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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. How interested is Hardcastle in politics?

2. Before offering to give directions to Marlow and Hastings, what does Tony want to know?

3. What is Mr. Hardcastle attempting to do with his servants?

4. Tired of humoring Hardcastle, what blunder does Marlow make?

5. What has been established for Hastings in Act 3?

Short Essay Questions

1. What clue does the landlord give in the muttered line that Tony is a damn'd mischievous son of a whore?

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

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

4. Explain why Tony is so sure he can handle Mrs. Hardcastle.

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

6. How does the audience get a picture of Tony Lumpkin before he even enters the stage?

7. What is Mr. Hardcastle's first impression of Marlow and his friend Hastings?

8. How is Mr. Hardcastle different from his wife?

9. Why does Hastings insist that Constance continue the ruse that they are in an inn?

10. Describe how Tony sees his chance to get back at his stepfather when the landlord says there are two gentlemen looking for Hardcastle's house.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What is often called a practical joke is more often something that causes great pain and embarrassment to an innocent victim. Tony's joke about the inn was really meant to embarrass Mr. Hardcastle, however, it caused suffering to Marlow and nearly wrecked any possibility of his marrying Kate. Using examples of jokes and tricks from the play, write an essay about how they are usually not funny and can often be very harmful.

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

The real villain in SHE STOOPS TO CONQUER is Mrs. Hardcastle. Write a paper identifying the passages that give clues to her real nature. Note in your paper Mrs. Hardcastle's pretensions to upper class position, her emphasis on appearances, her ignorance of real elite society, and her underlying greed. Include in the paper how she manipulated Tony and Constance in order to satisfy her goals.

(see the answer keys)

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