MCQs on Comedy of Humors
1. Who is considered the originator of the comedy of humors?
a. William Shakespeare
b. Ben Jonson
c. Christopher Marlowe
d. John Dryden
2. In the comedy of humors, characters are often driven by:
a. Romantic love
b. Personal flaws and traits
c. Political ambitions
d. Supernatural forces
3. Which of the following best describes the term “humors” in the context of comedy?
a. Physical ailments
b. Personality traits or temperaments
c. Humorous jokes
d. Comedic situations
4. Ben Jonson’s play “Every Man in His Humour” is set in which city?
a. London
b. Paris
c. Rome
d. Athens
5. In the comedy of humors, characters often represent exaggerated versions of:
a. Historical figures
b. Common people
c. Mythical creatures
d. Literary archetypes
6. Which of the following humors is associated with a calm and phlegmatic temperament?
a. Choler
b. Melancholy
c. Sanguine
d. Phlegm
7. The character of Captain Bobadil in Ben Jonson’s plays is known for his exaggerated:
a. Courage
b. Wit
c. Cowardice
d. Ego
8. What is the central theme of “Volpone” by Ben Jonson?
a. Love and romance
b. Greed and deception
c. Revenge and tragedy
d. Political intrigue
9. In comedy of humors, characters often undergo a process of:
a. Enlightenment
b. Transformation
c. Tragedy
d. Romantic pursuit
10. The term “humorism” traces its roots to ancient:
a. Greek philosophy
b. Roman mythology
c. Egyptian literature
d. Chinese drama
11. Which humor is associated with an enthusiastic and optimistic temperament?
a. Choler
b. Melancholy
c. Sanguine
d. Phlegm
12. What is the role of the “alchemist” in Ben Jonson’s play “The Alchemist”?
a. A scientist experimenting with potions
b. A comedic figure seeking personal improvement
c. A mystical character with supernatural powers
d. A con artist engaging in deception
13. Which of the following plays is not written by Ben Jonson?
a. Volpone
b. The Alchemist
c. Tamburlaine
d. Every Man in His Humour
14. The character Morose in Jonson’s “Epicoene” is known for his extreme:
a. Generosity
b. Silence
c. Gullibility
d. Miserliness
15. What is the primary motive of the characters in Jonson’s “The Alchemist”?
a. Love
b. Wealth
c. Revenge
d. Power
16. Who is the main character in Jonson’s “Volpone”?
a. Mosca
b. Volpone
c. Bonario
d. Sir Politic Would-Be
17. The comedy of humors often satirizes:
a. Romantic ideals
b. Social and moral vices
c. Historical events
d. Supernatural phenomena
18. Which humor is associated with an irritable and easily angered temperament?
a. Choler
b. Melancholy
c. Sanguine
d. Phlegm
19. What role does the character Brainworm play in Jonson’s “Every Man in His Humour”?
a. A doctor
b. A servant
c. A king
d. A jester
20. Which of the following plays by Ben Jonson is a city comedy?
a. Volpone
b. The Alchemist
c. Bartholomew Fair
d. Sejanus His Fall
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21. In comedy of humors, characters are often named based on:
a. Their social status
b. Literary references
c. Their physical appearance
d. Mythological figures
22. What is the primary setting for many of Ben Jonson’s city comedies?
a. Rural villages
b. Royal palaces
c. Urban environments
d. Foreign countries
23. The character Sir Epicure Mammon in “The Alchemist” is driven by his desire for:
a. Knowledge
b. Power
c. Love
d. Wealth
24. What role does the character Volpone play in Jonson’s play of the same name?
a. A trickster
b. A wealthy man seeking heirs
c. A court jester
d. A philosopher
25. Which humor is associated with a sad and pensive temperament?
a. Choler
b. Melancholy
c. Sanguine
d. Phlegm
26. What is the relationship between Mosca and Volpone in Jonson’s “Volpone”?
a. Father and son
b. Master and servant
c. Brothers
d. Rivals
27. Which of the following is a characteristic of the comedy of humors?
a. Tragic endings
b. Happy endings
c. Historical accuracy
d. Supernatural elements
28. What is the significance of the term “gull” in comedy of humors?
a. A humorous character
b. A foolish person who is easily deceived
c. A wise and cunning individual
d. A supernatural being
29. Which of the following is NOT a common theme in the comedy of humors?
a. Deception
b. Romantic love
c. Social satire
d. Political intrigue
30. What does the term “gulling” refer to in the context of comedy of humors?
a. Healing through laughter
b. The process of deceiving someone
c. A form of entertainment
d. The pursuit of wealth
31. What is the role of “Epicoene” in Jonson’s play of the same name?
a. A wise counselor
b. A beautiful woman
c. A cunning servant
d. A mute character
32. The character Subtle in “The Alchemist” is known for his skill in:
a. Juggling
b. Alchemy
c. Music
d. Comedy
33. Which of the following is a common plot device in comedy of humors?
a. Tragic love triangles
b. Mistaken identities
c. Epic battles
d. Time travel
34. In comedy of humors, characters often undergo a process of:
a. Transformation
b. Enlightenment
c. Tragedy
d. Romantic pursuit
35. What is the primary motivation of the character Volpone in Jonson’s play “Volpone”?
a. Love
b. Wealth
c. Revenge
d. Power
36. In “Bartholomew Fair,” what event is the central focus of the play?
a. A royal wedding
b. A fair or market
c. A battle between two cities
d. A political conspiracy
37. The character Sir Toby Belch in Shakespeare’s “Twelfth Night” shares similarities with the comedy of humors in his:
a. Witty dialogue
b. Physical prowess
c. Drunken and disorderly behavior
d. Love for romantic poetry
38. What role does the character Face play in Jonson’s “The Alchemist”?
a. A trickster
b. A wise counselor
c. A loyal servant
d. A romantic hero
39. Which of the following is a recurring theme in Jonson’s city comedies
a. Tragic love stories
b. Social mobility
c. Epic adventures
d. Political conspiracies
40. In comedy of humors, characters are often named based on:
a. Their social status
b. Literary references
c. Their physical appearance
d. Mythological figures
41. The character Volpone in Jonson’s play of the same name is often compared to which animal?
a. Fox
b. Lion
c. Eagle
d. Serpent
42. What role does the character Peregrine play in Jonson’s “Volpone”?
a. A lawyer
b. A doctor
c. A detective
d. A traveler
43. In “The Alchemist,” what is the primary setting of the play?
a. A palace
b. A laboratory
c. A market square
d. A ship
44. The character Fastidious Brisk in Jonson’s “Every Man in His Humour” is known for his:
a. Bravery
b. Wit
c. Foolishness
d. Generosity
45. Which of the following plays by Jonson is categorized as a romantic comedy?
a. Volpone
b. The Alchemist
c. Epicoene
d. Bartholomew Fair
46. What role does the character Sir Epicure Mammon play in “The Alchemist”?
a. A wealthy benefactor
b. A philosopher seeking knowledge
c. A trickster
d. A religious figure
47. The term “gulling” in the context of comedy of humors refers to:
a. Healing through laughter
b. The process of deceiving someone
c. A form of entertainment
d. The pursuit of wealth
48. Which of the following is a common characteristic of the humor of “Choler”?
a. Calm and phlegmatic temperament
b. Enthusiastic and optimistic temperament
c. Sad and pensive temperament
d. Irritable and easily angered temperament
49. What is the primary theme of “Bartholomew Fair” by Ben Jonson?
a. Love and romance
b. Social and moral satire
c. Political intrigue
d. Supernatural phenomena
50. In “Volpone,” what is the role of Mosca in relation to Volpone?
a. Friend
b. Servant
c. Rival
d. Parent
Answers
b. Ben Jonson
b. Personal flaws and traits
b. Personality traits or temperaments
a. London
b. Common people
d. Phlegm
a. Courage
b. Greed and deception
b. Transformation
a. Greek philosophy
c. Sanguine
b. A comedic figure seeking personal improvement
c. Tamburlaine
b. Silence
b. Wealth
b. Volpone
b. Social and moral vices
a. Choler
b. A servant
c. Bartholomew Fair
c. Their physical appearance
c. Urban environments
d. Wealth
a. A trickster
b. Melancholy
b. Master and servant
b. Happy endings
b. A foolish person who is easily deceived
b. Romantic love
b. The process of deceiving someone
b. A beautiful woman
b. Alchemy
b. Mistaken identities
a. Transformation
b. Wealth
b. A fair or market
c. Drunken and disorderly behavior
a. A trickster
b. Social mobility
c. Their physical appearance
a. Fox
d. A traveler
b. A laboratory
b. Wit
c. Epicoene
b. A philosopher seeking knowledge
b. The process of deceiving someone
d. Irritable and easily angered temperament
b. Social and moral satire
b. Servant
