Volpone Brief Questions
Volpone is a notable literary work by Ben Jonson. A complete discussion of this literary work is given, which will help you enhance your literary skills and prepare for the exam. Read the Main texts, Key info, Summary, Themes, Characters, Literary devices, Quotations, Notes, and various study materials of Volpone.
Answer
Volpone Brief Questions
Who is Volpone? ✪✪✪
Ans: Volpone (The Fox) is a Venetian gentleman who pretends to be on his deathbed after a long illness to dupe Voltore (The Vulture), Corbaccio (The Raven), and Corvino (The Crow), three men who aspire to inherit his fortune.
What is an epistle? (NU. 2012)
Ans: An epistle is a formal or didactic letter sent to a person or a group of people.
Why does Volpone feign illness? ✪✪✪ (NU. 2022)
Ans. Volpone feigns illness to attract legacy hunters.
What beasts do the legacy hunters stand for? (NU. 2022)
Ans. Voltore, Corbaccio, and Corvino are the three legacy hunters in Volpone. Voltore stands for vulture, Corbaccio stands for raven, and Corvino stands for crow.
Who is Mosca?
Ans: Mosca (the gadfly) is a parasite; this bestiary name encompasses the superficial character of Volpone’s servant
Who is Bonario?
Ans: Bonario is “a young Gentleman, son of Corbaccio.”
Who is Celia?
Ans: Celia is the wife of the Merchant, Corvino.
What is the aim of satire? (NU. 2012)
Ans: Improve humanity by criticizing social follies and faults.
What is the comedy of Humour? ✪✪✪ (NU. 2021)
Ans: Comedy of Humour is a type of comedic play that explores the idea of characters being dominated by a particular “humour” or temperament.
How does Ben Jonson express his aim of writing in the prologue to Volpone? (NU. 2021)
Ans: The Prologue expresses Jonson’s hope that the play will be both entertaining and enlightening.
What is a prologue in a play? (NU. 2016)
Ans. A prologue is the beginning part of a play or any literary work.
Why is Volpone ordered to be whipped?
Ans: When Volpone insists that he is not dead, in direct contradiction to Mosca, he is taken away to be whipped for his lie.
What is Mosca’s punishment?
Ans: Mosca is to be whipped first and then sent as a galley slave.
Who are the members of Volpone’s house? (NU. 2012)
Ans: Nano, Castrone, Androgyne, Mosca, and Volpone
What does the name Voltore mean? (NU. 2012)
Ans: Voltore means vulture.
What does the name ‘Volpone’ mean? / From what animal does the play Volpone take its name? (NU. 2015, 16)
Ans: Volpone means fox.
What is the sub-title of the play Volpone? ✪✪✪ (NU. 2013, 15, 17)
Ans: The Fox
What gift does Voltore bring for Volpone? (NU. 2014, 16, 18, 20, 23)
Ans: Voltore brought a considerable gold plate engraved with Volpone’s name and arms as a gift.
What type of comedy is “Volpone’? ✪✪✪ (NU. 2014, 18)
Ans: Volpone is a comedy of humours.
What is comedy of humours? (NU. 2021)
Ans. A comedy of humours refers to a type of drama that focuses on characters, each character representing a type of personality.
Who are the legacy hunters in ‘Volpone? ✪✪✪ (NU. 2015, 17, 19)
Ans: Voltore, Corbaccio, and Corvino are the three legacy hunters.
What is Corvino by profession? ✪✪✪ (NU. 2019)
Ans: Corvino is “a Merchant” by profession.
Why does Mosca suggest suicide? (NU. 2019)
Ans: Mosca suggests suicide to escape dishonour.
What is the profession that Volpone particularly admires or enjoys? (NU. 2023)
Ans. He enjoys pretending to be a dying rich man to deceive greedy legacy hunters.
Name the good characters in ‘Volpone’. ✪✪✪ (NU. 2020)
Ans: Bonario and Celia are the only two good characters in Volpone.
How is Volpone punished at last? ✪✪✪ (NU. 2020)
Ans: At last, Volpone is ordered to be imprisoned and in chains while his property is confiscated and given to the hospitals for the incurables.
What is the name of Volpone’s panacea?
Ans: Oglio del Scoto.
How did Volpone earn his wealth?
Ans. By cunning robbing from legacy hunters.
How does Mosca earn his livelihood?
Ans: Mosca earns his livelihood by flattering his patron and by servile behaviour.
How does Volpone try to seduce Celia? ✪✪✪
Ans: Volpone offers her jewels and wealth to seduce her.
What does Mosca’s name mean? ✪✪✪
Ans: Mosca’s name means the fly.
What does Corbaccio offer to give Volpone?
Ans: Corbaccio offers to give Volpone, a sleep-inducing drug.
Who is the blazing star of Italy? ✪✪✪
Ans: According to Mosca, Celia is Italy’s blazing star.
What is a mountebank?
Ans: A person who deceives others, especially in order to trick them out of their money; a charlatan.
When does Volpone reveal his true identity to the court?
Ans. When the judges ask Volpone in the guise of the commentators to be whipped for his insolent lie, Volpone finds himself in a desperate situation and throws off his disguise, and reveals his true identity.