Restoration Drama Practice Questions
40 free Restoration Drama practice questions for the English Literature. Tap an option to answer — you get instant feedback, the correct answer, and a detailed explanation for every question.
Which 1660 event led to the reopening of English theaters after they had been closed for eighteen years?
- A The death of Oliver Cromwell and the collapse of the Protectorate
- B The Restoration of King Charles II
- C The Great Fire of London and subsequent rebuilding of the city
- D The signing of the Magna Carta by King John at Runnymede
Correct answer: The Restoration of King Charles II
With the return of Charles II from exile in France, the Puritan ban on theatrical performances was lifted. The King issued royal patents to Thomas Killigrew and William Davenant, establishing the two main acting companies of the era.
The 'Comedy of Manners' is most famous for its focus on which of the following?
- A The tragic downfall and moral ruin of noble kings and heroes
- B Religious allegories designed to impart Christian moral instruction
- C The witty social intrigues of the aristocratic upper class
- D The gritty everyday realism of the industrial working-class experience
Correct answer: The witty social intrigues of the aristocratic upper class
Restoration comedy, or the Comedy of Manners, satirized the artificiality, sexual intrigue, and social posturing of the upper classes. It prized 'wit' above all other character traits.
Who was the first professional female playwright in England, known for her play 'The Rover'?
- A Mary Astell
- B Margaret Cavendish
- C Aphra Behn, author of 'The Rover'
- D Anne Finch
Correct answer: Aphra Behn, author of 'The Rover'
Aphra Behn was a pioneer for women writers, earning a living through her plays, novels, and poetry. 'The Rover' (1677) is her most celebrated work, featuring a group of exiled cavaliers during Carnival.
What significant change occurred regarding the casting of female roles during the Restoration?
- A Women were officially banned from appearing on the public stage
- B Professional actresses were permitted to perform female roles for the first time
- C Young boys continued to portray all female characters as before
- D Only women from the royal household were allowed to perform female parts
Correct answer: Professional actresses were permitted to perform female roles for the first time
Before 1660, female roles were played by adolescent boys. Charles II issued a decree that female parts should be performed by women, leading to the rise of famous actresses like Nell Gwyn.
In William Congreve's 'The Way of the World', what is the purpose of the famous 'Proviso Scene' between Mirabell and Millamant?
- A To plot together against a rival suitor who threatened their happiness
- B To challenge one another to a duel over a disputed inheritance claim
- C To negotiate the terms and conditions of their future marriage
- D To decide how to divide a large family estate between competing heirs
Correct answer: To negotiate the terms and conditions of their future marriage
The Proviso Scene is a masterpiece of wit where Mirabell and Millamant set strict conditions to maintain their individuality and avoid the habits of typical married couples. It reflects the era's preoccupation with social contracts and personal freedom.
The term 'Heroic Drama', popularized by John Dryden, is typically written in which verse form?
- A Blank verse, modeled on the dramatic style of Shakespeare
- B Heroic couplets (rhymed iambic pentameter)
- C Free verse, reflecting the poet's rejection of classical constraint
- D Spenserian stanzas adapted from Renaissance epic tradition
Correct answer: Heroic couplets (rhymed iambic pentameter)
Dryden argued that serious drama required the 'loftiness' of rhyme to distinguish it from ordinary speech. Heroic couplets became the standard for these plays, which often focused on themes of love versus honor.
Which character in William Wycherley's 'The Country Wife' pretends to be an eunuch to gain access to other men's wives?
- A Harcourt
- B Pinchwife
- C Mr. Horner, the play's scheming protagonist
- D Sparkish
Correct answer: Mr. Horner, the play's scheming protagonist
Mr. Horner spreads a false rumor about his impotence to lull jealous husbands into a false sense of security. This setup drives the plot's many scandalous and farcical encounters.
Which of the following plays is an example of John Dryden's 'All for Love', a Restoration retelling of a Shakespearean story?
- A Hamlet, Prince of Denmark
- B Antony and Cleopatra
- C The Tragedy of King Lear
- D The Scottish Play, Macbeth
Correct answer: Antony and Cleopatra
Written in blank verse rather than rhyme, 'All for Love' focuses on the final hours of Antony and Cleopatra. It adheres strictly to the Neoclassical Unities, unlike Shakespeare's sprawling original.
What are the 'Three Unities' of Neoclassical drama that many Restoration playwrights attempted to follow?
- A Truth, Beauty, and Virtue
- B Action, Time, and Place
- C Faith, Hope, and Charity
- D Introduction, Climax, and Resolution
Correct answer: Action, Time, and Place
Based on a strict interpretation of Aristotle, these rules required a play to have one main plot (Action), take place within 24 hours (Time), and occur in a single geographic location (Place).
George Villiers' play 'The Rehearsal' (1671) is a famous satire of which genre?
- A Sentimental Comedy
- B Heroic Tragedy, especially the works of John Dryden
- C Jacobean Revenge Tragedy
- D Domestic Drama
Correct answer: Heroic Tragedy, especially the works of John Dryden
'The Rehearsal' parodies the bombastic language and absurd plots of heroic plays, specifically targeting John Dryden through the character of Bayes. It was highly influential in shifting public taste away from rhymed tragedies.
In the context of the Restoration stage, what was a 'Breeches Role'?
- A A role where an actor played a lowly servant or footman
- B A role where an actress appeared dressed in male clothing
- C A comedic character who appeared without trousers on stage
- D A specific type of clown costume worn in harlequinade performances
Correct answer: A role where an actress appeared dressed in male clothing
Breeches roles were highly popular because they allowed the audience to see the female form in tighter-fitting male attire. This added an extra layer of titillation and gender-play to comedies of the time.
Sir George Etherege is credited with creating the archetype of the 'Fop' or 'Beau' in which play?
- A The Man of Mode, featuring Sir Fopling Flutter
- B The Constant Couple
- C The Double Dealer
- D The Recruiting Officer
Correct answer: The Man of Mode, featuring Sir Fopling Flutter
The character Sir Fopling Flutter in 'The Man of Mode' is the quintessential Restoration fop — a man obsessed with French fashion, superficiality, and his own appearance. He serves as a comic foil to the 'true wit', Dorimant.
Which critic wrote 'A Short View of the Immorality and Profaneness of the English Stage' (1698), leading to a decline in licentious comedies?
- A Samuel Johnson
- B John Dennis
- C Jeremy Collier
- D Alexander Pope
Correct answer: Jeremy Collier
Collier attacked the theater for its indecency, its mockery of the clergy, and its failure to punish vice. His pamphlet sparked a massive public debate and contributed to the eventual rise of more 'moral' Sentimental Comedies.
Which of these features was a physical innovation of the Restoration theater building?
- A The outdoor amphitheater design inherited from the Elizabethan era
- B The proscenium arch and moveable scenery
- C The exclusive reliance on natural sunlight for stage illumination
- D A design with no stage pit or area for standing audience members
Correct answer: The proscenium arch and moveable scenery
Restoration theaters moved indoors and adopted Italian-style innovations like the proscenium arch and sliding shutters for scenery. This allowed for more elaborate visual effects and a clear 'picture-frame' view of the action.
What is the primary motive of the 'Fop' character in Restoration comedy?
- A To launch a plot to overthrow the monarchy through wit and deception
- B To gain social status by obsessively mimicking fashionable manners
- C To find genuine, selfless love untainted by social ambition
- D To escape city life and retire peacefully to a quiet country estate
Correct answer: To gain social status by obsessively mimicking fashionable manners
The fop tries desperately to be a 'wit' but fails because he values the outward appearance of fashion over genuine intellectual sharpness. He is always a figure of ridicule for his lack of self-awareness.
George Farquhar's 'The Beaux' Stratagem' (1707) is often seen as a transition play because it:
- A It is written entirely in ancient Greek in the style of Sophocles
- B It shifts to a country setting and introduces genuine human warmth
- C It advocates for the return of Puritan rule and moral governance
- D It abandons spoken dialogue entirely in favor of mime and dance
Correct answer: It shifts to a country setting and introduces genuine human warmth
Coming at the very end of the Restoration period, Farquhar's work retains the wit of earlier plays but introduces a level of human warmth and social realism that points toward the 18th-century drama to come.
Which Thomas Otway play is considered the greatest 'Pathetic Tragedy' of the Restoration period?
- A The Orphan
- B Venice Preserv'd
- C The Rival Queens
- D Aureng-zebe
Correct answer: Venice Preserv'd
'Venice Preserv'd' combines political conspiracy with intense emotional suffering. It moved away from the 'superhuman' hero of Dryden's plays toward more relatable, domestic, and deeply tragic characters.
What was the 'Orange Girl's' role in the Restoration playhouse?
- A An actress who was typecast exclusively in roles playing fruit-sellers
- B A vendor who sold refreshments and passed messages between patrons
- C A woman employed to sweep and clean the stage between each act
- D A royal official who was stationed at the entrance to check tickets
Correct answer: A vendor who sold refreshments and passed messages between patrons
Orange girls, like the young Nell Gwyn, moved through the pit selling fruit. They were famous for their witty banter and often facilitated the flirtatious social environment that was as important as the play itself.
