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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 A Midsummer Night's Dream, what penalty does Hermia face if she refuses he father's choice of marriage?

2. Why does Lear wander into a storm at night?

3. How does Lady Macbeth convince her husband to kill Duncan?

4. What head of state is with Antonio on the ship in The Tempest?

5. Which character does Nerissa fall in love with in Merchant of Venice?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is Don Pedro's attitude to Beatrice and Benedick at the beginning of Much Ado About Nothing?

2. How does Valentine becomes the leader of bandits in Two Gentlemen of Verona?

3. How are Hero and Claudio reunited at the end of Much Ado About Nothing?

4. What bad decision does Antonio make regarding borrowing money in Merchant of Venice?

5. At the end of As You Like It, what happy news arrives concerning the banished duke?

6. Under what circumstances does Lear go mad?

7. How does Lady Macbeth convince Macbeth to kill Duncan?

8. Why does Macbeth kill Banquo?

9. What is the problem among the young lovers at the beginning of A Midsummer Night's Dream?

10. How does Prospero find Ariel in The Tempest?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In Shakespeare's day, sea travel was the most common form of extended travel, particularly in the Mediterranean. As such, ship travel and ship wrecks play an important role in his plays as drivers of narrative. Write an essay, citing three stories, of the use of maritime travel in Shakespeare. How does sea travel offer narrative opportunities that land travel does not? Why do so many stories begin with a shipwreck? What narrative needs does he shipwreck provide?

Essay Topic 2

The tragic figure of Shakespeare's stories suffer because they make rash decisions without considering the full ramifications of their actions. Write an essay discussing three tragic figures from the collection and the decisions they make. What drives the most destructive of these choices? What does the character want to accomplish, and what does he or she not consider regarding the ramifications of these choices? How do these choices undo this character, and what is Shakespeare saying about the human condition with this reversal?

Essay Topic 3

Shakespeare's stories often involve a divide between the town - with its merchants and political squabbles - and the country, a setting of ease and merriment. Citing specific stories from the text, discuss in an essay how Shakespeare uses this divide in his stories. What can occur in the country that cannot in the town? How are interactions different? Why do people choose to - or are forced to - leave the city? Do comedies or tragedies use this device more often?

(see the answer keys)

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