Study Guide for English 382 Midterm Exam

Summer 2011
Shakespeares Life and Art
Know the following facts about Shakespeares life:
Born in Stratford-on-Avon 1564, died 1616
Probably attended Stratford grammar school, studied Latin and rhetoric
Married Anne Hathaway at age 18; three children
First hear of him in London in 1592, but already had reputation (probably
arrived late 1580s); worked as actor and playwright
1594 joined James Burbage as member of Lord Chamberlains Men (became
shareholder)
1600 turned to writing tragedies
Moved from middle to upper class, became most successful playwright in
London, bought New Place in Stratford
Who are the Anti-Stratfordians? What are their arguments?
Dramatic Genres and Performance Issues
Know the characteristics of comedy, history, and romance for this exam.
Remember, however, that
Shakespeare often creates hybrid genres (mixed
modes) in his plays.
How was the notion of theatricality an ever-present aspect of Renaissance
society?
Know the following about typical performance conventions in Shakespeares time:
The meaning of scene
Conventions of scenery and costuming (including masks)
When performances were held
Who played the female roles
Relationship between audience and actors; importance of hearing on part
of audience
Use of music, dance, and sound effects
Know the following about the playhouses of Shakespeares time:
History of Shakespeares company (Lord Chamberlains Men) and its
playhouses: James Burbages Theatre (built 1576, lease expired 1597),
building of Globe (opened 1599)
Why theaters were built outside the city walls (in the Liberties)
Typical design of outdoor theaters (amphitheaters): stage, heavens, tiringhouse, discovery space, trapdoors, lords rooms, hut
Social make-up of audiences (seats in yard, gallery, high gallery)
Differences between amphitheaters and indoor theaters as far as design and
audience
Importance of Blackfriars (bought by James Burbage, authorized 1608 for
Kings Men)
Popularity of and problems associated with theatergoing
Reasons for closures of theaters
Puritan objections to theaters; role of Master of Revels Office
Royal patronage and support of theater by Elizabeth I and James I
Know the following about professional troupes of Shakespeares time:
1

Necessity of aristocratic sponsorship for troupes (why?)

Two dominant troupes licensed from 1598 on: Lord Admirals Men and Lord
Chamberlains Men (Shakespeares troupe, known as Kings Men from 1603
on because of royal patronage)
Average size of company

Language
Know the following about Shakespeares language:
Conventions of early modern English used by Shakespeare
Extensive vocabulary of 29,000 words
Use of inverted syntax and enjambment
Focus on rhetoric, reflecting the importance of the study of Latin as part of
education
Know the following terms associated with Shakespeares use of language:
Alliteration, anaphora, assonance, caesura, rhyme, hyperbole, irony,
understatement, metaphor, onomatopoeia, personification, simile, symbol,
homonym, metonymy, synecdoche, chiasmus
Pun, adage, analogy, imagery, aside, soliloquy
Know the following types of irony: dramatic, verbal, circumstantial/situational
Know the differences between blank verse (unrhymed iambic pentameter), prose,
and rhymed verse
and when Shakespeare typically uses each of these
The Sonnets
Know the following about Shakespeares sonnets:
Composed 1591-1604, published 1609
Standard topics and verse line (iambic pentameter), role of couplet
Differences between Petrarchan sonnet and Shakespearean sonnet in terms
of structure and rhyme scheme
The Plays
For each play, you should concentrate on the major themes and relationships,
structural elements and genre concerns (how it does or does not fit a particular
genre category), and language patterns and novelties. Of course you should know
the basic plot lines and characters (or you will not be able to identify and discuss
the quotes, passages, or the plays), but the exam essays will focus more on
thematic, structural, and language issues. Although I do not expect you to
memorize passages from the play, you should be able to recognize passages and
discuss them in some depth. (In other words, an overall broad understanding of the
play is not enough; you should be able to cite specific examples from various points
in the play as support for essay questions. I should be able to tell that you have
carefully read and studied each play.) I have listed below the principal questions we
discussed in class in conjunction with each play. Obviously not all of them will be
addressed on the exam, but you can use them to help you review the major points
and ideas. You should also look over the major critical speeches in each play, as
those are the ones I am most likely to choose for the passage identification and
discussion section of the exam.
A Midsummer Nights Dream
2

