Themes & Characters
Which statement best expresses a central theme of Macbeth?
A. Love always conquers death.
B. Unchecked ambition can destroy individuals and social order.
C. War never solves any problems.
D. True friendship is more important than honesty.
B. Unchecked ambition can destroy individuals and social order.
Which of the following best describes the overall structure of Beowulf?
A. A series of three heroic battles that show Beowulf as a young warrior and as an older king.
B. A diary with daily entries about farm life.
C. A courtroom drama told entirely through letters.
D. A single battle described over and over again.
A. A series of three heroic battles that show Beowulf as a young warrior and as an older king.
A soliloquy in a play is best defined as:
A. A speech delivered to another character in confidence.
B. A speech by a character alone on stage, revealing inner thoughts.
C. A conversation between three or more characters.
D. A speech by the chorus that explains the ending.
B. A speech by a character alone on stage, revealing inner thoughts.
Which question best helps evaluate whether an author’s evidence is strong and relevant in an argument?
A. Is the evidence brief and funny?
B. Is the evidence recent, clearly connected to the claim, and specific?
C. Is the evidence written in long paragraphs?
D. Is the evidence from a fictional story?
B. Is the evidence recent, clearly connected to the claim, and specific?
“Macbeth’s insatiable ambition meant that no promotion or honor ever felt like enough.”
In this sentence, insatiable most nearly means:
A. Easily satisfied
B. Impossible to satisfy
C. Temporary
D. Unimportant
B. Impossible to satisfy
Which detail from Macbeth best supports the idea that Macbeth’s ambition overpowers his morality?
A. He refuses the title of Thane of Cawdor.
B. He warns Banquo about the witches.
C. He murders King Duncan to speed up the prophecy.
D. He decides to move away from Scotland.
C. He murders King Duncan to speed up the prophecy.
In Macbeth, which plot element most clearly shows rising tension and Macbeth’s growing desperation?
A. Macbeth’s first meeting with the witches.
B. Macbeth’s coronation banquet haunted by Banquo’s ghost.
C. Macbeth’s childhood memories in a flashback.
D. Macbeth’s quiet walk through the forest.
B. Macbeth’s coronation banquet haunted by Banquo’s ghost.
In Lady Macbeth’s sleepwalking scene (“Out, damned spot!”), her speech mainly reveals:
A. Her physical strength in battle.
B. Her desire to become queen again.
C. Her guilt and mental breakdown after the murders.
D. Her boredom with castle life.
C. Her guilt and mental breakdown after the murders.
A critic claims, “Macbeth is only a victim of fate and never responsible for his choices.” Which detail from the play best weakens this argument?
A. Macbeth hears the witches’ prophecy.
B. Macbeth sees Banquo’s ghost at the banquet.
C. Macbeth actively decides to murder Duncan to gain the crown.
D. Macbeth writes a letter to his wife.
C. Macbeth actively decides to murder Duncan to gain the crown.
“Beowulf seeks immortality through fame, knowing his body will still die one day.”
In this sentence, immortality most nearly means:
A. A very short life
B. Endless life or lasting existence
C. Physical weakness
D. Hidden treasure
B. Endless life or lasting existence
Which statement best expresses a central theme of Beowulf?
A. Quiet study is the highest virtue.
B. The heroic code values bravery, loyalty, and lasting fame.
C. Wealth is more important than honor.
D. Peace can be kept only through silence.
B. The heroic code values bravery, loyalty, and lasting fame.
The quest structure in “The Wife of Bath’s Tale,” where the knight must discover what women want most, mainly helps the author:
A. Add random travel scenes with no purpose.
B. Delay the ending so the story is longer.
C. Present many different opinions about marriage and power.
D. Focus only on the king’s political problems.
C. Present many different opinions about marriage and power.
In Beowulf, a kenning such as “whale-road” is:
A. A short song sung after a battle.
B. A compound metaphor that renames something in a poetic way.
C. A Latin footnote used to explain references.
D. A type of rhyme scheme at the end of lines.
B. A compound metaphor that renames something in a poetic way.
Which statement contains a false premise?
