SHE STOOPS TO CONQUER

Oliver Goldsmith

Act -1

Onliner Notes :

➢ The drama ‘ She Stoops to Conquer ’ was written by Oliver Goldsmith.

➢ Oliver Goldsmith wrote this drama in 1771 and it was published in 1771 .
➢ The comedy ‘ She Stoops to Conquer ’ was performed in London in 1773 .
➢ ‘ She Stoops to Conquer ’ is known as anti sentimental comedy.
➢ Dryden’s poem “The Hind and the Panther” : ‘ But kneels to conquer, and Stoops to rise. ’ is the
source of the title of the play.
➢ The Prologue to the play ‘ She Stoops to Conquer ’ was written by David Garrick, ESQ,
➢ “She Stoops to Conquer” was dedicated to Samuel Johnson.
➢ The Prologue to the play ‘ She Stoops to Conquer ’ was spoken / recited by - Mr. Woodward (
Henry Woodward ) . Mr. Woodward was a comic actor of the time.
➢ Mr. Woodward entered in the stage dressed in black and holding a handkerchief to his eyes.
➢ Dressed in black means mourning over the death of comedy.
➢ Woodward was weeping at the death of comedy.
➢ ‘ for which there are no plasters ’ – ‘plasters ‘ means ‘ remedies / medicines ’
➢ The Comic Muse refers to Thalia .
➢ Mawkish Drab means – a woman loose of morals.
➢ “ Poor Ned and I ” are Edward Shuter and David Garrick.
➢ Shuter refers to Edward Shuter.
➢ Edward Shuter, who played Mr. Hardcastle's role in the play .

➢ Act 1 Scene I starts in a chamber in an old-fashioned house.

➢ Act 1 Scene II starts in an alehouse room.
➢ The theme of “ She Stoops to Conquer ” is appearance versus reality.
➢ Mr. Hardcastle and Mrs. Hardcastle lived in an old rumbling mansion that looks like an inn.
➢ The two persons who go to take a month's polishing every winter are Miss Hoggs and Mrs.
Grigsby.
➢ When Miss Hoggs and Mrs. Grigsby come back from London they bring back vanity and
affection .
➢ According to Mrs. Hardcastle, their best visitors are old Mrs. Oddfish, the currate’s wife, and
little Cripplegate, the lame dancing master.
➢ Dorothy is the wife to Mr. Hardcastle.
➢ Mrs. Hardcastle was 57 years old.
➢ Mrs. Hardcastle’s first husband was Mr. Lumpkin.
➢ According to Mrs. Hardcastle the source of their entertainments are old stories of Prince Eugene
and the Duke of O Marlborough.
➢ Tony’s friends are –
a) Dick Muggins: the excise man, who collects taxes.
b) Jack Slang : the horse doctor .
c) little Aminadab : a Jewish Vagabond, who repairs the music box ( Aminadab means
Vagabond )
d) Tom Twist : who spins the pewter plates. ( Pewter is alloy of tin or lead or other metals.)
➢ ‘ Would it were bed-time, and all were ’ this line is from Shakespeare’s Henry IV.
➢ “ We wanted no ghost to tell us that ” this line is an adaptation from Shakespeare’s Hamlet.
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➢ What qualities does Marlow possess ?

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

➢ Who is Young Marlow ?

Ans: Young Marlow is the son of Mr. Hardcastle’s old friend, Charles Marlow . He is the hero of the play.

➢ What does Mr. Hardcastle love ?

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

➢ What is the Buck’s Head ?

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

[ Actually The Buck's head is one of the best inns in the whole country England ]

➢ How was the house of Mr. Hardcastle ?

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

➢ What is a Prologue ?

A prologue is an introduction to a play. In Greek and Roman drama, a speaker gave the audience
background information in a short speech before the main action of the play began, which the audience
needed to know to understand the play.

➢ What is Lethe ?

Lethe was one of the rivers of Hades. The dead before crossing it had to drunk of it’s water and so
gained complete oblivion of their earthly lives.
 She stoops to Conquer

( Act -1 ) MCQ Questions

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1. ‘A doctor comes this night”– here a doctor refers to

a) Goldsmith
b) Garrick
c) Ned
d) Colman Answer : A

2. What do the ‘five draughts’ referred to in the epilogue of She Stoops to Conquer mean?
a) Five acts of the play ‘ She Stoops to Conquer ’
b) five times scarcity of water
c) Five seasons of bad weather
d) Five times of drink. Answer : a

3. What is the sub-title of the play She Stoops to Conquer ?

a) Mistakes of the Night
b) Mistakes of a Night
c) The Belle’s Stratagem
d) The Belle’s Strategy. Answer : b)

4. What does Mr. Hardcastle disdain most of all ?

a) Mon c) Arrange marriage
b) Town manners d) Country manners. Answer : b

5. The story of Darby and Joan is the story of

a) two typical husband and wife, fond of each other at old age.
b) two typical stories of young couples.
c) two typical husband and wife always busy quarrelling with each other.
d) two typical romantic lovers.

