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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. Where does Diggory say he learned how to hold his hands?

2. What sort of sales pitch does Mr. Hardcastle make to his daughter?

3. Giving up on following Tony's directions, what does Marlow do?

4. What refreshment does Marlow ask of Hardcastle?

5. What hinders Marlow from seeking a wife?

Short Essay Questions

1. Explain Tony's trickery with Mrs. Hardcastle when Constance is pressing her to relinquish her jewels.

2. Discuss the initial conversation between Hastings and Mrs. Hardcastle.

3. What is the news Mr. Hardcastle gives his daughter about her future?

4. Explain how the scene in the Three Pigeons is typical of an English pub.

5. How does Hastings inject himself into the argument between Tony and his mother?

6. What does the audience learn right away of Kate Hardcastle's character.

7. How does the dialogue of the opening scene give the audience a clue as to Mrs. Hardcastle's character?

8. After looking at the night's menu, what does Marlow do?

9. How do we know that Kate is actually excited at the prospect of a handsome, well-mannered husband-to-be?

10. Explain the hilarity when Mrs. Hardcastle discovers that the jewels are not where she left them.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Jumping to conclusions is a thread that runs throughout the play. Select several instances of this and write a paper discussing the fallacy of jumping to conclusions. In your paper evaluate whether that is a fairly universal human trait. Give at least one example other than from the play when someone jumped to wrong conclusions and the effect it had on the people involved.

Essay Topic 2

Do some research about 18th century English inns. From your research, explain how Mr. Hardcastle's house could have reasonably been taken for an inn. Continue your paper to show how this kind of plot would not work today. Then come up with an idea of how you could mislead someone about a private residence today, e.g., a rooming house.

Essay Topic 3

Pretend you are a writer for an 18th-century newspaper and write a critique of Mr. Goldsmith's play. In your critique be sure to mention Goldsmith's departure from the sentimental comedy of his day. Note the passages in the play that would border on the scandalous in his time. Discuss the continuity of the play and the use of subplots. Detail your opinion about the believability of the characters.

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