UNIT – I DRAMA EVERY MAN IN HIS HUMOUR – BEN JONSON
UNIT – I DRAMA
EVERY MAN IN HIS
HUMOUR – BEN JONSON
Act I, Scene 1 – Summary
The play opens in a bustling London household. Knowell, a
gentleman of some standing, is seen reading a letter that has arrived for his
son, Edward Knowell. The letter is written in a poetic and flowery
style, and Knowell suspects it might involve some improper romantic or social
engagement. With growing concern, Knowell calls in his servant, Brainworm,
and questions him about his son’s conduct. Though Brainworm tries to play innocent,
Knowell is convinced that his son is hiding something.
Knowell decides to follow Edward in disguise to observe his behavior
firsthand. Brainworm, who is witty and quick-thinking, privately decides to use
the situation to his advantage, plotting to help Edward while misleading his
master. This opening scene sets up the central theme of disguise,
misunderstanding, and social satire, which Jonson will explore through
different “humours,” or personality quirks, in each character. The concept of humour—a
dominant trait that defines each person—is at the core of this comedy.
Act I, Scene 2 – Summary
This scene introduces Edward Knowell, the son of Master
Knowell, along with his witty companion Wellbred. They engage
in clever conversation, filled with wordplay and subtle mockery of societal
norms, especially the pretentiousness of London’s “fashionable” types. Wellbred
is charismatic and rebellious, and he encourages Edward to indulge in youthful
pleasures and playfulness, particularly with regard to mocking dullards and
social climbers.
As they converse, Matthew (or “Master Matthew,” the foolish
poetaster) enters. He is a comical character whose pompous speech and obsession
with poetry make him an easy target for satire. Matthew tries to impress them
with a poem that is overly ornate and nonsensical. Wellbred and Edward laugh at
his expense, but flatter him to his face. The scene highlights Jonson’s sharp
critique of affectation and false learning, setting the stage
for the play’s broader ridicule of self-deception and vanity.
Act I, Scene 3 – Summary
This scene introduces one of the most memorable characters in the play: Captain
Bobadill, a braggart soldier who is all talk and no substance. He
enters alongside Matthew, and together they boast about their
wit, bravery, and poetic talents. Bobadill, in particular, is full of
exaggerated stories about his supposed military feats, including ridiculous
claims of having fought armies single-handedly or slain enemies with elegant
precision. His speech is inflated and theatrical, meant to impress, but clearly
absurd.
Wellbred and Edward Knowell quickly realize that Bobadill
is a fraud, but they play along, amused by his delusions of grandeur. Matthew,
however, is completely taken in and reveres Bobadill as a heroic figure. The
scene showcases Jonson’s gift for caricature and satire,
mocking the archetype of the “miles gloriosus” (boastful
soldier). Bobadill’s self-importance and Matthew’s gullibility reflect the
broader theme of people being ruled by their “humours”, leading
to ridiculous behavior and social disorder.
Act II, Scene 1 – Summary
We return to Knowell’s household, where Brainworm,
the clever servant, begins to take a more central role. Knowing his master, Old
Knowell, intends to spy on his son Edward in disguise, Brainworm plans to outsmart
both father and son for his own amusement and gain. He expresses his
joy in playing tricks and assumes a false identity to confuse everyone further.
His soliloquy shows that he sees the world as a stage and himself as a master
of disguise and manipulation.
When Old Knowell reenters, determined to follow his son
into the city to see what mischief he might be up to, Brainworm fully commits
to his deception. He flatters his master’s suspicions while secretly
encouraging the very behavior Knowell fears. The scene is filled with dramatic
irony—the audience knows Brainworm’s true intentions, but
Knowell is completely fooled. This sets the stage for a cascade of mistaken
identities and farcical confusion that will unfold in later acts.
Act II, Scene 2 – Summary
This scene shifts to the home of Kitely, a merchant plagued
by intense jealousy and suspicion. He becomes convinced that his wife, Dame
Kitely, is being unfaithful to him—though he has no solid reason to
think so. His jealousy is his dominant “humour”, and it
controls his thoughts and actions. Kitely's obsessive need to control his wife
and household becomes increasingly apparent, and he begins making plans to
catch her in imagined wrongdoing.
Kitely confides his fears to his servant Cash, revealing
his inner turmoil and desire for certainty. However, his own insecurity blinds
him to reality, and he becomes consumed by thoughts of betrayal. This scene
adds another layer to the play’s theme of how individuals are driven by
their particular humours or fixations. Like the boastful Bobadill or
the vain Matthew, Kitely's jealousy makes him vulnerable to manipulation—and,
ultimately, ridicule.
