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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. Who are the fools spoken of in the prologue?
(a) Poets and natural fools.
(b) Critics of the play.
(c) Members of society in general.
(d) Husbands, wives and lovers.

2. Why did Mirabell leave Lady Wishfort's house the previous evening?
(a) Because of another commitment.
(b) Because he felt unwelcome.
(c) Because he felt ill and wanted to rest at home.
(d) Because he detested Lady Wishfort and only went because of Mrs. Millamant.

3. What does Foible do when she enters Lady Wishfort's dressing room?
(a) She asks Mrs. Marwood to keep the men company.
(b) She helps Lady Wishfort dress.
(c) She says Witwoud and Petulant have arrived.
(d) She announces Sir Rowland.

4. What is the purpose of this play's prologue?
(a) To encourage other poets.
(b) To introduce Congreve and his play.
(c) To set the stage for a 'rant' against society.
(d) To instruct the audience about love.

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

Short Answer Questions

1. What does the scene where Mrs. Marwood is left in the closet reveal about her?

2. What is Lady Wishfort planning to do?

3. How does Congreve use satire in the prologue?

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

5. What does Mirabell's plan consist of?

Short Essay Questions

1. 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?

2. Mrs. Marwood is someone who thinks of revenge when others cross her. What scheme do you think Mrs. Marwood is planning to extract her revenge on Mirabell?

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

4. Describe what we know about Mrs. Marwood at the beginning of Act 2, Scene 1.

5. What do you think that Mirabell's scheme to marry Mrs. Millamant will entail?

6. Explain Fainall's circumstances as we know them by Act 2, Scene 1. What is his relationship with the women in the play?

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

8. Describe Fainall's character.

9. What opinion do you have of Mirabell's trickery in pretending to love Lady Wishfort in order to marry Mrs. Millamant? Is this too far-fetched to be believable or is it a possibility? Explain your point of view using specific examples from the play.

10. Why does Mrs. Fainall support Mirabell's plans?

(see the answer keys)

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