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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. Why does the prologue refer to Congreve as a 'passive poet'?

2. Why is Mrs. Fainall's husband cold to her?

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

4. What does the dramatic device of naming characters that are symbolic of their personality traits allow the playwright Congreve to do?

5. What does the scene where Mrs. Marwood is left in the closet reveal about her?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

3. Describe Lady Wishfort.

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

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

6. Who is the most important character in the play? Describe him.

7. Explain what Mrs. Marwood learned when she stayed in the closet in Lady Wishfort's dressing room. How does she react?

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

9. 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?

10. What opinion do you have of Mirabell's trickery in pretending to love Lady Wishfort in order to marry Mrs. Millamant? Is this too far-fetched to be believable or is it a possibility? Explain your point of view using specific examples from the play.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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?

Essay Topic 2

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 3

Witwoud, Sir Wilfull, and Petulant are minor characters in the play. They provide comic relief and further the plot along.

Part 1) Compare and contrast the two cousins: Witwoud and Sir Wilfull.

Part 2) What do you think would have happened in the play if Sir Wilfull had insisted on marrying Mrs. Millamant?

Part 3) Describe how Petulant tries to show his importance.

(see the answer keys)

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