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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. Who are the fools spoken of in the prologue?

2. Where is Mrs. Marwood at the opening of Act 3, Scene 2?

3. What is Lady Wishfort planning to do?

4. Why does the prologue refer to Congreve as a 'passive poet'?

5. Mirabell's plan involves ________ Lady Wishfort.

Short Essay Questions

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

2. Who is the most important character in the play? Describe him.

3. Describe Petulant.

4. Describe Fainall's character.

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

6. 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?

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

8. Describe Mirabell's character.

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

10. What is the relationship between Waitwell and Foible?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Why do you think that the audiences of Restoration society did not like the play? Would audiences today be more receptive? Why or why not.

Essay Topic 2

There are multiple devious characters in this play. Discuss who they are, their motivations, and their purpose in the play. Did they deserve their outcome? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

Describe the terms of marriage between the couples in the play and how those terms of marriage are the same or different from today's marriages. Support your answer with specific examples from the play.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 765 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample