3.22 Reading Guide to The Way of the World (Acts 1-3)
Due before class on November 8. This is a double reading guide, worth 10 points.
Note: The plot is complicated, and the witty characters sometimes say exactly the opposite of what they mean, so read carefully! The last paragraph of the introduction to William Congreve (pp. 2227-28) will help you get the characters straight. Mirabell is the hero and yes, it's a man's name. Millamant is the heroine. Mirabell and Millamant may not behave in ways we would consider heroic but in the 18th century London of the play they are the "good" characters. Opposing them are the villainous Fainall (another guy), and his mistress, Marwood. Although several of the women are called "Mrs." in the cast of characters, only Mrs. Fainall is married. "Mrs." is a courtesy title.
Act 1
1. As the curtain rises, Fainall and Mirabell have just finished a game of cards. Who won? Why does Mirabell seem "out of humor" (that is, in a bad mood)? Hint: It has nothing to do with cards.
2. We learn several things in this opening scene between Fainall and Mirabell. Fill in the blanks: Millamant will lose half her fortune if she marries someone not approved of by ________________. Lady Wishfort is _________ years old. Mirabell had previously pretended to be in love with Lady Wishfort so he could be close to ____________. Mirabell is angry with Mrs. ___________ because she uncovered his trick on Lady Wishfort.
3. Who does Waitwell work for? Who does Foible work for? What have Waitwell and Foible just done, at Mirabell's instigation? (You may not be sure of the answer until the end of Act 2.)
4. What two men are rumored to be coming to London? (Witwoud has a letter from one of them. Petulant heard about the other at Millimant's house the previous night.)
Act 2
5. In the park, Mirabell talks privately with Mrs. Fainall while Fainall talks with Mrs. Marwood. What is the relationship between Fainall and Mrs. Marwood? Of what does Fainall accuse Mrs. Marwood on page 2241? What are Fainall's feelings toward his wife?
6. In Mirabell's talk with Mrs. Fainall, we learn more new information. Who encouraged Mrs. Fainall to marry Fainall? What is the real identity of Mirabell's uncle? What would Lady Wishfort "do anything to get"?
7. On pages 2244-47, we see Mirabell and Millamant together for the first time. Remember what you know about these two. Mirabell is genuinely in love with Millamant. In this scene, Millamant says some fairly harsh things to Mirabell. (For example: "I think I must resolve after all not to have you.") Do you think Millamant really intends to reject Mirabell? Could there be another explanation for her behavior here?
Act 3
8. Why is Lady Wishfort taking such pains with her makeup? Who is she expecting, and what does she hope will happen?
9. What is Mirabell's plan for winning Lady Wishfort's approval of his marriage to Millamant? Who overhears Foible and Mrs. Fainall discussing the plan? Who does Marwood propose as a match for Millamant?
10. On pages 2259-61, Marwood and Fainall come up with their own plot. What does Fainall want from Lady Wishfort and Mrs. Fainall? What seems to be Marwood's main motivation?
Due before class on November 8. This is a double reading guide, worth 10 points.
Note: The plot is complicated, and the witty characters sometimes say exactly the opposite of what they mean, so read carefully! The last paragraph of the introduction to William Congreve (pp. 2227-28) will help you get the characters straight. Mirabell is the hero and yes, it's a man's name. Millamant is the heroine. Mirabell and Millamant may not behave in ways we would consider heroic but in the 18th century London of the play they are the "good" characters. Opposing them are the villainous Fainall (another guy), and his mistress, Marwood. Although several of the women are called "Mrs." in the cast of characters, only Mrs. Fainall is married. "Mrs." is a courtesy title.
Act 1
1. As the curtain rises, Fainall and Mirabell have just finished a game of cards. Who won? Why does Mirabell seem "out of humor" (that is, in a bad mood)? Hint: It has nothing to do with cards.
2. We learn several things in this opening scene between Fainall and Mirabell. Fill in the blanks: Millamant will lose half her fortune if she marries someone not approved of by ________________. Lady Wishfort is _________ years old. Mirabell had previously pretended to be in love with Lady Wishfort so he could be close to ____________. Mirabell is angry with Mrs. ___________ because she uncovered his trick on Lady Wishfort.
3. Who does Waitwell work for? Who does Foible work for? What have Waitwell and Foible just done, at Mirabell's instigation? (You may not be sure of the answer until the end of Act 2.)
4. What two men are rumored to be coming to London? (Witwoud has a letter from one of them. Petulant heard about the other at Millimant's house the previous night.)
Act 2
5. In the park, Mirabell talks privately with Mrs. Fainall while Fainall talks with Mrs. Marwood. What is the relationship between Fainall and Mrs. Marwood? Of what does Fainall accuse Mrs. Marwood on page 2241? What are Fainall's feelings toward his wife?
6. In Mirabell's talk with Mrs. Fainall, we learn more new information. Who encouraged Mrs. Fainall to marry Fainall? What is the real identity of Mirabell's uncle? What would Lady Wishfort "do anything to get"?
7. On pages 2244-47, we see Mirabell and Millamant together for the first time. Remember what you know about these two. Mirabell is genuinely in love with Millamant. In this scene, Millamant says some fairly harsh things to Mirabell. (For example: "I think I must resolve after all not to have you.") Do you think Millamant really intends to reject Mirabell? Could there be another explanation for her behavior here?
