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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 does Mrs. Marwood attack Fainall when he angers her?

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

3. Why does Lady Wishfort question Foible in her dressing room?

4. Act 2, Scene 2 reveals the reason Mrs. Fainall married her husband. What was the reason?

5. What is the purpose of this play's prologue?

Short Essay Questions

1. What are some of the ways in which Mrs. Marwood is able to manipulate the men around her?

2. Why are fame and fortune said to be 'fleeting'?

3. How does Congreve feel about Mirabell's plot?

4. Describe Sir Wilfull Witwoud.

5. 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?

6. Describe Fainall's character.

7. Why does Congreve believe that 'natural fools' are blessed by fortune?

8. Why does Mrs. Marwood tell Lady Wishfort she has seen Foible with Mirabell?

9. Describe Mirabell's character.

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

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

How has Congreve worked to make us feel sympathetic to certain characters while having no sympathy for others? Explain your answer with specific examples from the play.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 757 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample