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This quiz consists of 5 multiple choice and 5 short answer questions through Act 1, Scene 1.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Are the tastes of poets random?
(a) No.
(b) Perhaps.
(c) Sometimes.
(d) Yes.

2. What does Mirabell's plan consist of?
(a) Winning Mrs. Millamant's aunt's favor so she would give her blessing.
(b) Entering into a plot with Mrs. Marwood.
(c) Hiding his true feelings about Mrs. Fainall.
(d) Trying to make others believe that he wasn't interested in Mrs. Millamant.

3. Why were the first performances heavily criticized?
(a) Because Congreve's writing was not pleasant.
(b) Because the theatergoers expected to see celebrities attacked.
(c) Because of the new concept of marriage it introduced.
(d) Because they did not contain farce.

4. What does the prologue do?
(a) Challenges the audience to try something new.
(b) Instructs the audience on how to react to the play.
(c) Introduces Congreve and his play.
(d) Limits criticism of the play.

5. What does the dramatic device of naming characters that are symbolic of their personality traits allow the playwright Congreve to do?
(a) Inform the audience about each character without having to develop them.
(b) Create a favorable impression for each character.
(c) Suggest a course of action for the characters.
(d) Limit a character's significance.

Short Answer Questions

1. Why does Congreve tell the audience that they will not be offended to any reference to fools in the play?

2. Who are the fools spoken of in the prologue?

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

4. What are the tastes of poets determined by?

5. What does Fainall comment about the gathering the previous evening at Lady Wishfort's?

(see the answer key)

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