In 'The Way of the World', why does Lady Wishfort hate Mirabell?
- A He was discovered stealing a valuable collection of her jewels
- B He had feigned love for her to conceal his true courtship of her niece
- C He was secretly a republican who mocked the aristocracy behind her back
- D He had previously killed her beloved son in an illegal duel
Correct answer: He had feigned love for her to conceal his true courtship of her niece
Mirabell's 'sham addresses' to Lady Wishfort were a tactical move to reach Millamant. When Lady Wishfort discovered she was being used as a cover, her wounded vanity turned into a vengeful obsession to block his marriage.
Which term describes the witty, conversational sparring matches between male and female leads in Restoration comedy?
- A Soliloquy
- B Stichomythia
- C Repartee, the quick exchange of witty remarks
- D Slapstick
Correct answer: Repartee, the quick exchange of witty remarks
Repartee is the quick, clever exchange of insults or observations. In the Comedy of Manners, the ability to engage in successful repartee was the ultimate sign of social superiority and sexual attractiveness.
Which playwright is considered the master of the 'Comedy of Manners' and wrote 'The Double Dealer' and 'The Old Bachelor'?
- A John Dryden
- B William Congreve
- C Thomas Otway
- D Aphra Behn
Correct answer: William Congreve
William Congreve is the preeminent figure of the late Restoration Comedy of Manners, known for his sophisticated wit and complex plots.
What was the 'Proscenium Arch', a key architectural innovation of Restoration theaters?
- A A circular seating arrangement for the aristocracy
- B A frame separating the stage from the auditorium
- C A trapdoor used for the sudden appearance of ghosts
- D The dressing room area for lead actresses
Correct answer: A frame separating the stage from the auditorium
The Proscenium Arch was introduced during the Restoration to create a 'picture frame' effect, facilitating the use of moveable scenery.
In William Wycherley's 'The Country Wife', who is the 'country wife' herself?
- A Lady Fidget
- B Alithea
- C Margery Pinchwife
- D Mrs. Squeamish
Correct answer: Margery Pinchwife
Margery Pinchwife is the titular character, whose naive innocence is contrasted with the cynical urbanity of London society.
What is the defining characteristic of a 'Rake' in Restoration drama?
- A A pious clergyman seeking to reform the stage
- B A wealthy merchant focused on social climbing
- C A cynical, witty, and sexually predatory aristocrat
- D A loyal servant who provides comic relief
Correct answer: A cynical, witty, and sexually predatory aristocrat
The Rake or Libertine was a central figure in Restoration comedy, embodying the era's focus on sexual conquest and intellectual wit.
Which play by John Dryden is written in blank verse as an imitation of Shakespeare’s 'Antony and Cleopatra'?
- A The Conquest of Granada
- B All for Love
- C Aureng-zebe
- D Marriage à-la-mode
Correct answer: All for Love
Dryden's 'All for Love' (1677) marked a shift from heroic couplets to blank verse and followed the Neoclassical unities.
The 'Licensing Act of 1737' was largely a response to the political satire found in the works of which author?
- A Henry Fielding
- B Richard Brinsley Sheridan
- C Oliver Goldsmith
- D Colley Cibber
Correct answer: Henry Fielding
Henry Fielding's scathing political satires led Robert Walpole to introduce the Licensing Act, which mandated that plays be approved by the Lord Chamberlain.
Which character archetype is defined by an excessive concern with fashion and an affectation of wit, often serving as a foil to the hero?
- A The Heroic Protagonist
- B The Ingenue
- C The Fop
- D The Pantaloon
Correct answer: The Fop
The Fop (or Beau) was a staple of Restoration comedy, satirized for his vanity and failed attempts at appearing sophisticated.
What was the name of the two licensed theater companies established by King Charles II in 1660?
- A The Globe Company and The Rose Company
- B The King's Company and The Duke's Company
- C The Royal Company and The Parliament Company
- D The Drury Lane Company and The Covent Garden Company
Correct answer: The King's Company and The Duke's Company
Thomas Killigrew led the King's Company, while William Davenant led the Duke's Company under royal patents.
During which annual festivity is Aphra Behn's 'The Rover' set?
- A The Feast of Saint John in Madrid
- B The Bartholomew Fair in London
- C The Carnival season in Naples
- D The wine harvest in Lisbon
Correct answer: The Carnival season in Naples
Behn sets 'The Rover' in Naples during Carnival, when masks and disguises let the characters pursue their intrigues across the usual boundaries of class and gender. The exiled English Cavaliers who wander through the play place it in the Interregnum years, but the occasion itself is the Neapolitan Carnival.
Which of these best describes 'Sentimental Comedy', which began to replace Restoration Comedy in the early 18th century?
- A Plays that emphasized vice and rewarded the rake
- B Plays designed to evoke tears and promote moral reform
- C Satires directed at the monarchy and aristocracy
- D Tragedies written entirely in rhyming couplets
Correct answer: Plays designed to evoke tears and promote moral reform
Sentimental Comedy (or 'le drame bourgeois') focused on the inherent goodness of humanity and the reward of virtue.
What was the primary purpose of the 'Epilogue' in a Restoration play?
- A To summarize the plot for the audience
- B To provide a moral lesson from a clergyman
- C To flatter the audience with witty, playful remarks
- D To announce the cast of the next day's performance
Correct answer: To flatter the audience with witty, playful remarks
Epilogues were often highly flirtatious or satirical, used to secure the audience's approval and ensure a successful run.
In the Neoclassical Age, the concept of 'Poetic Justice' implied that:
- A All characters should die in a tragedy
- B The play must be written in iambic pentameter
- C The audience should decide the ending of the play
- D Virtue should be rewarded and vice should be punished
Correct answer: Virtue should be rewarded and vice should be punished
Poetic Justice was a Neoclassical requirement that the moral arc of the play should reflect a just universe.
Who was the most famous 'celebrity' actress of the Restoration, known for her roles in comedies and her relationship with Charles II?
- A Elizabeth Barry
- B Anne Bracegirdle
- C Mary Betterton
- D Nell Gwyn
Correct answer: Nell Gwyn
Nell Gwyn rose from being an 'orange girl' to become one of the most beloved comedic actresses of the era and the King's mistress.
Thomas Otway’s 'Venice Preserved' is an example of which sub-genre?
- A Comedy of Humours
- B Heroic Drama
- C Broad Farce
- D Restoration Tragedy
Correct answer: Restoration Tragedy
Otway's work is celebrated for its emotional depth and focus on domestic distress, moving away from the bombast of Heroic Drama.
Which philosophical movement heavily influenced the skepticism and libertinism seen in Restoration plays?
- A Hobbism (Thomas Hobbes)
- B Platonism
- C Scholasticism
- D Transcendentalism
Correct answer: Hobbism (Thomas Hobbes)
The works of Thomas Hobbes, particularly his views on human nature and power, influenced the cynical worldviews of many Restoration playwrights.
The term 'Raillery' refers to what in Restoration dialogue?
- A A form of stage combat or swordplay
- B The process of building stage sets
- C A musical interlude performed between acts
- D Good-humored teasing or sharp, witty banter
Correct answer: Good-humored teasing or sharp, witty banter
Raillery was a hallmark of the sophisticated dialogue in the Comedy of Manners, testing the intellect and poise of the characters.
Which play features the character Sir Wilfull Witwoud, a 'country' foil to the urban wits of London?
- A The Way of the World
- B The Man of Mode
- C The Plain Dealer
- D The Provoked Wife
Correct answer: The Way of the World
In Congreve's 'The Way of the World', Sir Wilfull represents the unrefined country squire who contrasts with the polished Mirabell.
What is 'Decorum' in the context of Neoclassical drama?
- A The consistency of behavior with one's social station and age
- B The requirement for elaborate costumes and props
- C A rule limiting the stage to three characters at a time
- D The use of silent mime during scene changes
Correct answer: The consistency of behavior with one's social station and age
Decorum required that characters act in ways appropriate to their class, gender, and profession according to established social norms.
Which of these plays was written by Sir George Etherege and features the famous fop Sir Fopling Flutter?
- A The Man of Mode
- B She Would if She Could
- C The Comical Revenge
- D The Constant Couple
Correct answer: The Man of Mode
'The Man of Mode' (1676) is a definitive Restoration comedy, showcasing the archetype of the fop in Sir Fopling Flutter.
The 'Short View of the Immorality and Profaneness of the English Stage' (1698) was written by which non-juror clergyman?
- A Jeremy Collier
- B Jonathan Swift
- C Samuel Johnson
- D Richard Steele
Correct answer: Jeremy Collier
Jeremy Collier's pamphlet attacked the lewdness of the theater, significantly influencing the shift toward more moralistic drama in the 18th century.