Act II, Scene 3 – Summary
In this scene, Captain Bobadill and Master Matthew
continue to strut about in the streets, feeding each other’s delusions of
grandeur. Bobadill, ever the self-important braggart, talks more about his past
military "glories" and gives Matthew tips on how to handle duels and
social disputes, claiming deep expertise in honor and combat. The irony is
thick—Bobadill has clearly never fought a real duel, and his
advice is a collection of ridiculous, theatrical flourishes.
When Wellbred and Edward Knowell enter,
the scene shifts into playful mockery. They tease Matthew and Bobadill under
the guise of friendship, encouraging their vanity while clearly making fun of
them. Bobadill continues to talk in an overly rhetorical style, revealing his
ignorance and cowardice even further. The scene is filled with comic
exaggeration, as Jonson continues to skewer characters who are
enslaved by self-importance and fantasy. It further develops the
play’s satire of pretension, social climbing, and fake masculinity.
Act III, Scene 1 – Summary
The scene returns to Kitely, who is now fully in the grip
of jealousy. He is tormented by the fear that his wife might be meeting with
Edward Knowell or another suitor behind his back. To prevent this imagined
affair, he decides to move his wife and sister to his shop,
hoping to keep them under close watch and away from temptation. His obsession
clouds his judgment and leads him to behave more irrationally.
Meanwhile, Wellbred, who knows of Kitely’s controlling
nature, is planning to bring Edward Knowell and others to Kitely’s
house, mainly to provoke chaos. He sees Kitely as a figure ripe for
comic exposure. The scene is rich in dramatic irony: the
audience knows Kitely is about to be pranked and humiliated, but he believes he
is cleverly guarding his honor. Through Kitely’s character, Jonson offers a
biting satire on marital mistrust and possessiveness, showing
how destructive obsessive suspicion can be.
Act III, Scene 2 – Summary
This scene focuses on the clever and conniving Brainworm,
who continues executing his plans of deception and disguise. He now dresses as
a city officer, adopting a new identity to fool
others—especially Old Knowell and the other characters caught up in
misunderstandings. His goal is to divert Knowell and
manipulate the movement of other characters so that Edward and Wellbred can
continue their mischief undisturbed.
As Brainworm interacts with various figures, it becomes clear that he is the
master puppeteer, enjoying the chaos he creates. His actions lead to
more confusion and false assumptions, especially for Knowell, who continues to
believe he is cleverly observing events while he is, in fact, being completely
misled. This scene reinforces Jonson’s theme of social masquerade and
self-deception, as well as the Elizabethan comedic trope of the clever
servant outwitting his masters.
Act III, Scene 3 – Summary
In this highly comic scene, Wellbred brings Edward Knowell and his
companions to Kitely’s house—exactly as Kitely had feared. The group
includes the pompous Captain Bobadill and the foolish Matthew,
who act loudly and boisterously. Their disruptive presence in Kitely’s home
drives the jealous merchant into a panic. Kitely becomes increasingly paranoid,
certain now that his wife is engaged in some scandalous behavior.
Kitely tries to maintain order and dignity, but the scene descends into
farce. He struggles to get the unwanted guests out, but they
either ignore him or mock his nervousness. Meanwhile, his servant Cash,
under orders to guard the house, ends up adding to the confusion. The comedy in
this scene stems from Kitely’s inability to control his own home,
while the guests run wild. Jonson cleverly uses this chaos to expose the
absurdity of obsessive jealousy and the breakdown of social order when reason
is replaced by suspicion.
Act IV, Scene 1 – Summary
The scene opens with Old Knowell still under the impression
that he is cleverly tracking his son Edward’s misbehavior. However, Brainworm,
still disguised as a city officer, continues to manipulate him with false
information and fake directions. Knowell becomes increasingly confused but
remains determined to uncover what he believes is his son’s descent into
dishonor. Meanwhile, Brainworm delights in his success at deceiving everyone
and plans to profit from the confusion.
The scene shifts back to Kitely, whose paranoia has now
reached an uncontrollable level. He lashes out at his servant Cash
for failing to keep the visitors out and decides to personally take charge. His
jealousy leads him to suspect not only his wife but also his sister,
Bridget, who has shown friendliness to Edward Knowell. The humour of
jealousy completely consumes Kitely, making him irrational. The scene heightens
the tension and prepares the stage for the impending comic unraveling, showing
how obsession blinds judgment and leads to chaos.
