She Stoops to Conquer

Oliver Goldsmith

1. What is the sub-title/alternative title of the play “She Stoops to Conquer”? [NU 2016]

Ans: The sub-title/alternative title of the play “She Stoops to Conquer” is “The Mistakes of a Night”.

3. Where is the scene of "She Stoops to Conquer" laid?

Ans: The scene of 'She Stoops to Conquer' is laid in the old fashioned, inn-like house of Mr. Hardcastle.

4. What is a Prologue?

Ans: A prologue is an opening to a story that establishes the setting and gives background details.

5. Who has written the prologue to "She Stoops to Conquer"?

Ans: David Garrick has written the prologue to "She Stoops to Conquer".  

6. Whom was ‘She Stoops to Conquer’ dedicated to?

Ans: “She Stoops to Conquer” was dedicated to Samuel Johnson.

7. Who was Woodward?

Ans: Woodward was a comic actor in “She Stoops to Conquer”. At the play's opening, he   enters and speaks the prologue.

8. Why was Woodward weeping?

Ans: Woodward was weeping at the death of comedy.

9. Who was the Comic Muse?

Ans: Thalia, the daughter of Zeus and Mnemosyne, was the Comic Muse. 

10. Who is Mr. Hardcastle?

Ans: Mr. Hardcastle is an old-fashioned country squire living in an old house.

11. What does Mr. Hardcastle love? [NU 2013, 2015]

Ans: Mr. Hardcastle loves everything that's old: old friends, old times, old manners, old books, and old wine.

12. Who was Mrs. Hardcastle?

Ans: Mrs. Hardcastle was a corrupt and eccentric character who was the wife of Mr. Hardcastle and mother of Tony.

13. How old was Mrs. Hardcastle? [NU 2012]

Ans: Mrs. Hardcastle was 57 years old.

14. Who is Dorothy?

Ans: Dorothy is the wife to Mr. Hardcastle and mother to Tony from an earlier marriage.

15. Why does Mrs. Hardcastle want to visit the city of London?

Ans: Mrs. Hardcastle wants to visit the city of London because she has never been to London which is the city of style and fashion, the place to see and be seen.

16. What is a Stagecoach?

Ans: A stagecoach is a type of covered wagon used to carry passengers and goods inside. It is generally drawn by four horses.

17. What is the curate?

Ans: The curate is a clergyman who is in charge of a parish.

18. What is the name of the inn where Tony passes time?

Ans: The name of the inn where Tony passes time is “Three Pigeons”.

19. What is “The Three Pigeons”? [NU 2016]

Ans: “The Three Pigeons” is the name of an inn where Tony visits regularly.

20. Who is Young Marlow? [NU 2014]

Ans: Young Marlow is the son of Mr. Hardcastle's old friend, Charles Marlow.

21. Who was Tory Lumpkin?

Ans: Tony Lumpkin was the son of Dorothy and Mr. Lumpkin, her first husband.

22. Why does Tony misguide Marlowe and Hastings?

Ans: Tony misguides Marlowe and Hastings because he is displeased by knowing from Marlow that Mr. Hardcastle has a beautiful daughter and an awkward and spoilt child. The child mentioned here actually refers to Tony himself.  

23. Why does Tony take revenge on his mother?

Ans: Tony takes revenge on his mother for spoiling him by indulgence and for keeping his inheritance away.   

24. What name does Tony give to Mr. Hardcastle’s house?

Ans: The name that Tony gives to Mr. Hardcastle‘s house is “Buck’s Head”.

25. What is the Buck's Head?

Ans: The Buck's Head is the name of Mr. Hardcastle’s house which looks like an inn.

26. How was the house of Mr. Hardcastle?

Ans: The house of Mr. Hardcastle was an old house which seems to be an inn.

27. Why is Mr. Hardcastle's house called Quagmire Marsh?

Ans: Mr. Hardcastle's house is called Quagmire Marsh because it is situated amidst marsh.

28. How does Marlow behave in the company of the women of lower class?

Ans: Marlow is bold and forward when he is in the company of the women of lower class.

