"THE ALCHEMIST" Quiz
In "The Alchemist" by Ben Jonson, a trio of con artists exploit gullible Londoners by promising them wealth and transformation through alchemy until their schemes unravel in comic chaos.
plays | 4 pages | Published in 1970
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Test your knowledge about the book "THE ALCHEMIST". We have come up with 10 quiz questions for the book. Hit play and start testing your knowledge. Each correctly answered question gives one point.
10 questions available
Essay questions
These essay questions are meant to be used as a starting point for your essay or research paper.
- Discuss the theme of deception in Ben Jonson’s 'The Alchemist.' How do the characters use deception, and what does the play suggest about its consequences?
- Analyze the role of greed as a driving force in 'The Alchemist.' How does Jonson portray the effects of greed on both the deceivers and the deceived?
- Examine the character of Face. How does his adaptability contribute to the success of the con, and what does his character reveal about social mobility in Jacobean London?
- Consider the setting of Lovewit’s house. How does Jonson use this confined space to heighten the play’s dramatic tension and comedy?
- Explore the use of satire in 'The Alchemist.' What aspects of society or human nature does Jonson mock, and with what effect?
- Discuss the function of alchemy as a metaphor in the play. Beyond literal transformation, what other forms of transformation are explored?
- Evaluate the ending of 'The Alchemist.' Does justice prevail? How are the various characters rewarded or punished, and what message does this send?
- How does Jonson use language and wit to create humor in 'The Alchemist'? Provide examples from the text.
- Analyze the role of gender in the play, particularly through the character of Dol Common. How does she navigate and manipulate the world of the con?
- Compare and contrast the different victims of the con (Subtle, Sir Epicure Mammon, Drugger, Dapper, etc.). What do their desires reveal about Jacobean society?
- Discuss the significance of names and naming in 'The Alchemist.' How do the characters’ names reflect their personalities or roles?
- How does 'The Alchemist' reflect Jonson’s attitudes toward science, pseudoscience, and rationality?
- Examine the power dynamics between Face, Subtle, and Dol. How do alliances shift throughout the play, and what does this suggest about trust and betrayal?
- In what ways does 'The Alchemist' conform to or subvert the conventions of city comedy?