Act IV, Scene 2 – Summary
This scene returns us to the delightful absurdity of Captain
Bobadill, who now boasts that he can defeat twenty men using a
special technique involving tobacco smoke and a rapier. His puffed-up
claims reach a new level of comedy as he explains how easily he would win a
duel — all theory, no practice. Meanwhile, Matthew, ever the
gullible admirer, continues to idolize him and imitates his mannerisms. Their
banter is full of misused classical references and comic bravado.
Edward Knowell and Wellbred arrive and observe Bobadill’s
ridiculous behavior with amusement. They decide to mock him further by
encouraging his delusions and pretending to be impressed. This scene is a
brilliant satire of empty heroism and false gallantry, as
Bobadill represents the bluster of those who pretend to be warriors without
ever fighting. Jonson continues to critique social pretenders through
exaggerated character “humours,” while the play barrels toward a climax where
all these deceits will unravel.
Act V, Scene 1 – Summary
This scene launches the final act and begins tying together the tangled
threads of disguise, deception, and misunderstanding. Old
Knowell arrives in search of his son Edward, still believing he is
acting dishonorably. At the same time, Kitely, consumed by
jealousy, storms in looking for evidence of his wife’s imagined affair. The two
older men encounter one another, each convinced he is the more wronged party,
and their confrontation is both dramatic and humorous.
In the middle of this confusion, Edward Knowell appears and
begins to explain himself honestly. He and Bridget (Kitely’s sister)
have fallen in love, and they wish to marry. This news helps calm
tensions. Meanwhile, Wellbred continues to stir things up playfully,
and Brainworm—still in disguise—prepares to finally reveal himself. The scene
sets the tone for a resolution, as misunderstandings begin to untangle, and the
characters start to reflect on how their ruling “humours”—jealousy, suspicion,
vanity—have made fools of them.
Act V, Scene 2 – Summary
In this final scene, all the main characters are gathered, and Brainworm
at last drops his disguises, revealing the many tricks he has played. Old
Knowell, though initially angry at having been deceived, ends up
admiring Brainworm’s cleverness and forgives him. The tone shifts from tension
and suspicion to resolution and laughter. Edward Knowell’s love for
Bridget is approved, and their marriage is set to proceed, symbolizing
social harmony restored.
Captain Bobadill and Matthew, the most pretentious characters,
are humiliated. When Bobadill is challenged to a real fight, he cowardly backs
down, exposing the hollowness of his bravado. All illusions
are shattered. Jonson concludes the play by reaffirming the message that those
ruled by extreme humours—jealousy, vanity, self-importance, false
bravery—are ridiculous and need correction. The play ends with unity
and laughter, as balance is restored and each character’s folly is exposed for
all to see.
*****
1. Who is Edward Knowell’s father?
(A) Matthew
✅ (B) Old Knowell
(C) Wellbred
(D) Kitely
Explanation: Old Knowell is the father of Edward Knowell and is overly
suspicious of his son's activities.
2. What prompts Old Knowell to spy on his son?
(A) A rumor from the market
✅ (B) A poetic letter addressed to Edward
(C) A conversation with Kitely
(D) His wife’s concern
Explanation: A poetic letter received by Edward raises Knowell’s
suspicion about his son’s behavior.
3. Who is Brainworm?
✅ (A) Knowell’s servant
(B) A soldier
(C) A poet
(D) A merchant
Explanation: Brainworm is a witty and scheming servant to Old Knowell.
4. What is Brainworm known for?
(A) His honesty
✅ (B) His clever disguises and mischief
(C) His combat skills
(D) His loyalty to Matthew
Explanation: Brainworm uses disguises and trickery throughout the play
to manipulate events for fun and gain.
5. What is the main “humour” that drives Kitely?
(A) Vanity
✅ (B) Jealousy
(C) Bravery
(D) Laziness
Explanation: Kitely is consumed by irrational jealousy, especially
concerning his wife.
6. What is Captain Bobadill’s profession?
✅ (A) Soldier
(B) Merchant
(C) Servant
(D) Poet
Explanation: He claims to be a soldier, though he is mostly a coward and
a braggart.
7. Who is duped into believing Bobadill’s military tales?
(A) Wellbred
✅ (B) Matthew
(C) Brainworm
(D) Edward Knowell
Explanation: Matthew idolizes Bobadill and believes his outrageous war
stories.
8. What is Matthew’s dominant character trait or humour?
(A) Silence
✅ (B) Vanity and poetic pretension
(C) Generosity
(D) Bravery
Explanation: Matthew is a vain would-be poet who loves to show off.
9. Who encourages Edward to enjoy youthful freedom?
(A) Old Knowell
(B) Kitely
✅ (C) Wellbred
(D) Matthew
Explanation: Wellbred is Edward’s witty, rebellious friend who promotes
fun and mischief.
