The Spectator by Joseph Addison
  • 1. The Spectator, a periodical essay published by Joseph Addison and his friend Sir Richard Steele, emerged in 1711 as a significant literary work that sought to entertain, enlighten, and engage the early 18th-century English public. This innovative publication was crafted to provide readers with a blend of wit, moral instruction, and social commentary, reflecting the shifting cultural landscape of the time. Each edition was designed to be read in a single sitting, allowing for an accessible and casual reading experience. Addison's eloquent prose and keen insights into human behavior highlighted themes of civility, taste, and the complexities of urban life, while also addressing issues of ethics and virtue. The Spectator attempted to cultivate a sense of community among its readers, as Addison explored the role of the individual within society and the importance of polite conversation. The use of the character 'Mr. Spectator' as a narrator allowed Addison to express his musings in a familiar voice, and the publication quickly gained popularity, influencing not only contemporary literature but also future forms of journalism. Through its engaging essays, The Spectator established a framework for modern periodicals and offered a platform for public discourse, making it a cornerstone in the history of English literature.

    Who co-founded The Spectator with Joseph Addison?
A) Samuel Johnson
B) Jonathan Swift
C) Richard Steele
D) Alexander Pope
  • 2. What was the fictional narrator's name in The Spectator?
A) Sir Roger de Coverley
B) Will Honeycomb
C) Mr. Spectator
D) Captain Sentry
  • 3. How often was The Spectator published?
A) Daily
B) Monthly
C) Bi-weekly
D) Weekly
  • 4. In what year did The Spectator first begin publication?
A) 1715
B) 1713
C) 1711
D) 1709
  • 5. Which famous fictional club appears frequently in The Spectator?
A) The Hellfire Club
B) The Spectator Club
C) The Kit-Cat Club
D) The Scriblerus Club
  • 6. What was Sir Roger de Coverley's primary characteristic?
A) A clergyman
B) A country gentleman
C) A military officer
D) A London merchant
  • 7. How many issues of The Spectator were published in total?
A) 555
B) 250
C) 635
D) 412
  • 8. Which character represents the military in the Spectator Club?
A) The Clergyman
B) Captain Sentry
C) Will Honeycomb
D) Sir Roger de Coverley
  • 9. What literary form did The Spectator help popularize?
A) The periodical essay
B) The drama
C) The epic poem
D) The novel
  • 10. How did Mr. Spectator describe his own personality?
A) As a social butterfly
B) As a political activist
C) As a silent observer
D) As a great orator
  • 11. What was the price of a single issue of The Spectator?
A) Three pence
B) One shilling
C) One penny
D) Six pence
  • 12. What was Sir Andrew Freeport's profession?
A) Merchant
B) Clergyman
C) Lawyer
D) Soldier
  • 13. Which character is described as a clergyman?
A) The Clergyman
B) Will Honeycomb
C) Captain Sentry
D) Sir Roger de Coverley
  • 14. What literary device did Addison frequently use in his essays?
A) Irony
B) Alliteration
C) Hyperbole
D) Onomatopoeia
  • 15. What was Addison's attitude toward the emerging middle class?
A) Openly hostile
B) Strongly critical
C) Completely indifferent
D) Generally supportive
  • 16. Which later writer was heavily influenced by The Spectator?
A) Charles Dickens
B) William Wordsworth
C) John Keats
D) Samuel Johnson
  • 17. What was Will Honeycomb's area of expertise?
A) Fashion and society
B) Rural affairs
C) Military strategy
D) Business and trade
  • 18. Which character was a man of business and commerce?
A) Will Honeycomb
B) Sir Roger de Coverley
C) Captain Sentry
D) Sir Andrew Freeport
  • 19. What was Captain Sentry's background?
A) Explorer
B) Ship captain
C) Naval commander
D) Military officer
  • 20. Which famous poet did Addison frequently discuss in The Spectator?
A) Edmund Spenser
B) William Shakespeare
C) Geoffrey Chaucer
D) John Milton
  • 21. What was Addison's attitude toward women readers?
A) He ignored them completely
B) He criticized their education
C) He welcomed and addressed them
D) He excluded them intentionally
  • 22. How did The Spectator typically handle political controversy?
A) Avoided partisan politics
B) Supported Tory policies exclusively
C) Attacked both parties equally
D) Supported Whig policies exclusively
  • 23. Which previous publication had Addison and Steele worked on together?
A) The Examiner
B) The Tatler
C) The Rambler
D) The Guardian
  • 24. What was Addison's main goal in discussing popular entertainment?
A) To document current trends
B) To refine public taste
C) To promote commercial theater
D) To criticize all entertainment
  • 25. What happens to Sir Roger in the later issues?
A) He dies
B) He gets married
C) He becomes a politician
D) He moves to London
  • 26. How did The Spectator influence later English literature?
A) Paved way for the novel
B) Created political satire
C) Ended poetic tradition
D) Established Gothic fiction
  • 27. What was the primary audience Addison aimed to reach?
A) The middle class
B) The clergy
C) The working class
D) The aristocracy
  • 28. Which literary work did Addison analyze in a series of Spectator essays?
A) Paradise Lost
B) The Faerie Queene
C) The Canterbury Tales
D) Hamlet
  • 29. Which character is described as a man about town and ladies' man?
A) Sir Andrew Freeport
B) Captain Sentry
C) Sir Roger de Coverley
D) Will Honeycomb
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