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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. How is the scene in the Three Pigeons a satire on sentimental comedy?

2. What does Mr. Hardcastle tell his wife when she suggests that Tony is consumptive.

3. What does Hardcastle assume from Kate's comments about Marlow?

4. How does Tony calm down Constance?

5. When Mrs. Hardcastle tries to get Tony to say home one night, where is he planning to go?

Short Essay Questions

1. How is Mr. Hardcastle different from his wife?

2. Why is Mr. Hardcastle training his servants?

3. Tell how Tony describes the Hardcastle family.

4. Explain Tony's trickery with Mrs. Hardcastle when Constance is pressing her to relinquish her jewels.

5. How does the dialogue of the opening scene give the audience a clue as to Mrs. Hardcastle's character?

6. Why does Hastings insist that Constance continue the ruse that they are in an inn?

7. Explain why Tony is so sure he can handle Mrs. Hardcastle.

8. What clue does the landlord give in the muttered line that Tony is a damn'd mischievous son of a whore?

9. After looking at the night's menu, what does Marlow do?

10. Describe the argument Tony has with Mrs. Hardcastle in front of Constance and Hastings.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Select three of four scenes in SHE STOOPS TO CONQUER that you consider to be very funny. Write about the words and actions that make the scenes comical in nature. Compare those scenes to movie or TV comedies today and show how early writers like Goldsmith influenced our ideas of what is funny in a play or film.

Essay Topic 2

Fashion wigs were the style in the 18th century. Research their construction, upkeep, various types, and prices. Write about the process of making a fashion wig. Then give your impression of what Mrs. Hardcastle's homemade wig might have looked like. Kate and Miss Deville would wear wigs when they dressed for society. Very likely Sir Charles wore a powdered wig. Marlow and Hastings wigs were probably a natural color. Describe in your paper what the wigs of each of these characters probably looked like.

Essay Topic 3

Jumping to conclusions is a thread that runs throughout the play. Select several instances of this and write a paper discussing the fallacy of jumping to conclusions. In your paper evaluate whether that is a fairly universal human trait. Give at least one example other than from the play when someone jumped to wrong conclusions and the effect it had on the people involved.

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