STUDY QUESTIONS By EMMA D. Sanford GENERAL 1. What is the date of publication of this play? What is the approximate date of composition? Give a reason. 2. Criticize the play as to its acting merits, its uniformity, and historical accuracy of customs. What nation does it portray? 3. What was the undoubted source of the play and in scene i how does the plot vary from the original? What is the duration of the time of action on the stage and what the actual historical time? 4. What is the theme of the play? Is it an exposition of individualism or, a study of Roman civics? ACT I 5. Why is the opening scene a strong one, dramatically? Where is the first clue to the character, Caius Marcius? 6. Comment on the bearing of Menenius and on that of Caius Marcius, towards the rabble. What fable does Menenius employ to justify the conduct of the senators to the plebeians, and how does he apply it? 7. In the comments (scene i) of the tribunes upon Marcius, how do they characterize him? 8. In scene ii, what idea is brought out as to the relations of Marcius and Tullus Aufidius? 9. In scene iii, what typical Roman characteristic is revealed in the discourse of Volumnia? How does Virgilia compare in nobility of character? www 10. How does Marcius address the retreating Roman soldiers? What does the break in his speech indicate? 11. What opinion has Marcius of the spoils of war, and wherein does it add to the reader's conception of his character? 12. What duel takes place in scene viii and what is the spirit of the two participants? 13. In scene ix, explain the line "Here is the steed, we the caparison.' 14. How does Marcius accept the praise of the people upon his victory? What name does he acquire as a result of his conquest at Corioli? 15. Why do Sicinius and Brutus suffer Menenius to scoff at their weaknesses, when they cannot endure the ridicule of Coriolanus (scene i)? Where does Menenius draw a character-sketch of himself? ACT II 16. Why does Volumnia gloat over her son's wounds? Descibe Coriolanus' greeting to his wife. 17. Why do Sicinius and Brutus plot to defeat the consulship of Coriolanus, and how do they criticize his remarks concerning his suit for the office? 18. How does the conversation of the two Officers (scene ii) explain the unpopularity of Coriolanus among the plebian people? 19. In his public suit for the consulship, is Coriolanus possessed of modesty or, arrogance or, both? Give reasons. What is the result of his suit? ACT III 20. What uproar of the common people occurs in scene i? 21. Upon what topic does Coriolanus continue to expostulate, against the advice of Menenius? 22. What is the substance of Coriolanus' exhortation to the Senators? 23. What influence has Menenius upon the crowd and how does he avert a civil war? 24. Who prevails upon Coriolanus to humble himself before the people and what is the policy recommended to him? 25. In his promise to curry favor of the people, what comparisons does Coriolanus make of his weakness? 26. What charges and what sentences does Brutus suggest (scene iii) against Coriolanus? 27. What is the significance of Brutus' words just before the trial, "Put him (Coriolanus) to choler straight"? 28. What accusation makes Coriolanus forget that he has promised to be mild in his speech? Is his anger justifiable? 29. What sentence is finally given to Coriolanus? What do his last words imply? 30. Explain the several allusions to the Tarpeian rock. ACT IV 31. How does Coriolanus make use of his mother's own words to him, in his endeavor to reconcile her to his banishment? 32. How does scene i reveal the softer side of Coriolanus' nature? 33. In scene ii, what change has come over Volumnia? 34. What is the dramatic value of scene iii? 35. What suggestion of humor is there in scene iv? 36. Whom does Coriolanus seek out in Antium and how does he gain access to him? 37. What misrepresentation is Coriolanus guilty of, in his narration of his banishment? 38. Explain his words, "make my misery serve thy turn." 39. Is the alliance between Coriolanus and Aufidius a purely ironical feature of the play? Does the servants' conversation help to confirm this idea? 40. How are situations reversed in scene vi? 41. How do Cominius and Menenius lay the blame of the impending catastrophe upon the two Tribunes? 42. In scene vii, what grievance has Aufidius in mind against Coriolanus? 43. Select three passages in this scene which are involved in their meaning. ACT V 44. What success does Cominius meet with, upon his embassy to Coriolanus? 45. In what two ways does Menenius hope to secure an audience of Coriolanus? 46. What final expedient does Cominius suggest to win over Coriolanus, and where, previously, in this play, was it adopted? 47. To what extent, does Coriolanus carry his allegiance to the Volscians (scene ii)? 48. What goddess is referred to in the words of Coriolanus, "the jealous queen of heaven" (scene iii)? 49. Does Volumnia prevail upon Coriolanus more through her Roman prerogative as a mother or, by her plea for justice to the Roman people? 50. What future use is Aufidius planning to make of this scene? 51. What treachery does Aufidius practice on Coriolanus, upon their return to Antium? Is this consistent with the plot of the play? 52. What is the significance of Aufidius' addressing Coriolanus as "Marcius"? 53. What epithet rouses the anger of Coriolanus? 54. Explain "His fame folds in This orb o' the earth," lines 126-127, scene vi. 55. How does Coriolanus meet death? 56. To what overpowering trait does he owe his misfortunes and death? 57. In line 155, scene vi, what is the meaning of "noble memory"? 58. In this play, is it Shakespeare's purpose to descry democracy and praise. aristocracy or, is his attitude an impartial one? |