The Beaux’ Stratagem MCQs

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Author: Nasir Iqbal | Assistant Professor of English Literature


Updated on: November 23, 2025
Estimated Reading Time: 16 min

The Beaux’ Stratagem MCQs

1. Where does Act I, Scene I take place?

A. Room Inn
B. Lichfield Castle
C. Market Place
D. London Street

A. Room Inn.
The first scene of the play is set inside a room at Boniface’s Inn.

2. Who is Boniface repeatedly calling for at the opening of the play?

A. Cherry’s daughter
B. Boniface’s wife
C. Maid servant
D. Coach driver

A. Cherry’s daughter.
Boniface runs in calling loudly for his daughter, Cherry, upon the arrival of travellers.

3. Which coach company caused the travellers to wait for an hour?

A. London coach
B. Dublin coach
C. Warrington coach
D. Shrewsbury coach

C. Warrington coach.
Boniface is angry that the company arriving on the Warrington coach had been waiting for an hour.

4. Who is disguised as Aimwell’s footman named Martin?

A. Frank Archer
B. Aimwell Lord
C. Squire Sullen
D. Will Boniface

A. Frank Archer.
Archer is introduced carrying luggage and playing the part of a servant to his friend Aimwell.
5. What beverage is the town of Lichfield particularly famous for?

A. Brandy liquor
B. Best coffee
C. Staffordshire ale
D. Sweet milk

C. Staffordshire ale.
Aimwell mentions that he wants to try Lichfield’s famed ale, known to be the best in Staffordshire.

6. How old does Boniface claim his best ale will be next March?

A. Ten years
B. Fifty years
C. Fourteen years
D. Two hundred

C. Fourteen years.
Boniface states that his specific batch of ale will be exactly fourteen year old the fifth day of next March.

7. What substance did Boniface’s late wife use to ‘qualify’ his ale?

A. Strong brandy
B. Usquebaugh dram
C. New style
D. Cold water

B. Usquebaugh dram.
Boniface explains that his wife died because she kept mixing his ale with a dram of usquebaugh.

8. What ailment does Lady Bountiful cure in children?

A. Broken shins
B. Green sickness
C. Fits mother
D. King’s evil

D. King’s evil.
Lady Bountiful treats various illnesses in children, including the common affliction called the king’s evil.

9. How much fortune did Sir Charles Bountiful leave his wife, Lady Bountiful?

A. Ten pounds
B. Fifty pounds
C. Five hundred
D. Thousand pounds

D. Thousand pounds.
Lady Bountiful’s last husband, Sir Charles Bountiful, left her an estate worth a thousand pound a year.
10. Who is Lady Bountiful’s son by her first husband?

A. Charles Freeman
B. Squire Sullen
C. Mr. Worthy
D. Lord Aimwell

B. Squire Sullen.
Squire Sullen is identified as the son Lady Bountiful had from her first marriage.

11. What is Squire Sullen’s primary habit mentioned by Boniface?

A. Smokes pipe
B. Values nobody
C. Says little
D. Drinks much

A. Smokes pipe.
Boniface says Squire Sullen is a man of pleasure who sometimes plays whisk and smokes his pipe eight-and-forty hours.

12. According to Archer, what is the most shameful crime of all?

A. Poverty crime
B. Idleness evil
C. Scandal rags
D. Sharping theft

C. Scandal rags.
Archer expresses his maxim that there is “no scandal like rags, nor any crime so shameful as poverty”.

13. What is the current remaining sum of money shared by Aimwell and Archer?

A. Ten hundred
B. Two hundred
C. One thousand
D. Five hundred

B. Two hundred.
Aimwell reveals to Archer that they only have “But two hundred pound” left for their venture.

14. What reason did Aimwell give his friends for his sudden absence from London?

A. Hunting trip
B. Volunteering abroad
C. Sudden death
D. Seeking fortune

B. Volunteering abroad.
Aimwell confirms that their friends likely imagine they are gone away on a volunteering mission.
15. What military figure does Archer welcome when deciding to venture their remaining money?

A. Cupid boy
B. General Mars
C. Venus goddess
D. Oroondates man

B. General Mars.
Archer states that if their current stratagem fails, they will bid adieu to Venus and welcome Mars.

16. Which specific supper item does Aimwell say he cannot eat?

A. Fresh veal
B. Fat pig
C. Delicate beef
D. Fricasseed rabbits

C. Delicate beef.
Aimwell, after hearing the dinner options, informs Boniface that he cannot eat the beef.

17. Why does Aimwell ask Boniface to keep his strong-box?

A. Fear of thieves
B. Locks sealed
C. Servant drunkenness
D. Dubious affairs

C. Servant drunkenness.
Aimwell states that the money is safer with the landlord because his servant “gets drunk”.

18. What does Cherry suspect Aimwell is because his horses are ready saddled?

A. Parliament man
B. Honest lord
C. Highwayman rogue
D. Recruiting officer

C. Highwayman rogue.
Cherry suspects Aimwell is a highwayman because he keeps his horses ready and talks of leaving quickly.