10. What is the relationship between Bridget and Kitely?
(A) His wife
✅ (B) His sister
(C) His cousin
(D) His daughter
Explanation: Bridget is Kitely’s sister and later becomes romantically
involved with Edward Knowell.
11. What role does Wellbred play in the chaos?
(A) Peacemaker
(B) Spy
✅ (C) Instigator and social critic
(D) Narrator
Explanation: Wellbred is a free spirit who enjoys stirring up conflict
and exposing hypocrisy.
12. Why does Kitely move his wife and sister to his shop?
(A) To impress guests
(B) To sell more goods
✅ (C) To keep them away from suspected lovers
(D) To punish them
Explanation: Kitely is so jealous that he tries to hide his wife and
sister from any supposed temptation.
13. How does Brainworm trick Old Knowell?
(A) By writing fake letters
✅ (B) By disguising himself as a city officer
(C) By forging marriage papers
(D) By poisoning Bobadill
Explanation: Brainworm puts on disguises to mislead Knowell throughout
the play.
14. What is Bobadill’s attitude toward dueling?
(A) He fears it and avoids it
(B) He is indifferent
✅ (C) He boasts of elaborate techniques but avoids
real fights
(D) He is a master swordsman
Explanation: Bobadill only talks big; when challenged, he proves to be a
coward.
15. Who exposes Bobadill as a coward?
✅ (A) Downright
(B) Wellbred
(C) Kitely
(D) Matthew
Explanation: Downright, a blunt and honest character, confronts and
humiliates Bobadill.
16. What is the final resolution for Edward and Bridget?
(A) They separate
✅ (B) Their marriage is approved
(C) They run away
(D) They join a convent
Explanation: After the confusion clears, their union is accepted and
brings social harmony.
17. What is Jonson’s purpose in assigning each character a dominant
“humour”?
(A) To create mystery
(B) To create violence
✅ (C) To satirize social extremes
(D) To promote romance
Explanation: The idea of humours is used to mock personality excesses
and social foolishness.
18. What happens to Kitely’s suspicions by the end?
(A) They are confirmed
✅ (B) They are proven false
(C) They are ignored
(D) They are rewarded
Explanation: His jealousy is shown to be groundless, and he is
mocked for it.
19. Who delivers poetic nonsense throughout the play?
(A) Wellbred
✅ (B) Matthew
(C) Bobadill
(D) Knowell
Explanation: Matthew spouts terrible, pretentious poetry, often
to comic effect.
20. What is the play’s setting?
(A) Paris
✅ (B) London
(C) Venice
(D) York
Explanation: The play is set in contemporary London, reflecting
urban life and pretensions.
21. Who is the most honest and blunt character?
(A) Bobadill
(B) Matthew
✅ (C) Downright
(D) Brainworm
Explanation: Downright lives up to his name—he speaks the truth
and hates pretense.
22. What genre is Every Man in His Humour?
✅ (A) Comedy of humours
(B) Romantic tragedy
(C) Pastoral drama
(D) Morality play
Explanation: Jonson pioneered the comedy of humours, where
characters are ruled by dominant traits.
23. What does Brainworm gain from his tricks?
(A) Nobility
✅ (B) Money and amusement
(C) Love
(D) Revenge
Explanation: Brainworm thrives on deception, money, and theatrical
delight.
24. Why is Bobadill’s name comic?
(A) It sounds noble
✅ (B) It sounds pompous and foolish
(C) It refers to a king
(D) It is from Italian tragedy
Explanation: “Bobadill” is a name meant to sound absurdly inflated,
mocking his boasting nature.
25. What theme does the play reinforce through comic confusion?
(A) War and honor
(B) Science and reason
✅ (C) Social folly and self-deception
(D) Supernatural mystery
Explanation: Jonson mocks pretension, obsession, and gullibility
in social interactions.
26. Who tries to manage his family like a business transaction?
(A) Old Knowell
(B) Bobadill
✅ (C) Kitely
(D) Downright
Explanation: Kitely treats his wife and sister with the same controlling
logic he applies to his shop, reflecting his merchant mentality and
jealous humour.
27. What is Matthew's relationship to poetry?
(A) He is a professional writer
(B) He hates poetry
✅ (C) He pretends to be a poet but has no talent
(D) He translates classical poems
Explanation: Matthew loves to show off his terrible poetic skills,
full of pretension and cliché.
28. What triggers Downright’s anger toward Bobadill?
✅ (A) Bobadill’s boastful lies
(B) Bobadill flirts with his wife
(C) Bobadill beats up Kitely
(D) Bobadill wins a duel
Explanation: Downright is honest and practical; he cannot tolerate
Bobadill’s false military claims.
