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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 is Valpone lying about to the Venetian businessmen who have befriended him?

2. Which of Valpone's two men arrive first at Celia's home?

3. What event does Corvino tell his wife to dress for after his conversation with Mosca?

4. What does Mosca tell Corvino is the one thing left that can help save Valpone's life?

5. What is the powder that Valpone offers as a prize meant to restore?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Peregrine exact his revenge against Sir Politic?

2. How do the courts find out that Valpone is a liar?

3. How does Valpone feel about Lady Political Would-Be?

4. What type of acrostic does Jonson employ in his Prologue?

5. Why do Corbaccio, Voltore, and Mosca head to the courts to press charges?

6. How is Valpone wounded after his visit with Celia?

7. How does Valpone react to the final verdict in the court room?

8. How does Valpone elicit Celia to throw down her handkerchief?

9. How does Mosca react to the news that Valpone has been found out as a liar?

10. What is Valpone's punishment for misleading the courts?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The truth of Valpone's plan is eventually revealed through a series of events that lead to Valpone's demise. Explain how the court system eventually found out about Valpone's deceit and what effect it had on the court cases that were being tried at that time.

Essay Topic 2

Valpone spends most of the time in the play pretending to be ill. Give examples of three ways that Valpone pretends to be ill and what the reaction to his devices are. Why is it important to Valpone's plan that the legacy hunters believe that he is really ill?

Essay Topic 3

Many critics of Jonson's play argue that Jonson, as the narrator and creator of the play, is an arrogant and boastful author. Describe two moments in which Jonson appears arrogant, and argue whether or not you agree with the critics based on the two examples provided. What motivations might Jonson have for creating an arrogant persona as the narrator of this play?

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