19. What does Boniface say he must ply Archer with to get proofs?

A. Ale drink
B. Gold money
C. A wench
D. Food meat

A. Ale drink.
Boniface instructs Cherry that he will ply Archer with drink since the servant “loves drink”.
20. Who does Cherry’s mother turn out to be?

A. Lady Bountiful
B. Free-hearted woman
C. A whore
D. Lady Manslaughter

B. Free-hearted woman.
Cherry describes her mother as a “good, generous, free-hearted woman” in opposition to Boniface.

21. Which highwayman gives Cherry two hundred pounds sterling?

A. Hounslow rogue
B. Bagshot gentleman
C. Gibbet captain
D. Aimwell lord

C. Gibbet captain.
Gibbet, the highwayman, gives Cherry a bag containing two hundred sterling pounds.

22. What is Archer doing when Gibbet and Boniface question him using his servant name Martin?

A. Washing linen
B. Combing periwig
C. Eating pig
D. Drinking ale

B. Combing periwig.
Archer enters the room singing and combing a periwig while being questioned by Gibbet.

23. According to Cherry’s love catechism, where does love enter?

A. The heart
B. The mind
C. The eyes
D. The soul

C. The eyes.
When Archer quizzes her, Cherry confirms that love enters through a person’s eyes.

24. How much money did Mrs. Sullen bring into her marriage?

A. Five pounds
B. Ten thousand
C. One thousand
D. Two hundred

B. Ten thousand.
Mrs. Sullen tells Dorinda that she brought her brother ten thousand pounds as a dowry.
25. What did Mrs. Sullen call country pleasures?

A. Racks torments
B. Pleasant dreams
C. Hard work
D. Gentle amusement

A. Racks torments.
Mrs. Sullen despises the country life, calling country pleasures “racks and torments”.

26. What does Mrs. Sullen compare a woman without sense to?

A. A good wife
B. A brute beast
C. A lost child
D. A picture

D. A picture.
She states that women are “like pictures, of no value in the hands of a fool”.

27. Where does Mrs. Sullen say is the best location for breaking a husband’s tyranny?

A. The country
B. London dear
C. The church
D. Brussels abroad

B. London dear.
Mrs. Sullen confidently states that London, dear London, is the best place to break a husband.

28. What does Mrs. Sullen plan to introduce to her husband to rouse him from negligence?

A. A petition
B. A French rival
C. A good dinner
D. New furniture

B. A French rival.
Mrs. Sullen decides to give her “lethargic, sottish husband” a rival to alarm him.

29. Aimwell attempts to impress Dorinda by bribing whom in the church with money?

A. The verger
B. The bishop
C. The dean
D. The sexton

A. The verger.
Aimwell claims he will give the verger a half-a-crown to be inducted into the best pew.
30. Why does Archer warn Aimwell to focus on Dorinda’s fortune instead of her face?

A. Aimwell is poor
B. To be discreet
C. That is business
D. She is homely

C. That is business.
Archer reminds Aimwell that finding a fortune, not just a beauty, is their current essential business.

31. When did Aimwell last attend church before arriving in Lichfield?

A. Half year ago
B. Yesterday
C. At coronation
D. One month ago

C. At coronation.
Aimwell admits, when pressed by Archer, that he was last at church during the coronation.

32. Who convinces Mrs. Sullen that the footman Martin (Archer) might be a gentleman in disguise?

A. Dorinda sister
B. Squire Sullen
C. Lucy, the maid
D. Mr. Worthy

A. Dorinda sister.
Dorinda suggests to Mrs Sullen that the footman may be a gentleman friend serving Aimwell.

33. What item did Archer retrieve for Mrs. Sullen when he first approached her?

A. Handkerchief
B. Dropped glove
C. Tea cup
D. Small fan

B. Dropped glove.
Mrs. Sullen deliberately drops her glove, which Archer picks up and returns with a compliment.

34. Which foreign officer does Mrs. Sullen draw to her colours to make her husband jealous?

A. A German
B. French Count
C. Irish Priest
D. A Moor

B. French Count.
Dorinda notes that Mrs. Sullen has already drawn the French Count (Bellair) to her colours.
35. What does Archer say is his constant drink, which he takes to remedy the spleen?

