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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. In Act 1, Scene 5, how does Revenge respond to the Ghost's question about why he's being made to sit through a celebration of the man who killed him?

2. What is the relationship between Balthazar and Andrea?

3. Who took Balthazar prisoner during the battle between Portugal and Spain?

4. Which of the following is not a way that the Scene 1 in the play acts?

5. Who is Castile?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Castile come to visit Hieronimo while he is preparing for the play and what do they talk about?

2. How does Spain win the battle against Portugal and who are they key players?

3. How is Balthazar greeted as a prisoner by the king and how does Balthazar respond?

4. Why does the king want Castile to convince Bel-Imperia to accept Balthazar's courtship?

5. What happens to reveal Pedringano's innocence after his execution?

6. Why did Villuppo lie about Alexandro's guilt and what punishment is he given for his lies?

7. When Isabella's thoughts return to the men who killed her son in Act 3, Scene 8, what does she do?

8. When Andrea first introduces himself in the play, what facets of his life does he mention?

9. As Bel-Imperia and Horatio decide to marry and return to the banquet, what does Lorenzo say will happen to Horatio and what does he mean by this?

10. When does it become apparent why Hieronimo asked for a key to the king's box seats and why did he do so?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In Act 2, Scene 3, the king tells Castile to convince Bel-Imperia to open her heart to Balthazar. Write an essay exploring how the hierarchy of power within the play affects the audience interpretation of events in this and other instances.

Essay Topic 2

Isabella destroys the plants that surround the tree from which Horatio was hanged. Write an essay exploring the symbolism of plants in the play.

Essay Topic 3

The central themes revenge represents are the inevitability and rightness of justice. Write an essay exploring how these themes come into play in "The Spanish Tragedy."

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 750 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample