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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 do Hastings and Marlow believe?

2. What is Tony's composition he leads at the Three Pigeons?

3. How does Tony calm down Constance?

4. What is Mrs. Hardcastle's state of mind when she returns to the living room?

5. What does Tony say his mother would part with before she gave up the jewels?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

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

4. Describe Tony Lumpkins' problem with his mother and Miss Neville.

5. 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.

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

7. Describe the landlord's reaction when Tony gives Marlow and Hastings directions to an inn which he calls Buck's Head.

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

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Education in the 18th century was limited almost exclusively to the upper classes. Using Mr. Hardcastle's servants and Tony's inability to read Hastings' letter, write a paper on the disadvantages of illiteracy. Carry the idea on to the 21st century and how important education is today.

Essay Topic 2

From the old adage, "Oh, what a tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive," write a paper on the way lies keep complicating the plot of SHE STOOPS TO CONQUER. Use the lies and deceptions on the character of Marlow to address your point. Discuss how there might have been another way to handle Marlow by telling him the truth and asking his help in the elopement. Notice how Hastings' insistence on maintaining the prank is based on his assumption of how Marlow would react to the truth.

Essay Topic 3

Select three of four scenes in SHE STOOPS TO CONQUER that you consider to be very funny. Write about the words and actions that make the scenes comical in nature. Compare those scenes to movie or TV comedies today and show how early writers like Goldsmith influenced our ideas of what is funny in a play or film.

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This section contains 876 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample