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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. What was Mrs. Millamant's response to her aunt's statement?

2. All of the following are true except one. As Mrs. Marwood discovers Mirabell's plot, she ______ .

3. Lady Wishfort is all of the following except one. Which one does not apply to her character?

4. What does Foible convince Lady Wishfort to announce about the uncle?

5. What phrase describes the relationship between Mirabell and Mrs. Fainall?

Short Essay Questions

1. In what way(s) is the play different from the usual farce audiences were accustomed to?

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

3. Describe Petulant.

4. Is Congreve's use of character names symbolic of their personalities an effective device?

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

6. Describe Mirabell's character.

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

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

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

10. In Act 3, Scene 1, Lady Wishfort is excited about the arrival of Sir Rowland in the evening. In a short paragraph, describe the Sir Rowland plot as shown up to this point. What do you think will happen to Sir Rowland and Lady Wishfort?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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.

Essay Topic 2

Throughout the play, Congreve has used poetic devices such as eavesdropping, foreshadowing, and symbols. Citing examples from the play, how did he use each element? Was his use of the device effective or not? Explain.

Essay Topic 3

The motives of the characters seem to determine their success in the play. Discuss the different character's motivations in this play. Did any of them have the same motivations? What factors influenced the character's motivations?

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