29. How does Brainworm manipulate Matthew?
(A) By insulting his poetry
✅ (B) By pretending to be a messenger
(C) By setting him up with Bridget
(D) By telling him Kitely is dead
Explanation: Brainworm fools Matthew by delivering fake news and
manipulating letters.
30. What literary device is central to Brainworm’s role?
(A) Soliloquy
✅ (B) Disguise and dramatic irony
(C) Tragic flaw
(D) Flashback
Explanation: Brainworm uses disguises, and the audience knows
more than the characters he deceives—creating dramatic irony.
31. What is Kitely’s job?
✅ (A) Merchant
(B) Schoolmaster
(C) Barber
(D) Constable
Explanation: Kitely is a London merchant, which influences his
controlling, cautious nature.
32. Why does Old Knowell follow his son?
(A) He wants to punish him
(B) He plans to duel him
✅ (C) He suspects him of immoral behavior
(D) He wants to give him money
Explanation: The poetic letter to Edward causes Old Knowell to fear
that his son is straying morally.
33. What role does Wellbred play in the final resolution?
(A) He becomes King
✅ (B) He helps unite Edward and Bridget
(C) He runs away with Kitely’s wife
(D) He exposes Brainworm
Explanation: Wellbred is instrumental in bringing Edward and Bridget
together, causing much of the play’s mischief.
34. How does Bobadill respond when Downright challenges him?
(A) He fights bravely
✅ (B) He panics and backs down
(C) He stabs Downright
(D) He runs offstage
Explanation: The cowardly Bobadill is exposed when challenged,
revealing he’s all talk.
35. What social class is mocked most in the play?
(A) Royalty
✅ (B) Urban middle class and self-important
gentlemen
(C) Farmers
(D) Clergy
Explanation: Jonson satirizes the rising London middle class and
pretentious urban types.
36. What is the significance of the play’s title?
(A) Everyone is serious
(B) It’s a tragedy in disguise
✅ (C) Each character is ruled by a dominant “humour”
or personality quirk
(D) It is a comedy of errors
Explanation: The title reflects the theory that people are driven by a
specific humour or trait, like jealousy, vanity, or arrogance.
37. Who says the most nonsensical and overly poetic lines?
(A) Wellbred
✅ (B) Matthew
(C) Edward
(D) Kitely
Explanation: Matthew comically recites bad poetry, showcasing his
self-delusion.
38. What is the dramatic function of Brainworm?
(A) Comic relief only
(B) Ghost figure
✅ (C) Trickster or clever servant
(D) Tragic villain
Explanation: Brainworm is a classic trickster figure, deceiving
others for fun and personal gain.
39. What does Old Knowell learn by the end of the play?
✅ (A) He was wrong to mistrust his son
(B) His son has married without permission
(C) Matthew is his cousin
(D) Wellbred is a criminal
Explanation: By the end, he realizes Edward is honorable, and his
spying was unnecessary.
40. Who ends up humiliated the most?
(A) Edward Knowell
✅ (B) Captain Bobadill
(C) Brainworm
(D) Kitely’s wife
Explanation: Bobadill’s cowardice and lies are exposed, making
him the butt of the final ridicule.
41. What element of Renaissance London does Jonson criticize?
✅ (A) Social pretension and false honor
(B) Religious reform
(C) Theatre architecture
(D) Rural life
Explanation: Jonson satirizes urban society, especially fake
poets, braggarts, and over-jealous husbands.
42. What does Bridget represent in the play?
✅ (A) Social harmony through love and marriage
(B) Rebellion
(C) Manipulation
(D) Poetry
Explanation: Her marriage to Edward symbolizes balance and resolution
at the end.
43. Why is Downright angry at Wellbred?
(A) For stealing money
(B) For writing bad poetry
✅ (C) For bringing disreputable men to their house
(D) For marrying Bridget
Explanation: Downright scolds his brother Wellbred for associating
with fools like Bobadill and Matthew.
44. What is Matthew’s relationship to Bobadill?
(A) Enemy
(B) Cousin
✅ (C) Admirer and follower
(D) Landlord
Explanation: Matthew idolizes Bobadill and parrots his
exaggerated behavior.
45. Who pretends to be a city officer?
(A) Downright
✅ (B) Brainworm
(C) Matthew
(D) Edward Knowell
Explanation: Brainworm wears multiple disguises, including that of a city
officer, to confuse others.
46. What lesson does Kitely learn?
(A) Business is more important than family
✅ (B) Jealousy is foolish and destructive
(C) Women are untrustworthy
(D) Revenge is sweet
Explanation: Kitely sees that his jealousy was groundless and
humiliating.
