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This quiz consists of 5 multiple choice and 5 short answer questions through Act 1, Scene 1.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What does Fainall comment about the gathering the previous evening at Lady Wishfort's?
(a) Everyone knows that Mrs. Millamant is unhappy with Mirabell.
(b) Mrs. Millamant has another lover.
(c) Witwoud and Petulant are only trying to woo Mrs. Millamant.
(d) Mrs. Millamant was only obeying her aunt's wishes.

2. Why does Wishfort dislike Mirabell?
(a) Mirabell tricked Wishfort into believing he loved her.
(b) Wishfort is jealous of Mrs. Millamant.
(c) Mirabel loves Mrs. Millamant.
(d) Marwood is Mirabell's mistress.

3. Why were the first performances heavily criticized?
(a) Because the theatergoers expected to see celebrities attacked.
(b) Because they did not contain farce.
(c) Because of the new concept of marriage it introduced.
(d) Because Congreve's writing was not pleasant.

4. Why does the prologue refer to Congreve as a 'passive poet'?
(a) Because he is an artist who will accept the audience's opinion of his play.
(b) Because he doesn't like to argue his points of view.
(c) Because they are society and he doesn't want to offend society members.
(d) Because he believes that the play will be accepted.

5. What did Lady Wishfort say or do that offended Mirabell?
(a) She said that Mirabell should leave.
(b) She laughed at him.
(c) She commented that some people overstay their welcome.
(d) She ignored Mirabell and talked only with Fainall.

Short Answer Questions

1. What are the tastes of poets determined by?

2. Who are Witwoud and Petulant?

3. What is the second kind of fool blessed by?

4. What does the dramatic device of naming characters that are symbolic of their personality traits allow the playwright Congreve to do?

5. The actor who reads the prologue also plays which character?

(see the answer key)

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