Loudoun County Public Schools / Overview



She Stoops to Conquer

By Oliver Goldsmith

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Study Guide – AP Literature

Williams/Bills

Name: ________________________

Targets:

Students will:

• Read and analyze drama

• Understand the concepts and effects of satire

• Write a creative piece demonstrating elements of satire

Introduction:

A classic comedy of manners, She Stoops to Conquer has delighted audiences for

over two centuries. First performed in 1773, the play is a boisterous story

about two young men, Charles Marlow and George Hastings, and their attempts

to court Kate Hardcastle and her friend Constance Neville.

A number of delightful deceits, clever schemes, comic ruses, and hilarious turns of

plot must be played out if the two pending marriages are to conclude

happily. Along the way, there is an abundance of merry mix-ups, bawdy

dialogue, sly satire, and humorous characterization.

She Stoops to Conquer is an hilarious comedy of errors; the marvelous humor

and humanity of Goldsmith's play have made it one of the most read, performed,

and studied of all English comedies.

Helen Blackmore

Education Associate

Birmingham Repertory Theatre; September 2007

Synopsis of the Plot

Act I opens with Squire Hardcastle and his second wife, Mrs. Hardcastle,

bickering. Mr. Hardcastle teases his wife about her age and her son, Tony

Lumpkin, whom she had with her first husband. Tony is a mischievous man, with

a love for drink and trickery, but not much else. Mrs. Hardcastle is quite

determined that her spoiled and rather stupid son shall marry her niece,

Constance Neville. If they marry she will be able to keep in the family Miss

Neville's fortune - a casket of valuable jewels. Miss Neville and Tony Lumpkin,

however, can only agree on one thing: their hatred of each other.

Miss Neville is secretly pledged to another young man, Mr. Hastings, who is a

friend of Mr. Marlow, the son of Mr. Hardcastle’s good friend Sir Charles.

Hardcastle wants Marlow to marry his charming daughter Kate, but Kate is apprehensive of her father’s description of Marlow as handsome, but reserved.

Evaluating the Prologue

1. Who is Mr. Woodward and what is he lamenting? What makes this satirical and humorous?

2. What is the purpose of referring to the actors by name (instead of the characters they portray in the play)? What effect does this have on the audience?

3. What does Mr. Woodward mean by describing “Faces [as] blocks, in sentimental scenes”?

4. What else foreshadows the forthcoming satire in this introduction? What does this reveal about Goldsmith’s tone?

Act I – Studying Setting and Style

Cummings Study Guide describes She Stoops to Conquer as “a stage play in the form of a comedy of manners, which ridicules the manners (way of life, social customs, etc.) of a certain segment of society, in particular the upper class. The play is also sometimes termed a drawing-room comedy. The play uses farce (including many mix-ups) and satire to poke fun at the class-consciousness of eighteenth-century Englishmen and to satirize what Goldsmith called the ‘weeping sentimental comedy so much in fashion at present.’” 

Backwards Design – Since the genre of satire is already established for us, it is easy to see the elements that Goldsmith seems to mock; however, it is important for us to evaluate the cultural norms in order to deduce this humor. Based on the characters’ interaction and dialogue in Act I, what are some of the major societal and cultural norms in 18th century England?

|What is the major |How is it revealed/portrayed? |Why is it important? What is it revealing about |

|characteristic of society? | |18th Century England? |

| |Mr. and Mrs. Hardcastle’s discussion regarding |Divide between the rich and poor; assumptions of |

|Social Class |town v. country life |isolation/ignorance associated with country life |

| | | |

|Age | | |

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|Attire | | |

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|Gender | | |

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|Relationships/ | | |

|Courtship | | |

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| | | |

Act II – Trickery Prevails

In Act II, we see the aspects of deceit play out (no pun intended). Who deceives whom and why? This may seem like an obvious question, but as some characters learn the truth, they continue to conceal it for personal gain.

As we read, keep track of the web of deception and misinformation. You may use the format below or any graphic organizer that makes sense to you, but make sure it is thorough and complete.