47. What literary form is the play written in?
(A) Free verse
✅ (B) Prose and blank verse
(C) Rhyming couplets only
(D) Sonnets
Explanation: The play mixes prose for comic scenes and blank
verse for serious ones.
48. What does Bobadill claim tobacco can do?
(A) Make one invisible
✅ (B) Help win battles
(C) Prevent love
(D) Heal jealousy
Explanation: In one of his absurd boasts, Bobadill says he can fight
20 men with the help of tobacco smoke.
49. What does the play suggest about appearances and reality?
(A) They are usually the same
(B) Reality should be ignored
✅ (C) Appearances are often deceptive
(D) Appearances don’t matter
Explanation: Jonson uses disguise and false personas to show that
people often pretend to be what they’re not.
50. How does the play end?
(A) With a duel
(B) With a funeral
✅ (C) With reconciliation and marriage
(D) With everyone arrested
Explanation: Like most comedies of the period, it ends in resolution
and celebration—particularly Edward and Bridget’s approved union.
51. Who is most easily manipulated by flattery throughout the play?
(A) Downright
✅ (B) Matthew
(C) Kitely
(D) Edward Knowell
Explanation: Matthew is a vain fool who believes compliments and is
easily deceived.
52. What type of comedy is this play considered?
(A) Comedy of errors
✅ (B) Comedy of humours
(C) Tragicomedy
(D) Farce
Explanation: Each character in the play represents a dominant “humour”
that drives their behavior, a style Jonson pioneered.
53. How does Edward Knowell differ from most other characters?
✅ (A) He is rational and self-aware
(B) He is consumed by pride
(C) He is violent and jealous
(D) He believes in superstition
Explanation: Edward remains level-headed and is one of the few
balanced characters.
54. Why is Wellbred considered dangerous by some characters?
(A) He is violent
(B) He is poor
✅ (C) He associates with undesirable company
(D) He cheats in business
Explanation: Wellbred’s friendships with low characters like Bobadill
and Matthew make him suspicious in polite society.
55. What kind of character is Downright?
✅ (A) Honest and plain-spoken
(B) Sneaky and deceptive
(C) Poetic and emotional
(D) Cowardly and nervous
Explanation: As his name suggests, Downright is blunt and direct,
disliking falsehood.
56. What is one reason for Kitely’s obsession with control?
(A) His political beliefs
✅ (B) His merchant background and fear of scandal
(C) His wife's unfaithfulness
(D) His love for poetry
Explanation: Kitely, being a respectable tradesman, is terrified
of social shame and tries to control his household obsessively.
57. Who declares that he would fight twenty men if needed?
(A) Downright
✅ (B) Bobadill
(C) Matthew
(D) Brainworm
Explanation: Bobadill, the boastful coward, makes absurd claims about
his dueling abilities.
58. What is Bobadill’s reaction when challenged to an actual fight?
(A) He fights to the death
(B) He recites a poem
✅ (C) He backs down immediately
(D) He leaves town
Explanation: Bobadill loses all confidence and is exposed as a
fraud when faced with real danger.
59. What does Brainworm enjoy most in the play?
(A) Money
(B) Revenge
✅ (C) Trickery and roleplaying
(D) Poetry
Explanation: Brainworm thrives on creating confusion and manipulating
others through disguise.
60. Who says: “A man’s humour is the key to his actions”?
(A) Bobadill
(B) Wellbred
✅ (C) Old Knowell
(D) Matthew
Explanation: This line (paraphrased) reflects Old Knowell’s recognition
that people’s quirks govern their behavior—the essence of the play.
61. How is the humour theory portrayed?
(A) As scientific fact
✅ (B) As exaggerated and laughable
(C) As divine truth
(D) As political doctrine
Explanation: Jonson uses humour theory as a satirical device to
mock excesses in personality.
62. What do Edward and Bridget’s marriage symbolize?
(A) Rebellion against family
✅ (B) Social harmony and restoration
(C) Economic ambition
(D) Political alliance
Explanation: Their union represents resolution and the
restoration of order after the confusion.
63. What is the main reason Kitely distrusts his wife?
(A) She has a history of cheating
✅ (B) He imagines her as unfaithful without cause
(C) She flirts openly
(D) He catches her writing letters
Explanation: Kitely’s jealousy is based on nothing but imagination
and paranoia.
64. How does Bobadill react to Downright’s accusations?
(A) Denies them and fights
(B) Challenges him to a duel
✅ (C) Tries to excuse himself and avoid
confrontation
(D) Insults him publicly
Explanation: True to his cowardly nature, Bobadill retreats from
confrontation.
