?

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

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

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

7. What purpose does Bloom say "The Merry Wives of Windsor" serves among Shakespeare's plays?

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

9. Why does Bloom say "Timon of Athens" was not performed in Shakespeare's lifetime?

10. Where does Bloom see comedy in "Antony and Cleopatra"?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Is Shakespeare an everyman, whose talents are universal, or is he a unique individual whose gifts will never be repeated? Is he a type or a hero? How does Bloom describe him? How do you see him, as a result of reading this book?

Essay Topic 2

What does Bloom say is Shakespeare's relationship with Christopher Marlow? How is that relation borne out? Where does Bloom see evidence of it?

Essay Topic 3

Evaluate your own reading of "Shakespeare: The Invention of the Human"--did you resist it, or were you compelled by the story? What does your reading tell you about yourself and your interests? Use specific examples from the book to describe yourself as a reader.

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