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Analyzing Characters

One aspect of this play that resonates with modern audiences is the fact that each individual has specific wants and desires (even if these “needs” are satirically portrayed). As we read, keep a list of the primary concerns and motivations of each character.

|What is the character’s primary concern? |How is it portrayed/revealed? |Why does Goldsmith include this? What is |

| | |his purpose? |

|Mrs. Hardcastle – | | |

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| | | |

|Mr. Hardcastle – | | |

| | | |

| | | |

|Tony Lumpkin – | | |

| | | |

| | | |

|Kate Hardcastle – | | |

| | | |

| | | |

|Constance Neville – | | |

| | | |

| | | |

|Mr. Hastings – | | |

| | | |

| | | |

|Young Charles Marlow- | | |

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| | | |

|Diggory – | | |

| | | |

| | | |

Discussion Questions

Consider the following as we prepare for large-group discussion. Responses should be several sentences to a full paragraph in length, so it is necessary to write on a separate sheet of paper.

1. She Stoops to Conquer is also known as The Mistakes of a Night. Which is

the better title and why?

2. The casket of jewels belonging to Constance Neville were kept by her aunt,

Mrs. Hardcastle. Should Constance have just taken them when she wanted

them? Why didn’t she?

3. Mr. Hardcastle is strict about the way in which Kate dresses. Why is he so?

What do you think about his opinion?

4. Marlow is unable to converse with women of equal social standing, yet he

has no problem with women of a lower class. What does this suggest about

him and his view/respect of women?

5. Does Kate lower her standards in order to get her man?

6. Mrs. Hardcastle is adamant that Constance and Tony will marry according

to her arrangements. What are the pros and cons of arranged marriage? Is Kate and Marlow’s marriage, in fact, arranged?

7. Mrs. Hardcastle has no control over her son Tony. Why is this?

8. Why do Hastings and Constance collude in deceiving Marlow?

Emulating Style and Tone – Original Satire

Famous satirists have mastered the art of tone, using sarcasm and irony to convey social criticism. We see these satires in many forms, varying from newspaper articles (The Onion) to skits (Saturday Night Live) to newscasts (The Colbert Report, John Stewart). Famous literary satirists include Kurt Vonnegut, Jonathon Swift, Samuel Clemens (aka Mark Twain), and Jane Austen.

Now that we have studied two satirical works, it is your turn to satirize! Select one aspect of modern society that you consider worthy of derision and do just that – mock it! Create an article/short story that is serious in manner but satirical in tone. You must use at least five (5) satirical terms we have studied in class. Show your intentional usage by underlining or highlighting the example within your writing and identifying the specific device.

Due Date:_____________________

Original Satire Rubric

| |Has a clear weakness, vice, or folly that is attacked |

|Content |Offers clear, specific evidence in the attack |

|20 points |Uses literary devices studied to create the satire, including (but not limited to) hyperbole, litotes, |

| |understatement, bathos, euphemism, details, incongruity, allusion, reversal, and irony. |

| |Stays on topic |

| |Offers a “better” alternative or suggestion for improvement |

|Style/flow |Has a clear introduction, body, and conclusion |

|20 points |Uses a variety of sentence types and lengths for emphasis |

| |Uses effective diction to achieve purpose |

| |Reflects a mock-serious tone |

| |Uses effective transitions between paragraphs |

| |Illustrates points with appropriate anecdotes, statistics, or other evidence |

| |Takes audience into consideration and presents appropriate content for reader |

|Mechanics |Demonstrates correct punctuation, spelling, and grammar |

|10 points | |

|Terminology/ |Typed, size 12 font, Times New Roman or similar font |

|Other |2 pages in length (minimum) |

|10 points |Satirical devices are clearly labeled (underline or highlight) (refer to your Satire Terms List #1 for |

| |specific terms) |

Total: _________________/60

Comments:

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(Character’s name)

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(Character’s name)

…because…

deceives ______________

by…

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(Character’s name)

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(Character’s name)

deceives ______________

by…

deceives ______________

by…

deceives ______________

by…

…because…

…because…

…because…

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