Philaster MCQs

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Author: Nasir Iqbal | Assistant Professor of English Literature

Philaster MCQs
Updated on: November 7, 2025
Estimated Reading Time: 16 min

Philaster MCQs

1. Who wrote the play Philaster?

A. Francis Beaumont
B. William Shakespeare
C. John Fletcher
D. Both A & C

D. Both A & C.
“Philaster; Or, Love Lies a Bleeding” is a tragicomedy written by Francis Beaumont and John Fletcher, produced around 1608-1610 and first published in a defective text in 1620. .

2. What is the cause for the strict charge given to the Lords and Ladies to attend the court?

A. Royal wedding preparations
B. Prince Philaster’s arrest
C. An impending war
D. The Spanish Prince

D. The Spanish Prince.
Attendance was mandatory due to the arrival of the Spanish Prince, who was set to marry the Heir.

3. What kingdoms is the Spanish Prince expected to enjoy upon marriage?

A. Spain and Cicilie
B. Calabria and Cicilie
C. Sicily and Athens
D. Athens and Calabria

B. Calabria and Cicilie.
It is thought the Prince shall enjoy both the Kingdoms of Cicilie and Calabria with Arethusa.

4. Who is described as the rightful heir to one of the kingdoms?

A. Prince Pharamond
B. King of Calabria
C. Philaster
D. Lady Arethusa

C. Philaster.
Philaster is identified as the right Heir to one of the kingdoms, unjustly deposed by the late King.
5. Why did the city recently take up arms?

A. To support the King
B. To free Philaster
C. To attack Pharamond
D. To protest the taxes

B. To free Philaster.
The city armed themselves in protest when the King threatened to imprison Philaster, demanding his deliverance.

6. Who is the “Lady” that Megra describes as a common name throughout the Kingdom?

A. Galatea
B. Arethusa
C. Megra herself
D. A lady of dishonour

C. Megra herself.
Dion describes Megra as one whose name is common and whose trophies of dishonour are advanced widely.

7. Who is Philaster’s father said to have been unjustly deposed by?

A. The Spanish Prince
B. The King of Cicilie
C. The late King of Calabria
D. The Lady Arethusa

C. The late King of Calabria.
Philaster’s father was unrighteously deposed from fruitful Cicilie by the late King of Calabria.

8. What does Pharamond offer in his long speech upon arrival?

A. Vows of obedience
B. Threats of war
C. A list of virtues
D. Kingdom of Spain

C. A list of virtues.
Cleremont describes Pharamond’s speech as “nothing but A large inventory of his own commendations”.

9. What character is described as looking pale with fear after Philaster enters?

A. Pharamond
B. Arethusa
C. The King
D. Lord Dion

C. The King.
Dion points out to the others that the King looks pale with fear when Philaster appears before him.
10. How does Philaster refer to Pharamond during their confrontation?

A. Foreign man
B. Spanish Prince
C. Brave Prince
D. True inheritor

A. Foreign man.
Philaster directly addresses Pharamond as “Prince, you foreign man”.

11. What animal does Philaster describe himself as, suggesting his tameness?

A. A lion
B. A shadow
C. A turtle
D. A gentle lamb

C. A turtle.
Philaster claims he is “too tame, Too much a Turtle, a thing born without passion”.

12. What does Dion observe about men’s hearts and faces?

A. They are close
B. They hold no intelligence
C. They are easily read
D. They are transparent

B. They hold no intelligence.
Dion notes that men’s hearts and faces are so far apart that they “hold no intelligence”.

13. What spirit does Philaster claim possesses him?

A. The spirit of Nemesis
B. His Father’s spirit
C. A factious spirit
D. A dark spirit

B. His Father’s spirit.
Philaster claims he is “possest… Yes, with my Fathers spirit”.

14. Why does Dion believe the King pardons Philaster’s wild speech?

A. Fear of Pharamond
B. Fear of the people
C. Philaster’s obedience
D. Philaster’s madness

B. Fear of the people.
Dion tells Philaster, “I thank you Sir, you dare not for the people,” referring to the King’s pardon.
15. Whom does Philaster instruct to make their country a virtuous court?

A. The attending Lords
B. The Foreign Prince
C. The Queen
D. The King

A. The attending Lords.
Philaster tells the Gentlemen to “Go get you home again, and make your Country A vertuous Court”.

16. What does Philaster agree to do upon receiving the Princess’s message?

A. Refuse her
B. Kill Pharamond
C. Attend her
D. Leave the court

C. Attend her.
Philaster tells the Lady to “Kiss her hand, and say I will attend her”.

17. What danger does Philaster dismiss when going to the Princess?

A. The King’s guard
B. Danger in a sweet face
C. Pharamond’s jealousy
D. Public opinion

B. Danger in a sweet face.
When warned about danger, Philaster asks: “Danger in a sweet face? By Jupiter I must not fear a woman”.

