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