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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 “foolish knight” does Maria say Sir Toby Belch brought to woo Olivia in Act I Scene III?

2. What dog breed does Sir Toby Belch tell Sir Andrew that Maria is in Act II Scene III?

3. When the jester enters in Act II Scene III Sir Andrew Aguecheek speaks of his discussion of whom “passing the equinoctial of Queubus”?

4. What first two words of a Latin maxim meaning “to get up at dawn is very helpful” does Sir Toby Belch say in Act II Scene III?

5. What is the court jester’s response when Olivia asks him in Act I Scene V, “What’s a drunken man like, fool?”

Short Essay Questions

1. How have Viola’s situation and circumstances changed when she reappears in Act I Scene IV?

2. Describe the character of Malvolio. What is Malvolio’s role in Olivia’s household? How does Olivia feel about him?

3. How does Olivia receive Viola/Cesario when she arrives at Olivia’s house in Act I Scene V?

4. What is an “aside”? Give an example of an aside in Act I.

5. Where is Viola when she is first introduced in Act I Scene II? What has just taken place?

6. Describe the character of Maria. What is Maria’s role in Olivia’s household?

7. What message and memento does Olivia give to Viola/Cesario at her departure in Act I Scene V?

8. How is Malvolio’s character perceived by Fabian, Sir Toby Belch, and Feste?

9. Describe Viola in the play. Where is she from? What concerns her when she is introduced in Act I Scene II?

10. With whom is Orsino preoccupied in Act I Scene I? How does this preoccupation manifest in his character?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the characters of Sir Toby Belch and Maria. What archetypical role does Sir Toby Belch represent in the play? What have critics and literary theorists commented about these “merrymakers” in the narrative? How does Maria feel about Sir Toby?

Essay Topic 2

Describe and analyze the setting of Illyria and the attributes of this setting. How populous was Illyria during this time? How were governments set up? Who rules over Illyria in the play? In what season does the play open?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss Viola’s reaction upon being brought the ring by Malvolio in Act II Scene II. What does the ring signify to Viola? What does it signify to Olivia? How does Viola feel about the confusion caused by her disguise?

(see the answer keys)

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