The School for Scandal Flashcards

1
Q

Who wrote The School for Scandal?

A

Richard Sheridan

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2
Q

When was The School for Scandal written?

A

1777

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3
Q

Where was Sheridan born? What was his religion?

A

Ireland; Protestant

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4
Q

When did Sheridan live?

A

1751-1816

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5
Q

What political affiliation did Sheridan have?

A

Whig

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6
Q

What early 19th century essayist and friend of the Lake Poets also praised School for Scandal?

A

Hazlitt

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7
Q

What is a striking structural feature of the play?

A

Liberal use of asides

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8
Q

Who are the typical victims of the scandalmongers?

A

Women

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9
Q

What prompted gossip to become a hot topic in the late 18th century?

A

The inclusion of gossip columns in prominent papers, which opened the gossiping circles to the population at large.

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10
Q

What bill does the play make reference?

A

The Annuity Bill of 1777, which attempted to curb the activities of moneylenders

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11
Q

What was “sentiment” in the 18th century? What was the play’s treatment of it?

A

Sentiment was a positive notion of moral sensibility. The play attacks false sentimental feeling while rewarding the real thing.

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12
Q

How does the play treat the concept of benevolence?

A

Benevolence, or acting on the promptings of the heart, is juxtaposed to Prudence in money affairs and business.

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13
Q

What was an unusual technical aspect of the play’s staging?

A

Two new pieces of scenery were created for the play. At this time, this was uncommon - generic scenery was typically reused over and over.

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14
Q

What were the two new pieces of scenery created for the play?

A

Charles’ picture gallery and Joseph’s library.

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15
Q

Who wrote the Prologue?

A

David Garrick

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16
Q

Characterize the Prologue.

A

The prologue discusses the current culture of scandal as spread by contemporary newspapers. He notes that people love to indulge in gossiping about others, but are mortified when the scandal is about themselves. There is basically no way to stop rumors/scandal once they begin.

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17
Q

What are the names of the two brothers central to the play? What are they like?

A

Joseph and Charles Surface.

Joseph is the elder brother, and more publicly respectable and inwardly immoral than his brother. He is selfish and cunning.

Charles is the younger brother, and known around town as a gambler who spends money too freely. Nonetheless, he is more genuine and kind-hearted than his brother.

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18
Q

Who is the woman both brother wish to marry? Why?

A

Maria

Charles is in love with her, and Joseph wants to marry her for her fortune.

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19
Q

What is the name of Charles and Joseph’s uncle? Where has he been?

A

Sir Oliver; he has been in the East Indies for many years.

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20
Q

What is the name of Charles and Joseph’s former guardian?

A

Sir Peter Teazle

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21
Q

Which brother does Sir Peter Teazle think is the better one?

A

Joseph

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22
Q

What is Teazle’s marriage like?

A

He married a much younger woman from the country, hoping that would keep her innocent and out of trouble. The bicker constantly.

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23
Q

Who is essentially the head of the scandalmongers? What is her motivation?

A

Lady Sneerwell

She has a liking for Charles and wants to prevent him from marrying Maria. To accomplish this, she teams up with Joseph.

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24
Q

What is the name of Lady Sneerwell’s servant who helps her carry out her schemes?

A

Snake

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25
Q

What two identities does Sir Oliver assume to test his nephews?

A

Mr. Premium (a moneylender) and Stanley (a poor distant relative)

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26
Q

What is the rumor Lady Sneerwell is disseminating at the beginning of the play?

A

That Charles and Lady Teazle are having an affair

27
Q

Who is a competitor for Maria’s affections, and who is his accomplice?

A

Sir Benjamin Backbite and his Uncle Crabtree

28
Q

What does Benjamin Backbite fancy himself as?

A

An accomplished poet

29
Q

How long has Sir Oliver been absent?

A

16 years

30
Q

What flaw of Lady Teazle’s particularly disturbs her husband?

A

She spends too much money

31
Q

Which character helps Lady Sneerwell with her plots before ultimately betraying her?

A

Snake

32
Q

What is Lady Sneerwell’s relationship with scandal?

A

She was slandered in her youth, and it was very painful. Therefore, she enjoys inflicting this pain on others.

33
Q

What sets Maria apart from the other characters?

A

She hates gossip and wants no part in hearing it or spreading it.

34
Q

Why does Joseph have to hide his pursuit of Maria?

