1. Why are poets often fooled?
(a) They believe in their work and expect others to understand and like it.
(b) They don't study their critics.
(c) They believe what people tell them to their face.
(d) They are fooled into believing that one successful play means the next one will be successful also.

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

3. What was Mrs. Millamant's response to her aunt's statement?
(a) She agrees with her.
(b) She is offended.
(c) She feels hurt for Mirabell.
(d) She laughs, too.

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

5. Are the tastes of poets random?
(a) Yes.
(b) No.
(c) Sometimes.
(d) Perhaps.

Short Answer Questions

1. Another dramatic device is used in the final lines of Act 1, Scene 1 when Mirabell hints at a scheme involving Wishfort's maid. This device is known as:

2. What is the purpose of the play?

3. While drinking chocolate, what else are Mirabell and Fainall doing?

4. What reason does Fainall give for Mirabell's deception being revealed?

5. Who are the fools spoken of in the prologue?

(see the answer key)

This section contains 319 words
(approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page)

View a FREE sample