65. What emotion best defines Downright?
✅ (A) Honesty with impatience for nonsense
(B) Ambition
(C) Sentimentality
(D) Scheming
Explanation: He hates falsehood and pretense and is often angry at
dishonesty.
66. Why is Brainworm’s name ironic?
(A) He is a soldier
✅ (B) Though a servant, he is smarter than his
masters
(C) He is poetic
(D) He is a coward
Explanation: Brainworm is a clever manipulator, always “worming”
into others’ business.
67. What happens when all disguises are revealed?
✅ (A) Characters reconcile and accept their flaws
(B) Everyone is punished
(C) A riot breaks out
(D) Brainworm is executed
Explanation: The conclusion brings understanding, forgiveness, and
social harmony.
68. What is the most important lesson Old Knowell learns?
(A) That poetry is dangerous
✅ (B) Not to mistrust his son based on suspicion
(C) That wealth corrupts
(D) That Kitely is a criminal
Explanation: Old Knowell realizes his spying was misguided, and
his son is honorable.
69. Who is Downright related to?
(A) Matthew
(B) Edward Knowell
(C) Old Knowell
✅ (D) Wellbred
Explanation: Downright and Wellbred are half-brothers, though
very different in nature.
70. What does Bobadill claim to be able to do with tobacco?
✅ (A) Defeat multiple men
(B) Put people to sleep
(C) Speak poetry better
(D) Cure jealousy
Explanation: He makes the absurd boast that he can use smoke as part
of his combat technique.
71. Which character is associated with the theme of jealousy?
(A) Matthew
✅ (B) Kitely
(C) Bobadill
(D) Brainworm
Explanation: Kitely is tormented by irrational jealousy,
especially about his wife.
72. Why is Matthew mocked so often?
✅ (A) His bad poetry and vanity
(B) His success with women
(C) His business sense
(D) His bravery
Explanation: He is a ridiculous poetaster who takes himself far
too seriously.
73. What is the purpose of Wellbred’s pranks?
(A) To get money
(B) To marry Bridget
✅ (C) To mock pretentiousness and expose social
folly
(D) To help Bobadill
Explanation: Wellbred serves as a comic critic of the fake and
foolish.
74. What happens to Bobadill at the end of the play?
(A) He is arrested
✅ (B) He is publicly humiliated and dismissed
(C) He is promoted
(D) He marries Bridget
Explanation: Bobadill’s cowardice is exposed, and he is mocked
and removed from the final scene.
75. How is order restored in the final act?
(A) The King arrives
(B) There’s a courtroom trial
✅ (C) Misunderstandings are resolved and characters
forgive each other
(D) Bobadill is executed
Explanation: Jonson resolves the chaos through recognition,
reconciliation, and clarity.
76. What does Jonson satirize most through Bobadill?
(A) Justice
✅ (B) Braggadocio and false heroism
(C) Religion
(D) Government
Explanation: Bobadill embodies the boastful soldier stereotype,
full of empty bravado.
77. Why is Matthew a source of comedy?
✅ (A) He thinks he’s a genius poet but isn’t
(B) He’s always drunk
(C) He owns no clothes
(D) He works as a secret agent
Explanation: His pretentious poetry and inflated ego make him a
comic figure.
78. What does the “humour” theory in the play emphasize?
(A) That people are naturally virtuous
✅ (B) That everyone is governed by a dominant
temperament
(C) That justice is always served
(D) That humour is just for laughter
Explanation: Jonson builds his characters around overpowering traits,
or "humours".
79. Why does Brainworm keep changing disguises?
✅ (A) To manipulate and confuse others
(B) To hide from creditors
(C) To win a duel
(D) To find a lost ring
Explanation: Brainworm loves disrupting plans through theatrical
disguise.
80. What is Kitely’s reaction when his suspicions are proven false?
(A) Rage
✅ (B) Embarrassment and acceptance
(C) Suicide
(D) Divorce
Explanation: Kitely is shamed but relieved when he realizes his
jealousy was misplaced.
81. Which character is described as “honest and blunt to a fault”?
(A) Edward
(B) Kitely
✅ (C) Downright
(D) Brainworm
Explanation: Downright speaks plainly and disdains pretension or
deceit.
82. What function does Wellbred serve in the narrative?
(A) Moral preacher
(B) Judge
✅ (C) Mischievous social critic
(D) Merchant
Explanation: Wellbred provokes and observes folly, acting like a
comic catalyst.
83. How does Jonson expose societal hypocrisy?
✅ (A) Through exaggerated characters and satire
(B) Through dramatic death scenes
(C) Through religious debates
(D) Through musical interludes
Explanation: The play ridicules social masks, pride, and moral pretenses.
