The Beggar’s Opera Quizzes

The Beggar's Opera Quiz 1

1 The introductory scene features which characters:
Peachum, alone

Peachum, the Beggar and the Player

the Beggar and the Player

Peachum and Mrs. Peachum
2 The Beggar states the play was originally written to celebrate:
the marriage of two ballad-singers

the coronation of George III

London’s two most famous sopranos

the coronation of George II
3 The Beggar’s stated purpose for writing the play should be understood as:
straightforwardly true

ironic

throne-approved propaganda

loosely based on fact
4 When the Player says “Play away the ouverture,” he means:
Begin the prologue

Rise for the singing of "God Save the King"

The play has reached its conclusion

Strike up the musicians
5 Act I takes place entirely in:
Newgate Prison

an alehouse tavern

Peachum’s stolen-goods warehouse

Peachum’s house
6 Peachum is first shown examining:
the Bible

his accounts book

a marriage certificate

a dowry agreement
7 When Peachum tells Filch that Black Moll may “plead her belly” at trial, he means:
She may plead hunger as a reason for her thieving.

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

She may cry hysterically to win sympathy.

She may pretend to be pregnant to avoid hanging.
8 In terms of punishment, “transportation” entails:
labor in the West Indies

service to the nobles’ palanquins

confinement at a local prison camp

railroad construction for no pay
9 Filch is:
Polly’s secret lover

Macheath’s best friend

a go-between for several characters

Lockit’s apprentice
10 Newgate is:
a fashionable district of London

the grounds of Buckingham Palace

London’s most notorious prison

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

to produce a son

to share in the burden of taxation

to have children who take care of their elderly parents
12 After learning about Polly's marriage, what does Peachum plan?
to secure an inheritance and then have Macheath hanged

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
13 What does Polly mean when she refers to the “cart”?
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

the train car leading Macheath to a distant work camp
14 What is the name of the hill and tree where hangings occur?
Tyburn

Holborn

Topamax

Newgate
15 When Peachum speaks of "Sessions," he's referring to:
weekend evenings reserved for burglary

musical lessons for his wife, Mrs. Peachum

quarterly meetings of the criminal court

tutoring sessions for his daughter, Polly
16 What does Peachum say is "as fashionable a crime as man can be guilty of"?
murder

blackmail

adultery

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

drinking

lechery

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

Filch

Polly herself

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

It brings on early aging.

It puts a woman in her husband's power.

It puts a man in his wife's power.
20 Mrs. Peachum accuses Polly of imitating whom in the girl's pursuit of marriage?
the Russian Czarina

"fine ladies"

the highwaymen

her parents
21 Quadrille is:
a popular card game

a horse-drawn carriage

a popular dance

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

Black Moll

Filch

Suky Tawdry
23 When Polly first appears, she tells her father what about her relationship to Macheath?
that she has had to rebuff Macheath's attention

that she's toying with him for profit

that they have already eloped

that the entire matter is pure gossip
24 Who first reveals to Peachum that Polly and Macheath are married?
Mrs. Peachum

Macheath

Filch

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

through a letter to her parents

through an air

through an opinion piece in the London paper

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