A. “All kings are evil, so Duncan must be a tyrant too.”
B. “Macbeth hesitates before killing Duncan, showing some inner conflict.”
C. “The witches appear early, which signals their importance to the plot.”
D. “Macbeth’s actions have serious consequences for Scotland.”
A. “All kings are evil, so Duncan must be a tyrant too.”
The root auto- in the word autonomy means “self.” What is the best definition of autonomy?
A. Fear of others
B. Self-government or independence
C. Group control of an individual
D. Hatred of authority
B. Self-government or independence
Which detail from Beowulf best supports the theme you identified in Question 3?
A. Beowulf refuses to speak to anyone.
B. Beowulf fights Grendel to protect Hrothgar’s hall and win honor.
C. Beowulf ignores all celebrations and feasts.
D. Beowulf avoids dangerous battles to live longer.
B. Beowulf fights Grendel to protect Hrothgar’s hall and win honor.
In terms of structure, Macbeth’s repeated visits to the witches and visions (dagger, Banquo’s ghost, apparitions) primarily serve to:
A. Provide comic relief.
B. Create suspense and show the consequences of his choices.
C. Explain the geography of Scotland.
D. Introduce random minor characters.
B. Create suspense and show the consequences of his choices.
Which is the best example of alliteration in a line that could describe Beowulf?
A. “The hero fought bravely at night.”
B. “Beowulf battled the bloodthirsty beast.”
C. “A great battle happened many years ago.”
D. “The monster scared everyone nearby.”
B. “Beowulf battled the bloodthirsty beast.”
In “The Wife of Bath’s Tale,” the knight’s forced quest functions as an argument about power. Which claim is best supported by the events of the story?
A. Power is safest when only kings have it.
B. True harmony in marriage comes when a man allows his wife equal or greater authority.
C. Women are happiest when they keep silent.
D. Marriage cannot be changed by any choices.
B. True harmony in marriage comes when a man allows his wife equal or greater authority.
The word misogyny contains “mis-” (hate) and “gyn” (woman). Misogyny most nearly means:
A. Hatred of women
B. Love of women
C. Fear of women
D. Respect for women
A. Hatred of women
Which statement best expresses a central theme of “The Wife of Bath’s Tale”?
A. Women desire complete isolation from society.
B. Marriage is always perfect when husbands are silent.
C. Women desire power and sovereignty in relationships.
D. Men should control every decision in marriage.
C. Women desire power and sovereignty in relationships.
Which event best marks the climax of Macbeth?
A. Macbeth and Banquo first meet the witches on the heath.
B. Macbeth murders Duncan in his sleep.
C. Macduff kills Macbeth and displays his head.
D. Malcolm returns to Scotland as the rightful king.
C. Macduff kills Macbeth and displays his head.
In “The Wife of Bath’s Tale,” the transformation of the old, ugly woman into a young, beautiful wife mainly symbolizes:
A. That outer beauty is always more important than inner worth.
B. That real gentility comes from character and mutual respect, not birth.
C. That magic always solves relationship conflicts.
D. That the knight should never have married.
B. That real gentility comes from character and mutual respect, not birth.
A student argues, “Beowulf is a true hero because he risks his life to protect others without being forced.” Which of the following is the strongest piece of textual evidence to support this claim?
A. Beowulf travels to Denmark of his own free will to fight Grendel.
B. Beowulf enjoys the feasts in Hrothgar’s hall.
C. Beowulf gives a long speech about his past victories.
D. Beowulf orders his men to protect the treasure hoard.
A. Beowulf travels to Denmark of his own free will to fight Grendel.
In a sentence about a king, tyranny would most likely refer to:
A. A kind ruler who listens to everyone.
B. A system in which no one holds power.
C. Cruel and oppressive use of power.
D. A government run entirely by chance,
C. Cruel and oppressive use of power.