The Beggar’s Opera Quizzes

The Beggar's Opera Quiz 1

1 The introductory scene features which characters:
Peachum, the Beggar and the Player

the Beggar and the Player

Peachum and Mrs. Peachum

Peachum, alone
2 The Beggar states the play was originally written to celebrate:
the coronation of George III

the coronation of George II

the marriage of two ballad-singers

London’s two most famous sopranos
3 The Beggar’s stated purpose for writing the play should be understood as:
loosely based on fact

ironic

throne-approved propaganda

straightforwardly true
4 When the Player says “Play away the ouverture,” he means:
The play has reached its conclusion

Strike up the musicians

Rise for the singing of "God Save the King"

Begin the prologue
5 Act I takes place entirely in:
Peachum’s house

Peachum’s stolen-goods warehouse

an alehouse tavern

Newgate Prison
6 Peachum is first shown examining:
a marriage certificate

a dowry agreement

his accounts book

the Bible
7 When Peachum tells Filch that Black Moll may “plead her belly” at trial, he means:
She may pretend to be pregnant to avoid hanging.

She may cry hysterically to win sympathy.

She may offer her body to the prosecutors in exchange for leniency.

She may plead hunger as a reason for her thieving.
8 In terms of punishment, “transportation” entails:
service to the nobles’ palanquins

labor in the West Indies

railroad construction for no pay

confinement at a local prison camp
9 Filch is:
a go-between for several characters

Macheath’s best friend

Lockit’s apprentice

Polly’s secret lover
10 Newgate is:
London’s most famous racetrack

the grounds of Buckingham Palace

a fashionable district of London

London’s most notorious prison
11 According to Peachum, why would a woman want to marry?
to gain a man’s property through widow-hood

to have children who take care of their elderly parents

to produce a son

to share in the burden of taxation
12 After learning about Polly's marriage, what does Peachum plan?
to annul the marriage and then betray Macheath

to have Polly feign pregnancy to scare him away

to test Macheath’s fidelity by leaving him alone with a group of attractive prostitutes

to secure an inheritance and then have Macheath hanged
13 What does Polly mean when she refers to the “cart”?
the train car leading Macheath to a distant work camp

the carriage Macheath will ride to prison

the cart leading Macheath to his hanging

the cart Macheath will load wheat upon when they live together on a farm
14 What is the name of the hill and tree where hangings occur?
Topamax

Tyburn

Newgate

Holborn
15 When Peachum speaks of "Sessions," he's referring to:
tutoring sessions for his daughter, Polly

musical lessons for his wife, Mrs. Peachum

weekend evenings reserved for burglary

quarterly meetings of the criminal court
16 What does Peachum say is "as fashionable a crime as man can be guilty of"?
adultery

blackmail

murder

larceny
17 At the beginning of the play, Mrs. Peachum identifies which vice as Macheath's undoing?
drinking

gluttony

lechery

gambling
18 From whom does Peachum first learn of his daughter's relationship with Macheath?
Polly herself

Mrs. Peachum

Filch

Lockit
19 Peachum's first objection to the concept of marriage is that:
It limits a person's amorous possibility.

It puts a man in his wife's power.

It puts a woman in her husband's power.

It brings on early aging.
20 Mrs. Peachum accuses Polly of imitating whom in the girl's pursuit of marriage?
the highwaymen

"fine ladies"

the Russian Czarina

her parents
21 Quadrille is:
a popular dance

a horse-drawn carriage

a popular card game

a fashionable hat
22 Who betrays Polly's confidence to Mrs. Peachum?
Filch

Macheath

Black Moll

Suky Tawdry
23 When Polly first appears, she tells her father what about her relationship to Macheath?
that they have already eloped

that the entire matter is pure gossip

that she's toying with him for profit

that she has had to rebuff Macheath's attention
24 Who first reveals to Peachum that Polly and Macheath are married?
Filch

Mrs. Peachum

Polly

Macheath
25 How does Polly finally admit the truth of her marriage?
through a monologue to the audience

through an opinion piece in the London paper

through an air

through a letter to her parents

Act II opens in a tavern near Newgate prison.

Asked by Fabi F #441576

Answered by jill d #170087 on 11/3/2023 1:21 PM

"Murder is a fashionable crime as man can be guilty of"

In context, this phrase directly refers to "murder" as in killing someone in a duel..... something that men once did to settle an argument or defend their honor. Thus, this type of murder was once seen as fashionable.... a form of murder that one...

Asked by Reshma K #860071

Answered by jill d #170087 on 1/9/2019 8:46 PM

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The link for the following excerpts are linked at the bottom of the page;

"Brecht adapted The Threepenny Opera from John Gay’s The Beggar’s Opera after that play underwent a successful 1920 revival at London’s Lyric Theater. Brecht’s...

Asked by harold t #76611

Answered by jill d #170087 on 12/17/2011 10:10 AM

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The Beggar's Opera

by John Gay

The Beggar's Opera Quiz 1

The Beggar’s Opera Questions and Answers

Study Guide for The Beggar’s Opera

Essays for The Beggar’s Opera

E-Text of The Beggar’s Opera

Wikipedia Entries for The Beggar’s Opera