84. What finally causes Old Knowell to change his mind about Edward?
(A) A letter from Bobadill
✅ (B) Edward’s honorable behavior and honesty
(C) Matthew’s warning
(D) Bridget’s disobedience
Explanation: Edward’s virtue and intentions convince his father
of his integrity.
85. What character type does Brainworm resemble?
(A) Tragic hero
✅ (B) The clever servant or trickster
(C) Wise old man
(D) Innocent victim
Explanation: Brainworm fits the classic Elizabethan comedic “knave”,
full of mischief and wit.
86. What happens to the romantic subplot by the end?
(A) It is abandoned
✅ (B) It ends with a marriage between Edward and
Bridget
(C) It turns tragic
(D) It is forbidden by the King
Explanation: The love plot resolves with a socially approved marriage,
typical of comedies.
87. What flaw do many male characters in the play share?
✅ (A) Obsession with reputation and image
(B) Religious fanaticism
(C) Greed for power
(D) Poverty
Explanation: Characters like Bobadill, Matthew, and Kitely are obsessed
with status and ego.
88. Why is Downright angry with Wellbred?
(A) He stole money
✅ (B) He introduced bad company into their home
(C) He insulted Kitely
(D) He wrote a play
Explanation: Downright scolds Wellbred for welcoming dishonest fools
like Bobadill.
89. What is Edward Knowell’s role in the play’s resolution?
✅ (A) He restores order by marrying Bridget and
staying virtuous
(B) He exposes Bobadill
(C) He duels Kitely
(D) He punishes Brainworm
Explanation: Edward’s virtue and maturity stabilize the chaos
caused by other characters.
90. Who ultimately receives the harshest ridicule?
(A) Bridget
(B) Wellbred
✅ (C) Bobadill
(D) Edward
Explanation: Bobadill’s cowardice and empty boasts lead to the
strongest mockery.
91. What social phenomenon is parodied through Matthew and Bobadill’s
friendship?
✅ (A) Shallow admiration for false sophistication
(B) True heroism
(C) Father-son loyalty
(D) Trade guilds
Explanation: Matthew represents the gullible admirer of flamboyant
frauds like Bobadill.
92. Why does Jonson use prose and blank verse together?
(A) For comedy only
✅ (B) To separate classes and moods
(C) To honor Shakespeare
(D) To confuse the audience
Explanation: Jonson uses blank verse for noble or serious tones
and prose for comic or lower-class scenes.
93. What is the dramatic function of mistaken identity in the play?
✅ (A) To generate comedy and reveal character flaws
(B) To teach a moral
(C) To bring tragedy
(D) To mimic court trials
Explanation: Mistaken identities create comic confusion and
eventually highlight the truth.
94. What does Kitely fear more than actual infidelity?
✅ (A) Social scandal and gossip
(B) Religious punishment
(C) Loss of money
(D) Being poisoned
Explanation: As a merchant, Kitely is obsessed with reputation in
society.
95. What kind of “humour” dominates Captain Bobadill?
(A) Black bile
✅ (B) Windiness / boastfulness
(C) Melancholy
(D) Gluttony
Explanation: Bobadill’s delusional ego and exaggeration define
his ruling humour.
96. What reveals Matthew’s poetic ignorance?
(A) His silence
✅ (B) His nonsensical verses and misused terms
(C) His imitations of Shakespeare
(D) His Latin grammar
Explanation: Matthew recites absurd, pompous poetry, believing
himself a genius.
97. What action is symbolic of resolution in the final scene?
✅ (A) The approval of Edward and Bridget’s marriage
(B) Bobadill’s death
(C) A court verdict
(D) Old Knowell’s exile
Explanation: The marriage brings social harmony, a standard
comedic conclusion.
98. Why is Brainworm forgiven?
✅ (A) He threatens blackmail
(B) He cries in public
✅ (C) His cleverness is admired, and no real harm
was done
(D) He returns stolen money
Explanation: His wit and harmless mischief win the others’
amusement and pardon.
99. Which classical influence is felt in Jonson’s satire?
(A) Homer
✅ (B) Plautus and Terence
(C) Virgil
(D) Ovid
Explanation: Jonson followed Roman New Comedy, especially Plautus
and Terence, in creating stock characters and situational satire.
100. What best summarizes the central theme of the play?
(A) Love conquers all
✅ (B) When people are ruled by their humours, chaos
and comedy follow
(C) Politics is dangerous
(D) Death is inevitable
Explanation: Jonson explores how excessive personality traits
disrupt society—but also create rich comedy.
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