Themes and Relationships

There are four major marriage relationships (or potential marriage relationships)
set up and explored in the play: Theseus-Hippolyta, Lysander-Hermia, DemetriusHelena, Oberon-Titania. How would you characterize each of these
relationships?
To what purpose does Shakespeare use the contrast between the Athenian lovers
and the craftsmen? Are there any similarities between the two groups?
The issue of patriarchy (the struggle between men and women) comes up very
early in the play. Where/how? What do we learn about the importance of
patriarchal authority in this society? How are gender relations explored
throughout the play?
We are constantly reminded that this is a play. Where/how/why?
One of the major groups represented in the play is the acting company. What do
we learn about them and the play they will perform? What kind of commentary
is Shakespeare making about amateur troupes, acting, imagination, and the
power to move an audience? Is Shakespeare, as a seasoned professional,
mocking these working-class artisans?
How is the theme of order vs. disorder explored and addressed in this play?
What are we to make of the fact that order is restored to the lovers only through
magic?
How is the theme of appearance vs. reality explored and addressed in this play?
Is the issue resolved?
What is the purpose of music in the play (especially in Act 4)?
Act 5 begins with Theseuss speech equating love, madness, and poetry. What is
he getting at? What is the connection between love, madness, and poetry?
Where do you think Shakespeare stands on the importance of imagination?
The play-within-a-play performance alternates between the bungling attempts of
the players and the good-natured witty jesting by the aristocrats. What do we
learn from the juxtaposition and the commentary of the aristocrats?
Structure and Genre
Why is the play set in Athens?
This is often considered a hybrid play, combining elements from classical
literature, popular ballads, folk customs, and farce. Where do you see these
elements?
Act 3 is the first act in which all three groups of the story (four lovers, acting
troupe, fairy kingdom) appear. How does Shakespeare bring the three threads of
the story together?
Act 3 is typically the high point (climax) of the play in terms of conflict. How do
you see this?
Act 4 is one of the shortest of all Shakespeares acts (about 250 lines long).
What is its purpose? Does the quick resolution of the plays conflicts detract
from the reality of the play, or merely serve to reinforce the illusion that this is
all make-believe?
Why does Theseus suddenly appear in Act 4, when he has been absent in the
play since Act 1? What role does he play?
Is there any thematic purpose behind the inclusion of the play-within-a-play in
Act 5, or is it strictly for comedic entertainment? How does the play-within-aplay performance help, ironically, to restore order and round out the larger play?
3

How does the play employ the typical comedic ending?

What is the purpose of the epilogue?
Comedies typically focus on the group rather than individuals. Is that true for
this play?

Language and Imagery

One of the central recurrent images in the play is that of the moon. Why?
Look at all the legal language in the play (especially Act 1, scene 1). Why/how is
this important?
Eyes are an important image, alluding to the theme of appearance vs. reality.
Why? Should our eyes be instruments of judgment? Is what we see with our
eyes necessarily the truth?
What imagery reinforces the dreamlike quality of the play?
The play switches between blank verse, rhymed verse, and prose. Where do
these shifts occur and what do they indicate?
Much Ado About Nothing
Themes and Relationships
How does this play deal with the theme of appearance vs. reality?
Compare/contrast Shakespeares treatment of this theme in this play and in A
Midsummer Nights Dream.
How do both Benedick and Beatrice initially present themselves as scorners of
love and marriage?
How are the characters of Claudio and Benedick contrasted throughout the play?
Why is Claudio so easily deceived by Don John and what does this foreshadow?
How would you contrast the Claudio/Hero love relationship with that of Benedick
and Beatrice?
What are Don Johns issues with Don Pedro and the members of Leonatos
household?
What strategies are used by Claudio/Don Pedro/Leonato and Hero/Ursula to bring
Benedick and Beatrice together? How do Benedick and Beatrice react?
How is the new group of characters introduced in 3.3 contrasted with the other
sets of individuals (Leonatos household, the princes, Don John and his men) that
make up the cast? What segment of society do Dogberry and his men
represent?
How are the themes of honor and shame treated in this play? What do we learn
about the social standards and expectations of this society?
How do the various individuals react to Claudios accusations at the wedding?
What does this tell us about each character? How does this scene also mark a
change in the relationship between Benedick and Beatrice?
What role does deception play, ironically, in righting the wrongs of the play?
Structure and Genre
How is the play structured around scenes of overhearing, eavesdropping,
masking, and spying? Why/how is this significant in terms of the larger themes
of the play?
4

How does Shakespeare interweave the two threads of the story (Don Johns plot
to break up Hero and Claudio, Don Pedros plot to bring Beatrice and Benedick
together)?
How is 3.1 set up as a parallel scene to 2.3?
What is the structural purpose of the scenes involving Dogberry, Verges, and the
watchmen?
How is comedy combined with tragedy in Act 4? How is the wedding scene the
climax of the play?
Why does the play end with a call for music and dance?
How does this play follow the typical pattern for a comedy? Are there any
unusual elements?
What is the significance of the title of the play? (See your introduction for a
discussion of the word noting.)