18. What does Arethusa initially claim Philaster must concede for her to live?

A. His life
B. Both Kingdoms
C. His sword
D. Pharamond’s friendship

B. Both Kingdoms.
Arethusa first demands that she “must enjoy these Kingdoms… Both or I die”.

19. What does Arethusa ultimately reveal she truly wants from Philaster?

A. His Scepter
B. His love
C. His servants
D. His pity

B. His love.
Arethusa finally confesses that she must have “Thee, Thy love” without which the land is useless.
20. Where did Philaster find the boy Bellario?

A. In the city
B. By a Fountain side
C. At the court
D. In a poor cottage

B. By a Fountain side.
Philaster recounts finding Bellario “sitting by a Fountain side” while hunting the Buck.

21. What did Bellario use to make the Garland he wore?

A. Gold and jewels
B. Several flowers
C. Tree branches
D. Leaves and Reeds

B. Several flowers.
Philaster saw Bellario by a fountain, with a Garland made “Of many several flowers”.

22. What significant service does Philaster intend Bellario to perform for Arethusa?

A. Bear hidden love
B. Fight Pharamond
C. Teach her to sing
D. Serve her father

A. Bear hidden love.
Philaster intends to send Bellario “To wait on you, and bear our hidden love”.

23. Why does Philaster refuse to hide from Pharamond?

A. He fears the King
B. He is too tired
C. It is a simple sin
D. Jove forbids it

C. It is a simple sin.
Philaster states that hiding from Pharamond is “a simple sin to hide my self, Which will for ever on my conscience lie”.

24. How does Philaster characterize Pharamond in their argument?

A. A valiant voice
B. A foreign man
C. A royal liar
D. A good Prince

A. A valiant voice.
Philaster describes Pharamond as “nought but a valiant voice”.
25. What does Pharamond suggest to Arethusa, since the wedding is delayed?

A. To end the match
B. To take stolen delights
C. To run away
D. To wait patiently

B. To take stolen delights.
Pharamond suggests they take “a little stolen Delights, and so prevent our joys to come”.

26. What physical issue does Galatea jokingly suggest Pharamond remedies?

A. Growing to fatness
B. A fever
C. A poor wardrobe
D. Lack of courage

A. Growing to fatness.
Galatea misunderstands Pharamond’s “full being” as growing fat and offers remedies like Carduus.

27. What items does Galatea bar Pharamond from talking about during their conversation?

A. War and politics
B. Gold and jewels
C. Bawdy talk and bragging
D. Hunting and clothes

C. Bawdy talk and bragging.
Galatea says, “good Prince, be not bawdy, nor do not brag; these two I bar”.

28. How does Pharamond characterize Galatea after she leaves him?

A. A fiery woman
B. A crafty wench
C. Cold of her favour
D. A profitable member

C. Cold of her favour.
Pharamond complains that Galatea is “as cold of her favour as an apoplex”.

29. Where does Megra agree to meet Pharamond?

A. The garden
B. His lodging
C. Her chamber
D. The citadel

B. His lodging.
Megra agrees to slip into Pharamond’s lodging when night falls, as her chamber is unsafe.
30. Who overhears Pharamond and Megra’s plan to meet?

A. Bellario
B. Dion
C. Galatea
D. Arethusa

C. Galatea.
Galatea reveals herself from behind the hangings after Pharamond and Megra exit, vowing revenge.

31. What is Bellario’s stated name to Arethusa?

A. Euphrasia
B. Philaster
C. Bellario
D. Adonis

C. Bellario.
When Arethusa asks for his name, the boy answers: “Bellario”.

32. What physical trait does Arethusa say grief seeks out?

A. Pale cheeks
B. Wrinkled brows
C. Rough hands
D. Tired eyes

B. Wrinkled brows.
Arethusa says Bellario’s face is smooth because “Care seeks out wrinkled brows, and hollow eyes”.

33. What does Bellario say Philaster does that resembles dropping a bead?

A. Sighing away the day
B. Naming Arethusa
C. Weeping himself away
D. Fighting bravely

B. Naming Arethusa.
Bellario states that Philaster names Arethusa once, “Twixt every prayer he saies, as others drop a bead”.

34. Who calls Bellario “a Hylas, an Adonis” to the Princess?

A. Galatea
B. Pharamond
C. Megra
D. Dion

C. Megra.
Megra is the one who refers to Bellario as “a Hilas, an Adonis” while talking to Pharamond.
35. What is found when the King orders the search of Pharamond’s lodging?

A. Philaster
B. Bellario
C. Megra
D. Gold

C. Megra.
During the search, Megra appears from above, confessing that she “lay here” with Pharamond.

36. What is Megra’s threat to the King after being discovered?

A. To kill Pharamond
B. To reveal the Princess’s relationship with her boy
C. To join Philaster’s faction
D. To leave the Kingdom

B. To reveal the Princess’s relationship with her boy.
Megra threatens to dishonour the Princess by revealing what she knows about her and “the boy she keeps”.

