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Unit 21: The School for Scandal: All Major and Minor Themes
21.7 Keywords Notes
Hypocrisy : Hypocrisy is the state of pretending to have beliefs, opinions, virtues, ideals, thoughts,
feelings, qualities, or standards that one does not actually have. Or A pretense of
having a virtuous character, moral or religious beliefs or principles, etc., that one
does not really possess.
Gambling : To play at any game of chance for money or other stakes. Or to stake or risk money,
or anything of value, on the outcome of something involving chance.
Idling : Idle (idling) is a term which generally refers to a lack of motion and/or energy.
Defamation : Defamation is also called calumny, vilification, traducement, slander, and libel is the
communication of a statement that makes a claim, expressly stated or implied to be
factual, that may give an individual, business, product, group, government, or nation
a negative image.
Scandal : A person whose conduct causes reproach or disgrace.
21.8 Review Questions
1. Explore the deceptive appearance in the play The School for Scandal.
2. An implied theme in the play is that idleness breeds mischief. Explain.
3. Amid all the wrongdoing in the play, it is easy to overlook the moral resolve of Maria. In the
context of The School for Scandal, explain the theme used in this statement.
4. Give a critical view of the following themes in The School for Scandal:
(a) Hypocrisy (b) Steadfast Integrity (c) Pitfalls of idleness
Answers: Self Assessment
1. (a) 2. (b) 3. (c)
4. rectitude 5. mischief 6. True
7. True 8. False
21.9 Further Readings
Rump, Eric. 1995. Sheridan, Congreve and School for Scandal. In: James Morwood
and David Crane (eds.), Sheridan Studies. Cambridge University Press.
Richard Brinsley Sheridan, Eric S. Rump (ed.). 1989. The School for Scandal and
other Plays. Penguin Classics, UK.
Online links http://www.enotes.com/school-scandal/critical-overview
http://www.cummingsstudyguides.net/Guides3/School.html
http://www.artsclub.com/youth/pdfs/0607guides/
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