A

Because he has been wooing Lady Teazle. He originally did it to try and get her on his side in his pursuit of Maria, but has carried things too far and is now romantically involved with her.

35
Q

Who shares Maria’s opinion about the immorality of slanter/scandal?

A

Sir Peter

36
Q

What is the name of the moneylender who deals frequently with Charles and aids Sir Oliver in his plot to uncover his nephew’s true nature?

A

Mr. Moses

37
Q

What suggestion does Charles make that shocks his uncle?

A

He offers to sell “Mr. Premium” his family portraits for money.

38
Q

What is a feature modern performances of the play have trouble adapting?

A

The play’s apparent anti-Semitism. Mr. Moses is an extremely stereotypical character reflecting the prejudices of the 18th century.

39
Q

What does Charles do with the portrait of Sir Oliver?

A

Charles sells all his “family members” except this one - he can’t part with the image of the man who has been so kind to him.

40
Q

What does Charles do with the money he earns from selling the portraits?

A

He sends some to Mr. Stanley, even though he has debts he needs to pay himself.

41
Q

Where does Joseph hide Lady Teazle when Sir Teazle unexpectedly drops in?

A

Behind a screen

42
Q

Who does Joseph tell Sir Teazle is behind the screen when he makes a move to hide back there?

A

A French milliner with whom he is having a liaison.

43
Q

Where does Sir Teazle hide? Why does he hide?

A

In a closet; Because Charles arrives

44
Q

What does Charles accidentally reveal while Sir Teazle is hiding in the closet?

A

That he thinks Joseph and Lady Teazle are having an affair

45
Q

What does Charles do when he learns Sir Teazle is hiding in the closet?

A

Lets him out

46
Q

How is Lady Teazle revealed?

A

Sir Teazle thinks it would be funny to show Charles the “French milliner” Joseph is hiding

47
Q

How does Joseph react to “Mr. Stanley’s” request for funds?

A

He refuses to give him anything, even though he is very well able to.

48
Q

What is the name of Lady Sneerwell’s friend and fellow gossiper?

A

Mrs. Candour

49
Q

How does Snake clear up confusion at the end of the play?

A

He confesses that the rumor that Charles and Lady Sneerwell were having an affair was false, betraying Lady Sneerwell and leaving Charles and Maria to happily marry.

50
Q

What out of control rumor spreads in the final act?

A

Word about the “screen” scene has gotten around, and the story has been distorted to report that Charles and Sir Teazle had a duel over the events, which led to Sir Teazle being grievously wounded.

51
Q

Why doesn’t Snake want it known that he exposed Lady Sneerwell’s duplicity?

A

He has a reputation for being bad, and he wants to keep it.

52
Q

What is Joseph’s last name?

A

Surface

53
Q

What types of rumors are shared by the scandalmongers?

A

That a noble woman is going to marry her footman; that an unmarried woman gave birth to twins; they make fun of people’s looks

54
Q

Who does Rowley think Charles might take after?

A

His father, who was wild in his youth but, once married, reformed to be a good man

55
Q

What honorable epithet does Sir Teazle give to Joseph?

A

That he is a “Man of Sentiment”; virtuous through and through and a model for the age

56
Q

Who is the real Mr. Premium?

A

A man Mr. Moses knows who might be convinced to lend Charles some money

57
Q

Who does Sir Peter want Maria to marry? Who is she in love with?

A

He wants her to marry Joseph; she is in love with Charles

58
Q

What exchange do Mr. Moses and Sir Oliver have at Charles’s door?

A

His servant, Trip, tries to borrow money for himself

59
Q

Why does Charles agree to sell the family portraits instead of other family heirlooms?

A

Everything else has already been sold

60
Q

What is the name of Charles’s friend who is present at the sale of the portraits?

A

Careless

61
Q

What fact stick in Sir Oliver’s mind after his visit with Charles?

A

That his nephew wouldn’t sell his picture

62
Q

Why does Sir Peter want to hide when he knows Charles is coming?

A

So that Joseph can ask Charles openly if he’s having an affair with Lady Teazle

63
Q

What causes Lady Teazle to abandon Joseph?

A

She overhears his plot to marry Maria and knows he has been deceiving her. She reveals everything to Sir Teazle.

64
Q

When “Mr. Stanley” asks Joseph whether his uncle has ever sent him financial support from abroad, what is his answer?

A

“Never”