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Unit 19: The School for Scandal: Detailed Analysis of the Text Act I to Act V

to his uncle “Stanley.” Maria, however, declines to give Charles her hand, citing his supposed Notes
involvement with Lady Sneerwell. Joseph now reveals Lady Sneerwell. Charles is baffled, and Rowley
then summons Snake. Snake, however, has been bribed to turn against Sneerwell, so her lie is exposed.
After Lady Teazle tells her that she (Lady Teazle) is withdrawing from the School for Scandal, Lady
Sneerwell leaves in a rage, and Joseph follows, supposedly to keep her from further malicious attacks.
Charles and Maria are reconciled. Charles makes no promises about reforming, but indicates that
Maria’s influence will keep him on a “virtuous path.” The concluding line assures the audience that
“even Scandal dies, if you approve.”

Self Assessment

Multiple Choice Questions:
16. When Joseph anxiously awaiting a visit from Lady Teazle, the servant draw a screen across
the window because
(a) of tempered opposite neighbour
(b) Lady Teazle just left
(c) Lady Teazle does not want to meet Joseph
(d) he wants to hide the presence of Lady Teazle.
17. When Sir Oliver points to his own portrait and asks how much it will cost, Charles
(a) asks for over 400 pounds for it
(b) refuses to sell it
(c) refuses to sell it, since Sir Oliver was bad to him
(d) refuses to sell it because it is priceless.
18. When Sir Oliver enters Sir Peter’s house, Candour, Sneerwell, Backbite, and Crabtree are all
at Sir Peter’s house, and think
(a) that Joseph was wounded in a duel and is at death’s door
(b) that Sir Peter caught was caught with Lady Teazle
(c) that Sir Oliver is a physician who has come to treat Sir Peter’s wounds
(d) that their information is all correct.
Fill in the blanks:
19. Charles sells all but one of the family portraits to ...... .
20. Sir Oliver, reflecting on Charles’s character with Moses, is met by Rowley, who has brought
him the ...... sent to Stanley.
21. Mr Moses and Sir Oliver are in Charles’s parlor and Mr Moses points out that all the stories
about Charles are ...... .
22. Lady Sneerwell complains to Joseph that Sir Peter, now that he knows the truth about Joseph,
will allow Charles to marry ...... .
23. Maria declines to give Charles her hand, citing his supposed involvement with ...... .
State whether the following statements are true or false:
24. When Sir Oliver offers to purchase his own painting for over 400 pounds, Charles agrees to
sell it.
25. Sir Oliver (as Mr Stanley) visits Joseph. Joseph, like Charles, does not recognize his long-lost
uncle.
26. Sir Oliver is shown to be a good judge of character, since he can look past Charles’s
roguishness and find the good in him.

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