Act 3
8. Why is Lady Wishfort taking such pains with her makeup? Who is she expecting, and what does she hope will happen?
9. What is Mirabell's plan for winning Lady Wishfort's approval of his marriage to Millamant? Who overhears Foible and Mrs. Fainall discussing the plan? Who does Marwood propose as a match for Millamant?
10. On pages 2259-61, Marwood and Fainall come up with their own plot. What does Fainall want from Lady Wishfort and Mrs. Fainall? What seems to be Marwood's main motivation?
3.23 Reading Guide to The Way of the World, Acts 4-5
Due before class on November 10. This is a double reading guide, worth 10 points.
Act 4
1. As Act 4 opens, Lady Wishfort has commanded her nephew Sir Wilfull Witwoud to propose marriage to Millamant. What does he seem to be more interested in doing?
2. What "contract" do Mirabell and Millamant negotiate on pages 2264-66?
3. What is Mirabell forbidding when he insists that Millamant "continue to like [her] own face as long as I shall"?
4. Who are Lady Wishfort and Waitwell (as Sir Rowland) discussing on page 2270?
5. How does Mrs. Marwood communicate what she knows about "Sir Rowland" to Lady Wishfort? How does Waitwell make Lady Wishfort believe the information is false?
Act 5
6. Why is Lady Wishfort angry at Foible at the beginning of Act 5?
7. What important information does Foible give to Mrs. Fainall on page 2274?
8. What scandal threatens Lady Wishfort and Mrs. Fainall in Act 5? What three conditions for avoiding the scandal does Fainall propose to Lady Wishfort on page 2277?
9. Which two characters act as witnesses to Fainall and Mrs. Marwood's extramarital affair?
10. How does Mirabell save Mrs. Fainall's estate?
Due before class on November 10. This is a double reading guide, worth 10 points.
Act 4
1. As Act 4 opens, Lady Wishfort has commanded her nephew Sir Wilfull Witwoud to propose marriage to Millamant. What does he seem to be more interested in doing?
2. What "contract" do Mirabell and Millamant negotiate on pages 2264-66?
3. What is Mirabell forbidding when he insists that Millamant "continue to like [her] own face as long as I shall"?
4. Who are Lady Wishfort and Waitwell (as Sir Rowland) discussing on page 2270?
5. How does Mrs. Marwood communicate what she knows about "Sir Rowland" to Lady Wishfort? How does Waitwell make Lady Wishfort believe the information is false?
Act 5
6. Why is Lady Wishfort angry at Foible at the beginning of Act 5?
7. What important information does Foible give to Mrs. Fainall on page 2274?
8. What scandal threatens Lady Wishfort and Mrs. Fainall in Act 5? What three conditions for avoiding the scandal does Fainall propose to Lady Wishfort on page 2277?
9. Which two characters act as witnesses to Fainall and Mrs. Marwood's extramarital affair?
10. How does Mirabell save Mrs. Fainall's estate?
3.24 Reading Guide to "A Modest Proposal" (pp. 2462-68)
Due before class November 12. Five points.
1. This essay offers a solution to a social problem. What is that problem, as stated in the subtitle?
2. Why does Swift's proposal not include children younger than one year old (paragraph 4)?
3. What two crimes does Swift say the implementation of his plan will prevent (paragraph 5)?
4. What is the effect of Swift's mathematical computations and use of words like "breeders" and "commodity" (rather than "child-bearing women" and "child")?
5. What shocking claim does Swift make at the top of page 2464? Why do you think he says that he got the idea from an American?
6. Swift drops his mask a bit in the fifth paragraph on page 2464, where "dear" means "expensive." In what way have landlords "devoured" adults?
7. Find at least one hint on pages 2464-65 that Swift's true purpose is to criticize and provoke shame in wealthy people who don't care about the poor.
8. Page 2466 lists at least six "advantages" of Swift's proposal. Find three of them.
9. Find on page 2467 at least three alternative solutions to the problems of the poor in Ireland. Why does Swift say he doesn't want to hear about these proposals? What seems to be his real opinion of these alternate proposals?
10. On page 2468, what does Swift say is his only motive for making his proposal? What do you think is his true motive?
Due before class November 12. Five points.
1. This essay offers a solution to a social problem. What is that problem, as stated in the subtitle?
2. Why does Swift's proposal not include children younger than one year old (paragraph 4)?
3. What two crimes does Swift say the implementation of his plan will prevent (paragraph 5)?
4. What is the effect of Swift's mathematical computations and use of words like "breeders" and "commodity" (rather than "child-bearing women" and "child")?
5. What shocking claim does Swift make at the top of page 2464? Why do you think he says that he got the idea from an American?
6. Swift drops his mask a bit in the fifth paragraph on page 2464, where "dear" means "expensive." In what way have landlords "devoured" adults?
7. Find at least one hint on pages 2464-65 that Swift's true purpose is to criticize and provoke shame in wealthy people who don't care about the poor.
8. Page 2466 lists at least six "advantages" of Swift's proposal. Find three of them.
9. Find on page 2467 at least three alternative solutions to the problems of the poor in Ireland. Why does Swift say he doesn't want to hear about these proposals? What seems to be his real opinion of these alternate proposals?
10. On page 2468, what does Swift say is his only motive for making his proposal? What do you think is his true motive?
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