37. What stops Philaster from attempting to lead a rebellion earlier?

A. Fear of the King
B. The Princess’s love
C. Lack of support
D. Bellario’s counsel

B. The Princess’s love.
Dion says the only thing holding Philaster back is “the fair Princess love, which he admires”.

38. How does Philaster initially react when Dion accuses the Princess of being a “Whore”?

A. He believes him
B. He offers to draw his sword
C. He laughs
D. He seeks the King

B. He offers to draw his sword.
When Dion calls Arethusa a “Whore,” Philaster immediately cries “Thou lyest” and offers to draw his weapon.

39. What reason does Philaster give for Bellario’s inability to be Arethusa’s lover?

A. He is too young
B. He is too honest
C. He is too sickly
D. He lacks desire

D. He lacks desire.
Philaster argues that a lustful woman “would she take a boy, That knows not yet desire?”.
40. What is Philaster’s “salve worse than the main disease”?

A. Bellario’s loyalty
B. Dion’s lies
C. His own rage
D. Arethusa’s beauty

A. Bellario’s loyalty.
Philaster is afflicted when Bellario refuses to betray Arethusa, calling this loyalty “a salve worse than the main disease”.

41. How does Bellario describe death when discussing it with Philaster?

A. A painful torture
B. A final victory
C. A lasting sleep
D. A necessary evil

C. A lasting sleep.
Bellario describes death as “less than to be born; a lasting sleep, A quiet resting from all jealousy”.

42. Why does Philaster ultimately ask Bellario to leave him?

A. Philaster distrusts him
B. Bellario is ill
C. Philaster fears becoming mad
D. The King commands it

C. Philaster fears becoming mad.
Philaster says something is done, “That will distract me, that will make me mad, if I behold thee”.

43. Who delivers a metaphoric speech about how men feed upon opinions, errors, and dreams?

A. Philaster
B. Bellario
C. The King
D. Arethusa

D. Arethusa.
After the King commands her to dismiss Bellario, Arethusa delivers this reflection on human judgment.

44. What item does Philaster offer Arethusa to search his heart’s temperance?

A. A knife
B. His sword
C. A physician
D. A mirror

B. His sword.
Philaster offers Arethusa his sword to “search how temperate a heart I have” before killing himself.
45. Who intervenes when Philaster draws his sword on Arethusa?

A. Pharamond
B. A Woodman
C. Bellario
D. A Country-fellow

D. A Country-fellow.
A country fellow hunting the King arrives and calls Philaster a “dastard” for striking a woman.

46. What specific action does Philaster take against the sleeping Bellario?

A. He leaves him food
B. He steals his clothes
C. He wounds him
D. He wakes him up

C. He wounds him.
Philaster wounds the sleeping Bellario to use his injuries as a means of disguise and escape.

47. Why does Bellario confess to hurting the Princess when apprehended?

A. To gain a reward
B. To get revenge on Arethusa
C. To protect Philaster
D. He was tortured

C. To protect Philaster.
Bellario confesses to the deed (“I set upon her”) to ensure Philaster’s safety and escape.

48. What literary device does Bellario use when presenting the reconciled lovers to the King?

A. A simile
B. A metaphor
C. A hyperbole
D. An apostrophe

B. A metaphor.
Bellario uses a sustained metaphor, comparing Philaster and Arethusa to “two fair cedar branches”.

49. What news arrives that saves Philaster and Arethusa from immediate execution?

A. The King is deposed
B. Pharamond is imprisoned
C. The army arrives
D. The Lords fight

B. Pharamond is imprisoned.
A messenger reports that the mutinous citizens have taken Prince Pharamond prisoner.
50. Who is Bellario ultimately revealed to be?

A. A court spy
B. Euphrasia, Dion’s daughter
C. Philaster’s sister
D. A foreign noble

B. Euphrasia, Dion’s daughter.
To avoid torture, Bellario reveals that she is actually Euphrasia, the daughter of Lord Dion.

Brief Overview

Philaster, or Love Lies a-Bleeding, is a Jacobean tragicomedy written by Francis Beaumont and John Fletcher. It was produced between 1608 and 1610. The play is set in a fictionalized court of Sicily, where political instability and complex romantic entanglements drive the plot.

The central conflict is political: the current King of Sicily usurped the throne from Philaster’s father. Philaster is the true heir and has the strong support of the people. The King plans to secure his rule by marrying his daughter, Princess Arethusa, to Prince Pharamond, a Spanish nobleman.

Philaster openly confronts Pharamond. Arethusa secretly assures Philaster that she rejects Pharamond and wants his love instead. Philaster uses his young Page, Bellario, to carry their secret love messages.

The conflict shifts to romance when Pharamond is caught meeting with Lady Megra. Exposed, Megra retaliates by falsely claiming that Arethusa is keeping the boy Bellario as her secret lover. Philaster, believing the false reports, wounds Bellario in the woods.

When Philaster is captured, Bellario confesses to the crime to save him. Facing torture, Bellario reveals that he is actually a woman named Euphrasia, who disguised herself due to her own unrequited love for Philaster.

The King, fearing a riot from the citizens who demand Philaster’s freedom, grants Philaster his right to the kingdom and his marriage to Arethusa. The deceitful pair are banished.

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