Volpone Questions and Answers
Volpone
Characteristics and classification of Volpone as a comedy of humours
Volpone, written by Ben Jonson, is classified as a comedy of humours because it portrays characters dominated by one overriding trait or 'humour.' Each character’s behaviour and fate are driven by...
Volpone
Analyse the statement: "Ben Jonson's Volpone is a novel of avarice and greed."
"Ben Jonson's Volpone is indeed a novel of avarice and greed." The characters' actions and even their names, such as Volpone (fox) and Mosca (flesh fly), reflect predatory greed. Each character,...
Volpone
How is Volpone a satire?
In Jonson's play Volpone, satire is employed to critique and mock human flaws, particularly greed and lust. The story showcases characters engaged in deception and trickery, driven by their desire...
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How is the theme of avarice portrayed in Volpone by Ben Johnson?
The theme of avarice in Volpone is portrayed through the characters' overwhelming greed for money, power, and respect. Volpone pretends to be ill to receive gifts from those who hope to inherit his...
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The metatheatricality in Volpone by Ben Jonson
The metatheatricality in Volpone by Ben Jonson involves characters who are aware of their roles within the play, often engaging in schemes and deceptions that mirror theatrical performances. This...
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What vision of morality and justice is presented in Ben Jonson's Volpone?
In Ben Jonson's Volpone, morality and justice are presented through a comedic lens that reflects the corrupt society of Jacobean London. Jonson's characters, driven by greed and deceit, are...
Volpone
Compare female character representation in Volpone and Duchess of Malfi.
Female characters in Volpone and The Duchess of Malfi are presented as either virtuous or to be ridiculed. Celia and the Duchess are admired for their beauty, strength, and integrity. In contrast,...
Volpone
The significance and characteristics of the characters' names and nicknames in Volpone
In Volpone, characters' names and nicknames are significant as they reflect their traits and roles. Volpone means "fox" in Italian, indicating cunning and deceit. Mosca means "fly," symbolizing...
Volpone
Does the aphorism, "Mischiefs feed / Like beasts, till they be fat, and then they bleed" accurately summarize Volpone?
The aphorism "Mischiefs feed / Like beasts, till they be fat, and then they bleed" accurately summarizes Volpone. The play revolves around deceit and the greedy pursuit of wealth, culminating in the...
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Volpone Subplot's Role and Significance
The subplot in Ben Jonson's Volpone plays a crucial role in reinforcing the main plot's themes and providing comic relief. It features Peregrine and Sir Politic Would-Be, paralleling Volpone's...
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What is the importance of the court scene in Volpone?
The court scene in Volpone is crucial as it ensures justice is visibly served, with all malefactors convicted and sentenced. It allows the audience to witness the unfolding of justice and enjoy the...
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Is Ben Jonson's Volpone a satirical comedy?
Volpone by Ben Jonson is indeed a satirical comedy, as it uses humor to critique greed and corruption. The play features absurd and inept characters like Corbaccio, Corvino, and Voltore, who are...
Volpone
In Volpone, does Ben Jonson subscribe to humanism and rebel against "the chain of being"?
Ben Jonson, in Volpone, subscribes to humanism and challenges the "chain of being." By using classical drama forms and humanist traditions, Jonson departs from the medieval worldview, which...
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Analysis and Comparison of Volpone and Mosca in Ben Jonson's Volpone
In Ben Jonson's Volpone, Volpone and Mosca are central characters who embody greed and deceit. Volpone, the wealthy con artist, pretends to be dying to extract gifts from potential heirs. Mosca, his...
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How is Mosca portrayed as a parasite in Volpone?
Mosca is portrayed as a parasite in Volpone through his name, which means "fly" in Italian, and his soliloquy in Act III, where he praises parasitism. He argues that everyone is a parasite to some...
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Does the play "Volpone" convey a positive, ethical message?
The play "Volpone" conveys a complex ethical message centered on the destructive nature of greed. While it critiques how the pursuit of wealth dehumanizes individuals, likening them to animals driven...
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Jacobean comedy elements and deviations from Jacobean dramaturgy in Ben Jonson's Volpone
Volpone incorporates Jacobean comedy elements such as satire, intricate plots, and humorous characterizations. However, it deviates from traditional Jacobean dramaturgy by emphasizing moral lessons...
Volpone
What is the theme of Volpone?
The overriding theme of Volpone is the power of greed. Greed is shown in the play as a corrupting force that corrodes the soul and makes people do things they ought not to do.
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Is Volpone an animal fable?
Volpone incorporates elements of animal fables, with characters named after animals that reflect their traits, like Volpone the fox. However, unlike traditional animal fables using real animals,...
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Why does Volpone discard his disguise in the final scene?
Volpone discards his disguise in the final scene to expose Mosca, who has betrayed him by taking control of the legacy scam and holding Volpone's house ransom for a larger share of his will. Despite...
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What are the key features of Jacobean comedy in comparison to Elizabethan comedy, referencing Volpone, or the Fox,...
Jacobean comedy, exemplified by Ben Jonson's Volpone, is darker and more satirical than Elizabethan comedy, like Shakespeare's "As You Like It." Jacobean works often employ satire to critique social...
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What is the function of the Epistle in Ben Jonson's Volpone?
The Epistle in Ben Jonson's Volpone serves as an explanation for the play's structure and themes. Jonson uses it to justify his divergence from contemporary comedic norms, particularly by employing...
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Is Volpone a tragicomedy?
Volpone can be described as a tragicomedy. While it lacks the high-status characters typical of tragedy and features squalid, despicable characters, its dark and cynical tone aligns it with other...
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What are a poet's duties according to Ben Jonson's Epistle?
According to Ben Jonson's "Epistle," a poet's duties include being a teacher of morality and living as a paragon of virtue. Jonson asserts that good writers must first be good men, exemplifying moral...
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Do character names in Volpone influence audience's understanding of the play?
Yes, character names in Volpone significantly influence the audience's understanding of the play. Ben Jonson uses names that reveal personality traits, such as Volpone (the Fox), who is sly and...
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In Volpone, how does the theme of metamorphosis relate to Volpone and other characters?
The theme of metamorphosis in the play relates to deception and character insight. Characters like Volpone and Mosca frequently change identities, using disguises to deceive others and revealing...
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What is the background information on Volpone, including religious attitudes of the period?
Ben Jonson's play Volpone, published in 1605, emerged during the transition from the Elizabethan to the Jacobean era. Jonson, unlike his contemporary Shakespeare, focused on moral lessons in his...
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What is your commentary on Corvino's character in Act 2, Scene 5 of Volpone?
In Act 2, Scene 5 of Volpone, Corvino is portrayed as a jealous, cowardly, and greedy merchant. He violently drags his wife, Celia, from the window, accusing her of infidelity after she innocently...
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How does Volpone respond to anti-theatrical discourse?
Volpone responds to anti-theatrical discourse by emphasizing the artistic value of dramatic poetry and promoting the reformation of theater. While acknowledging some anti-theatrical concerns, Jonson...
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What are the similarities and differences in comedy between Volpone and A Midsummer Night's Dream?
Both Volpone and "A Midsummer Night's Dream" are Elizabethan comedies utilizing slapstick, mistaken identity, and appearance versus reality. In Volpone, characters are represented by animals to...