Answer : a)

6. The phrase ‘A cat and fiddle’ means

a) A cat playing fiddle c) nonsense
b) Meaningful. d) Easy Answer : c

7. According to Mr. Hardcastle, the only schools Tony will ever go to are
a) the alehouse and the stable
b) The stable and the playground
c) The playground and the cinema hall. Answer : a)

8. The name of the old ale house is

a) The Pigeons
b) The prisons
c) The Three Pigeons
d) The Skylark. Answer : c

9. How does Kate dress in the morning ?

a) plainly c) fashionably
b) in rags d) in gowns Answer : c
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10. How does Kate dress in the evening ?

a) plainly c) Fashionably
b) in rags d) in gowns Answer : a

11. Why does Mr. Hardcastle worry about Kate ?

a) He worries she dresses immodestly.
b) He worries she will marry poorly
c) He worries the town manner have infected her
d) He worries she is sick. Answer : c)

12. Which character is the best example of moderation ?

a) Tony Lumpkin c) Kate
b) Mrs. Hardcastle d) Mr. Hardcastle Answer : c

13. ‘ A reserved lover always makes a suspicious husband ‘ who said this
a) Mrs. Hardcastle c) Kate or Miss Hardcastle
b) Miss Neville d) Marlow Answer : c

14. ‘‘ It was the very feature in his character that first struck me ” – ‘ The feature ’ referred to is
a) modesty c) Honesty
b) kindness d) shyness. Answer : a

[ Mr. Hardcastle said this line to his daughter, Miss Kate Hardcastle ]

15. The word ‘ omnes ’ mean

a) All together/all c) O.K.
b) all right d). All along. Answer : a)

16. The word ‘pigeons’ here means

a) Drunken persons c) Feathered birds
b) foolish persons d) men devoid of sense. Answer : b

17. The name of Tony’s beloved is

a) Mrs. Muggins c) Betty ( Bet ) Bouncer
b) Camelia. D) Kate Answer : c

18. The name of the landlord of the Three Jolly Pigeons is

a) Stingo c) Stungo
b) Stango d) Diggory Answer : a)

19. The two gentlemen Marlow and Hastings have gone crossed
a) 60 miles c) 40 miles
b) Over 60 miles d) 42 miles.

[ We have come above threescore . ]. Answer : b

20. Here ‘a tall, trapesing, trolloping, talkative maypole’ refers to, according to Tony Lumpkin, is
a) Kate Hardcastle c) Miss Neville
b) Bet Bouncer d) Stingo. Answer : a)

21. The name Tony invents for Mr. Hardcastle’s locality is

a) Quickmire c) Quash Mire.
b) Quagmire Marsh. d) All of these Answer : b
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22. The term ‘ Lack-a-daisy ’ means
a) alas c) Alack
b) Alas, what a day! d) Lazy Answer : b

23. Here ‘a mere composition of tricks and mischief ’ refers to

a) Tony Lumpkin
b) Tony’s friend
c) Marlowe
d) David. Answer : a)

24. “This news of papa’s puts me all in a flutter ’-The news referred to is
a) the information about Marlow who is shy and modest
b) Hardcastle’s loving old thinks
c) Tony’s being a naughty boy
d) None of these Answer : a)

25. Here ‘a very singular character’ refer to

a) Marlow c) Hastings
b) Neville d) Mrs. Hardcastle.

[ Miss Neville said this to Kate Hardcastle ] Answer : a)

26. The term‘ Tete-a-tetes’ means

a) Everything
b) All things
c) Private and confidential conference
d) None of these Answer : c)

27. Here the French word ‘Allons’ means

a) Let us go c) Disallows
b) Allows d) Discomfiture. Answer : a )

28. What is Mrs. Hardcastle’s great vice ?

a) Thievery c) vanity
b) Depression d) lust Answer : c

29. What is Constance’s inheritance ?

a) A SET OF GOWNS
b) SHE IS DESTITUTE
c) JEWELS
d) A DOWRY. Answer : c)

30. Who is Tony’s ally in fooling Marlow and Hastings ?

a) Kate c) Diggory
b) The landlord d) Hardcastle Answer : b

31. Who does Mrs. Hardcastle hope Tony will marry ?

a) Kate Hardcastle
b) The landlady at the inn
c) Constance Neville
d) Between Bouncer Answer : c)