ENG 2302
Dr. Choudhuri
Tartuffe
Act I
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Act II
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Why is Madame Pernelle so eager to leave Orgon’s house in scene 1?
What faults does she find with each member of the household?
In scene 1, do the characters get a chance to redeem themselves from Madame Pernelle’s allegations? Do we believe
Madame Pernelle? Why/Why not?
What sense of Tartuffe’s character do we get from the first scene?
How does Dorine criticize Orgon’s devotion to Tartuffe in scene 2?
What do we learn about Orgon’s past in scene 2?
Orgon claims to enquire about “household news” from Dorine in scene 4. What is the comic irony of this claim?
We get a clearer picture of Orgon’s attitude to Tartuffe in scene 5. Why is he duped by the hypocrite?
Cleante comes through as the voice of reason in scene 5. What does he say about a) appearance and reality (ll.75-80) and
b) the nature of true piety (ll. 93-149)?
Why would you consider Act I as “exposition?
What do we learn about Orgon’s plans for Mariane in scene 1? Why is Mariane so passive in her reaction?
How does Dorine attempt to dissuade Orgon from his plans in scene 2? What function does Dorine seem to play?
How does Dorine try to get Mariane to resist Orgon’s tyranny? Which of her appeals finally works?
What do you think is the function of the lover’s quarrel in scene 4?
Act III
• Why does Damis conceal himself in a closet in scene 1?
• We finally meet Tartuffe in scene 2. What might have been the playwright’s motive in keeping him away from the stage
in the first two acts?
• Does Tartuffe answer our expectations? How? How does his hypocrisy come through?
• How does Elmire try to interpret Tartuffe’s advances in scene 3?
• Tartuffe attempts to justify is passion to Elmire. Does he get the audience’s sympathy in going this? Why/why not?
• What was Elmire’s intention in leading Tartuffe on? How is her plan foiled?
• Why is Elmire reluctant reveal the incident with Tartuffe to her husband in scene 5 (ll.13-18)?
• What strategy does Tartuffe use to convince Orgon of his point of view?
• What momentous decision does Orgon take at the end of Act III.
Act IV
• How does Cleante try to convince Tartuffe to do in scene 1? How does Tartuffe respond to it? Why dos Cleante feel
Tartuffe’s reason is “warped”?
• Mariane finally resists Orgon’s coercion. What sense of her character do you get from this plea? Is the plea effective?
• What does Orgon say is his main motive in giving his daughter in marriage to Tartuffe?
• In Elmire’s “reenactment” of the seduction scene, what is different? Why does she choose to do it again?
• Why is Tartuffe suspicious this time? How does he convince Elmire that adultery is not a sin?
• What makes Orgon come out of his hiding place?
• How does Tartuffe turn the tables on Orgon this time?
Act V
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How does Orgon respond to Tartuffe’s treachery? How Cleante reason with him?
Why return to the audience to the stubborn Madame Pernelle at this point?
What is the dramatic function of “Monsieur Loyal”?
How are Orgon and his family rescued from their predicament at the end of the play?
What do you make of the way in which order is restored in Tartuffe?