Language and Imagery

How does the play focus on language and its manipulation as a source of truth or
deception?
What is the overall significance of linguistic performance in the play?
Why do you think Shakespeare writes almost the entire play in prose?
How is each character uniquely depicted through his/her language?
Why do Beatrice and Benedick constantly use the language of war/violence in
their encounters with each other?
How are Hero and Claudio contrasted with Beatrice and Benedick in terms of
language?
How do Benedicks two soliloquies at the beginning and end of 2.3 reflect his
change in attitude towards Beatrice? How does her soliloquy (short though it is)
in 3.1 reflect a similar change?
How is fashion used as a metaphor throughout the play? (See Act 3 in
particular.) What is its connection with themes of appearance vs. reality,
deception, illusion, and masking?
What is unique about Dogberrys use (or misuse) of language? How does this
become ironic in the play? Why does Dogberry insist that everything be written
down?
Why does Claudios punishment include writing an epitaph for Hero?
How does 5.2 highlight the issue of language in conjunction with the courtship
between Benedick and Beatrice? What is the significance of Benedicks
attempts to write a sonnet and the written evidence of Beatrice/Benedicks
love?
How/why must Hero symbolically go through a process of death and rebirth?
The Winters Tale
Themes and Relationships
What is the relationship between Leontes and Polixenes? What is the
relationship between Leontes and Hermione? Why does Leontes accuse
Polixenes and Hermione of adultery, when there is no evidence to support his
suspicions? On what does his jealousy seem to be based?
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Why does Leontes move so quickly to such villainous accusations? Is he mad?

Why does he refuse to listen to any of his advisors? Why is he so vindictive in
banishing Hermione to prison and wanting her and her daughter dead?
What kind of woman is Hermione? How does she deal with Leontess
accusations? Given her circumstances, why is she unafraid of death?
What part does the Oracle play in the story? What is the judgment of Apollo?
What is the role of divine intervention (the gods) in the play?
What kind of individual is Paulina? How does she defy typical gender
constructions? Does Leontes feel threatened by her independence and
demonstration of female power?
What finally causes Leontes to change his mind about Hermione and to admit
that he has been wrong?
What is the significance of Antigonuss dream?
What is the purpose of the character Time in Act 4?
How is the notion of disguising incorporated into the play? What
thematic/symbolic significance does this have?
What kind of character is Autolycus? What is his purpose in the play? How is he
a sympathetic rogue? Why do we, as audience members, not take his
deception seriously?
Why is there so much music and song in Act 4 of the play? What is its purpose?
How is Florizel and Perditas relationship contrasted with the earlier relationship
of Leontes and Hermione? How is Florizel a stark contrast to Leontes as far as
his trust in and commitment to his companion?
How does Polixeness condemnation of Florizel and Perdita ironically parallel
Leontess earlier condemnation of Polixenes and Hermione? Why is Polixenes so
vindictive?
Paulina comments on the lifelike nature of the statue of Hermione. Do you think
Hermione has been alive all this time, or does the statue magically come to life?
What do you think Paulinas part is in all of this?
Why must Leontes awaken his faith in order for the statue to move? How is
this significant symbolically?
Why does it take music to wake up Hermione?
How is the question of art/artifice treated in the play? What are the relative
values of art and nature? How does art help to restore order to the court and
to the natural world? How is Paulina then an artist at the end of the play?

Structure and Genre

How does the play fit the romance genre? How does it combine tragedy and
comedy? Although the play ends happily, how is this happiness tempered or
shadowed by loss?
What fantastic/magical elements does this romance include? How does it play
off the fairy tale genre (with the castle frozen under a spell of enchantment)?
Why is the work called the winters tale? What does this imply? How is
seasonal setting particularly important in this play?
How is Leontess admission of fault/guilt in Act 3 the structural climax of the
play? How does it function as the conclusion to the tragedy?
How does the mood shift from tragedy to comedy at the end of Act 3 with the
introduction of the shepherd and his son?
6

How does Shakespeare contrast Bohemia and Sicilia?

Why is scene 4.4 so long?
Why does Shakespeare have the events of the reconciliation between Polixenes,
Leontes, and Perdita told secondhand to Autolycus by three gentlemen? Why do
you think he chooses not to have the audience witness the reunion?
How is all restored to order in the end of the play? How is the ending typical of a
comedy?

Imagery and Language

How does the play deal with the issue of resemblance (between Leontes and
Mamillius, between Leontes and Perdita, between Perdita and Hermione,
between Florizel and Polixenes)? Why/how is resemblance significant?
What is the significance of Leontess speech about nothing in 1.2 (ll. 294-298)?
How is imagery of disease, infection, and medicine used throughout the play?
How does the play emphasize the planets as controlling some of the moods and
moves of the humans?
What is the significance of the discussion in 4.4 between Polixenes (disguised)
and Perdita about crossbreeding flowers? What thematic importance does this
have?
How are hands used symbolically throughout the play?
How is it fitting that the play ends in spring with a true rebirth or
resurrection? What Christian connotations does this miracle have?
Note: I will add the questions about Richard III after I return and find out
what you covered. I will also add questions about Shakespeares Reading
at that time.