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This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Why does Congreve tell the audience that they will not be offended to any reference to fools in the play?
(a) Because they are society and he doesn't want to offend society members.
(b) Because they will understand his intentions.
(c) Because the fools he is referring to are other artists.
(d) Because they are not fools themselves.

2. Why does Petulant hire three prostitutes?
(a) Show his lack of social sensitivity.
(b) Feign importance to his peers.
(c) Satisfy his sexual needs.
(d) Act as a foil to his popularity.

3. What is a cabal?
(a) A group of friends.
(b) A meeting of enemies against the state.
(c) A military uprising.
(d) A secret society; a plot.

4. Why does Mirabell believe the scheme to deceive Lady Wishfort is necessary?
(a) So that she will divide her estate.
(b) So that she leaves her fortune to Mrs. Millamant.
(c) So she will not interfere with their marriage.
(d) So that she will give Mrs. Millamant her money.

5. What are the tastes of poets determined by?
(a) Fortune.
(b) Religious beliefs.
(c) How their lives evolve over time.
(d) Upbringing.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does Mrs. Fainall reveal to Foible in her mother's dressing room?

2. What do the different marriages introduced in the play seem to be motivated by?

3. How does Congreve use satire in the prologue?

4. What does Mirabell suggest that Mrs. Fainall do if she no longer loves her husband?

5. Which one of the follow was not part of Mirabell's plan?

Short Essay Questions

1. Is Congreve being facetious when he says the play's purpose is to entertain the audience and not instruct them about life?

2. Why does Mrs. Marwood tell Lady Wishfort she has seen Foible with Mirabell?

3. Why are fame and fortune said to be 'fleeting'?

4. What is the relationship between Lady Wishfort and Mrs. Marwood?

5. Do you think that a prologue is a good way to introduce a play? Why or why not?

6. Explain what Mrs. Marwood learned when she stayed in the closet in Lady Wishfort's dressing room. How does she react?

7. Describe Lady Wishfort.

8. What do you think is Congreve's purpose in establishing an affair between Fainall and Mrs. Marwood?

9. How does Congreve feel about Mirabell's plot?

10. Congreve says the play doesn't contain satire yet the play is full of satirical pictures of different behaviors by the characters. Why do you think he made this statement?

(see the answer keys)

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