29. How is Marlow?

Ans: Marlow lacks self-confidence in social settings and freezes up around women of his own class, who make him incredibly nervous.

30. What qualities does Marlow possess?

Ans: Marlow is young, handsome, educated, liberal, understanding and reserved.

31. What qualities of Marlow does Kate like most?

Ans: The qualities of Marlow that Kate likes most are his youth and handsome appearance.

32. Who is Kate?

Ans: Kate is the daughter of Mr. Hardcastle and the heroine of the play, “She Stoops to Conquer”.

33. What is Kate fond of?

Ans: Kate is fond of transparent silk made French dresses.

34. Who is Miss Neville?

Ans: Miss Neville is the niece of Mrs. Hardcastle. She is the woman whom Hastings intends to court.

35. How was Miss Neville?

Ans: Miss Neville was kind, affectionate, and practical. 

36. What is the fortune of Miss Neville?

Ans: The fortune of Miss Neville is a casket of jewellery left to her by her father.

37. In whose possession ware the jewellery of Miss Neville? [NU 2012]

Ans: The jewellery of Miss Neville ware in possession of Mrs. Hardcastle. 

38. Why does Mrs. Hardcastle want her son to marry Miss Neville? [NU 2014]

Ans: Mrs. Hardcastle wants her son to marry Miss Neville for acquiring her jewellery.

39. 'This is a riddle’ - what is a riddle to Hastings?

Ans: Tony’s speech “Left them! Why where should I leave them but where I found them?” is a riddle to Hastings. 

40. Where does Hastings want to elope with Neville?

Ans: Hastings wants to elope with Neville to France.

41. Who is called a maypole in “She Stoops to Conquer”? Why?

Ans: Kate Hardcastle is called a maypole by Tony Lumpkin to Hastings and Marlow in “She Stoops to Conquer” because Tony wanted to misguide them. 

42. Who is Diggory?

Ans: Diggory is one of the servants of Mr. Hardcastle.

43. How does Diggory want to control his appetite?

Ans: Diggory wants to control his appetite by filling his stomach with a slice of cold beef in the pantry

44. When does Marlow behave like an idiot?

Ans: Marlow behave like an idiot when he is with the women of high social status and honour.

45. What is the final advice of Mr. Hardcastle to Marlow?

Ans: The final advice of Mr. Hardcastle to Marlowe is not to take his wife as somebody else, as he has done before by mistaking his wife for a barmaid.  

46. Who is Dick in “She Stoops to Conquer”?

Ans: Mr. Hardcastle is called “Dick” by Marlow in “She Stoops to Conquer”?

47. Who is Brazen in “She Stoops to Conquer”?

Ans: Marlow is considered by Mr. Hardcastle as Mr. Brazen in “She Stoops to Conquer”

48. Who is Dr. Drowsy?

Ans: Dr. Drowsy is probably the clergyman of a local church. The name suggests the dullness of his sermons. 

49. What is a barmaid?

Ans: A barmaid is a woman serving behind the bar of a pub or hotel. 

50. Who is Bet Bouncer?

Ans: Bet Bouncer is a red-faced, large, jolly country girl whom Tony wants to marry. Bet never appears onstage.

51. What is a florentine?

Ans: A florentine a dish prepared with eggs, poultry or fish which has been cooked in butter, then topped with sauce and grated cheese, and finally browned under the broiler.

52. What is the Pantheon?

Ans: The Pantheon is a building in Rome. It is an earlier building commissioned by Marcus Agrippa during the reign of Augustus.

53. What is inoculation?

Ans: Inoculation is a historical method for the prevention of smallpox.

54. What is masquerade?

Ans: A masquerade is a type of attack where the attacker pretends to be a legal user of a system to gain access.

55. What is Pimple?

Ans: Pimple is the maid servant of Miss Hardcastle.

56. What is epilogue?

Ans: Epilogue is a section or speech at the end of a book or play that serves as a comment on or a conclusion to what has happened.

57. What is lampoon?

Ans: Lampoon is a sharp, often poisonous satire directed against an individual or institution.