Shakespeare Study Programs; The Comedies

The reference in scene ii, to the occurrence taking place in scene i, suggests a somewhat odd chance coincidence in the arrival from Syracuse on the same day of both of these st...

source of complication is brought forward in this Act, also. Show what it is, and how it both adds to the interest of the Play as a story and to the confusion begun by the mista...

The closed door between the two groups, one within the house, the other without, is the only barrier to such an exhibition of the double resemblances as would clear up all diffi...

The errors of the early Acts begin simply and proceed by begetting other errors and beginning, also, with but one of the twin masters and one of the twin men-servants proceed by...

carried on in the present Act. Show how by means of these larger circles of complication, e.g., the arrests, the visits of the Courtisan to Adriana in the attempt to get back he...

The climax of bewilderment being reached in the evidence that the same man is both out of the Priory and in it, solutions follow. Trace the steps by which this is accomplished.

Valentine's reasons for travel and those of Protheus for staying at home separate the two friends. Compare Valentine's preference of Honor, and that of Protheus for Love, with t...

Explain the courtship scene with which this Act opens as illustrating the service of love in systems of Chivalry. (For hints on this see Introduction to the Play in "First Folio...

What effect has the arrival of Protheus at the Milanese Court? How does the new-comer manage to dominate this Act? Point out the skill of Protheus in making his disclosure to th...

Show how the villain Protheus is instrumental in bringing these two women together, and how this is equivalent to uniting against his evil policy, the good forces of the Play. T...

Does outlawry here represent the injustices of civic life? To what degree? Or the natural life beneficent and innocent of Arden Forest in "As You Like It?" To what degree is thi...

Trace the antiquity of this schooling of a wife, and the resemblances and contrasts in the chief variants of the story (for help in this see Sources in "First Folio Edition").

The theme of the Comedy--the exclusion of love for the sake of winning fame for learning, is made clear by the first speaker. The opposition Love will make to this is next expre...

How is it made apparent that the effect of the Embassy of France to Navarre will be on the side of Love against the Vow? The ladies' remarks upon the students of the _Achademe_...

In making Armado the keeper of Costard, the Clown's breaking of the vow has already been satirized by the King's own act. Armado now takes his next turn at making Costard's sent...

What relation has the second scene of Act IV to the Play? Of what use to the preceding action, and to the present? Of what use are all these new characters to the Plot? One has...

What were the main events of the last Act and of this one, and how do they bear upon one another? Why is the revenge planned by the Princess both fair and prudent? Are the men m...

The Story of Act I results, on the arrival of the Prince and his suite, in making it known that Claudio has noted Hero as "the sweetest Ladie" that ever he "lookt on." Show how...

Tell the story of the masked ball. What new light is thrown, first, on the characters and, then, on the plot by means of these fragmentary bits of dialogue heard as the reveller...

Show that the action taking the Story on consists in the "note-ing" already planned being enacted and being noted as true. How does this work with Beatrice in Scene i?

Why is the Friar on her side? Notice how the Friar represents the Church as Dogberry does the Law. As institutional forces of civic life, outside the circle of the central group...

The valor and humor of the two old men against the two young ones has especial value in restoring the comic vein. How does this somewhat belated loyalty of Leonato act upon our...

It may be noticed that Theseus and Hippolyta and their marriage festivities are personages and events which make up a decorative external sort of frame for the whole play, but t...

Point out how this is made to crystallize in Oberon's scheme for revenge on Titania, and also how, in the course of disentangling their own love-snarl, it is made to develop the...

Analyze the scenes constituting this Act. Observe that scene i. takes up Bottom and his fellows, the group not as yet brought into relation with the fairy group, and initiates t...

Why does Oberon himself release Titania while Puck is made to minister to the other victims of the charm? Is Oberon's explanation of the Fairy Queen's sudden change of heart abo...

Notice that in it the three groups of characters constituting the play--the court group with the lovers; the 'rude mechanicals' and their 'tedious brief scene,' and the fairy tr...

Why is Anthonio sad? Is it presentiment? Is it, despite his unselfish willingness to furnish forth Bassanio to sue at Belmont for Portia, some sense of loss in friendship throug...

Why is Jessica's story intertwined with Portia's? What dramatic purposes does it serve? Are Jessica and Launce alike justified in leaving Shylock? Why? (See Introduction to the...

Is Bassanio's daring in venturing so much for his chance with Portia itself a sign of his fitness, or the reverse? How is his casket significant of this test-stone--i.e., advent...

By means of Bassanio's luck in winning Portia's love and hand Shylock is finally defeated of his malicious purpose. Portia considered as the embodiment of Bassanio's luck and th...

How is it linked to the preceding Act? Since reunion and rejoicing are not alone the business of the plot; since recognition and declaration to the two husbands, and to Anthonio...

Is the grievance of Shallow against Falstaffe a necessity of the plot to show the fat knight in love, or an episode introduced out of Shakespeare's grudge towards Sir Thomas Luc...

between the lovers, which, owing to the disguise assumed by Rosalind, gives rise to the charming inconsistencies attending the wooing of a proxy Rosalind who is in reality Rosal...

Duke and Olivia? What do we learn from the conversation of Viola and the Captain in scene ii., and what course does Viola decide upon? What do we discover from scene iii. in reg...

situation? What important event occurs in this scene iii? Act V. scene i.: Describe how in this scene all the complications are unravelled, and by what means all the characters...

The first scene shows the storm in progress. Is there any clew given to the reader that it is a magic tempest? What is Prospero's main object in having the ship's crew and passe...

Tell the story of Act II, showing how its main event is the conspiracy of Antonio and Sebastian against Alonzo and Gonzalo. Is the issue left undecided long, so that it threaten...

What new turns are given events in Act III? Scene i continues Ferdinand's love-making, and shows no hinddrances there to Prospero's plans; but scene ii develops Caliban's plot,...

Show how the story of Act IV consists in the smoothing down of all that disturbs Prospero's designs, and foreshadows the complete reconciliation of the last act. The lovers, who...

Sum up the results consummated by Prospero's magic. Note Gonzalo's account of the play, and show the ethical results, and Ariel's part in Prospero's course of reconciliation. Ex...