Quiz guide: Arden of Faversham (1588-92)
Podcast
- What does Franklin mean, and why is that significant?
- What year was the play set, and what was going on at that time?
- Who are some of the mercenaries brought in to kill Arden?
- What, according to the lecturer, is a film (remade by the Coen brothers) analogous to this plot? Why?
- One reason Arden is unsympathetic, says the speaker, is that he withdraws into a "homosocial city world of business." What are some other reasons?
- What caused the problem of "landlordism" in this period?
- Why is it difficult to know how to feel about Alice? Why do we both pity and judge her?
- The play's main mode, Smith says, is doubt and vaccillation. Give an example.
- The play is not only ambivalent about the central couple but about several questions of status. What are these?
- One distinguishing feature of this "type" of play, domestic tragedy, is its wealth of domestic detail about "the middling sort." Give an example of this juxtaposition of the "mundane" and the "fatal."
- De Casibus tragedies (like Shakespeare's) are predicated on the falls of great men, not common men. But defenders (critics) of this kind of play say it is an example of "analogical belief." Explain.
- Protestants' idea of "companionate marriage" differed from Catholic ideas about marriage. How was that reflected in Protestant "conduct books"?
- In a 2004 revival of this play, how were Arden and Franklin represented?
- Smith says that in early modern plays, "a dead body on a stage" is a problem. Why?
- Franklin gives the epilogue, during which he calls the tragedy "naked." Why is that misleading, according to Smith?
Play (scenes 1-7)
- What is the most "monstrous" aspect of his wife's infidelity, according to Arden?
- How does Franklin advise Arden to handle his wife's infidelity?
- Who competes with Michael for Sue's hand? How does Alice use this competition?
- Mosby's friend Clarke has a special talent that Mosby is thinking of using. What is it?
- Besides Alice, what other incentive does Mosby have to kill Arden?
- How does Arden belittle Mosby?
- Finish this quote: "Tush, Mosby! Oaths..."
- Greene has one motive for killing Arden, and Alice gives him another. Describe these two motives.
- To avoid poisoning himself while he's making a poisoned crucifix, what does Clarke do?
- Bradshaw annoys Black Will when he asks him to perform a service for him. How does he annoy him?
- What prevents Black Will from killing Arden at St Pauls?
- How does Michael plan to help Black Will and Shakebag in their second attempt to kill Arden?
- Scenes v and vi have lots of hunting imagery. Give an example.
- Michael makes up a story of why he didn't do his part in the second murder attempt. Is he truthful? When asked that question, what is his response?