A. Ale stout
B. Wine water
C. Strong tea
D. Diet drinks

B. Wine water.
Archer tells the ladies that he drinks tea or “a little wine and water” to cure his spleen.

36. What is Scrub’s job on a Monday?

A. Draw warrants
B. Follow hounds
C. Drive coach
D. Draw beer

C. Drive coach.
Scrub lists his weekly duties, stating, “On a Monday I drive the coach”.

37. Why does Scrub believe that Aimwell is a Jesuit?

A. Speaks French
B. Has fine clothes
C. Horses saddled
D. All above

C. Horses saddled.
Scrub bases his suspicion that Aimwell is a Jesuit on the fact that his horses are always kept ready saddled.

38. What is the nationality of the priest, Foigard?

A. Irish Teague
B. French man
C. Brussels man
D. Spanish subject

A. Irish Teague.
Aimwell quickly identifies the doctor by his accent as a “downright Teague” (Irishman).

39. What does Archer successfully use to trap the priest, Foigard, into confessing his true identity?

A. His accent
B. Irish brogue
C. London friends
D. French gold

B. Irish brogue.
Archer pretends to be an Irish “cussen” whose matching brogue forces Foigard’s confession.
40. What is the doctor’s true surname that Archer uses?

A. Foigard
B. Martin
C. Mackshane
D. Cussen

C. Mackshane.
Foigard exclaims, “Mackshane! by St. Paatrick, dat ish my naam shure enough!”.

41. What item does Foigard offer Gìpsy as a bribe to hide the Count?

A. Louis-d’ors
B. Absolution only
C. Gold ring
D. Silver sword

A. Louis-d’ors.
The priest offers Gìpsy “twenty louis-d’ors” to hide the Count in Mrs. Sullen’s closet.

42. What does Gìpsy say she will take the money “logicè” as?

A. A bribe
B. A gift
C. A payment
D. Gratification

D. Gratification.
Gìpsy agrees to take the money afterwards, classifying it as only a “gratification”.

43. What does Aimwell pretend to suffer from to gain entry to the house?

A. A sore leg
B. A strange fit
C. A fever
D. Broken shins

B. A strange fit.
Archer tells Lady Bountiful that his master was taken ill “of a sudden with a sort of I know not what”.

44. When Aimwell wakes from his fit, who does he kneel to and call Proserpine?

A. Mrs. Sullen
B. Lady Bountiful
C. Dorinda maid
D. Gìpsy maid

C. Dorinda maid.
Aimwell kneels to Dorinda and immediately kisses her hand, calling her the goddess Proserpine.
45. How does Mrs. Sullen prevent her husband from attacking the Count?

A. She shrieks
B. Presents pistol
C. Calls Scrub
D. Runs away

B. Presents pistol.
Mrs. Sullen is prepared and holds up a pistol when Squire Sullen attacks Count Bellair.

46. Who is Sir Charles Freeman?

A. Aimwell’s brother
B. Mrs. Sullen’s brother
C. Dorinda’s suitor
D. Squire’s friend

B. Mrs. Sullen’s brother.
Sir Charles Freeman, who arrives at the inn, is introduced as Mrs. Sullen’s brother.

47. How many highwaymen does Gibbet initially confess are in their gang?

A. Five men
B. One rogue
C. Three upon
D. Forty thousand

C. Three upon.
Gibbet tells Archer they are “but three, upon my honour” when Archer threatens to kill him.

48. What valuable documents does Archer find and retrieve from Gibbet’s possession?

A. Marriage articles
B. Army commissions
C. Gold rings
D. Strong box

A. Marriage articles.
Archer finds and returns Squire Sullen’s marriage articles, bills, bonds, and leases.

49. What does Cherry send to Archer along with a letter and a strong-box?

A. Two thousand
B. Her father
C. Her horses
D. Two guineas

A. Two thousand.
Cherry’s letter mentions that she sent the strong-box with a sum that “much exceeds that”.
50. What do Mrs. Sullen and Squire Sullen finally agree upon during their argument?

A. To reconcile
B. To part
C. To drink ale
D. To hate French

B. To part.
After listing their differences, they conclude that the only thing they agree on is “to part”.

Brief Overview

The Beaux’ Stratagem is a comedy of manners by George Farquhar. It was first produced and published in 1707. The play focuses on fortune-hunting and marital discontent.

The story begins at Boniface’s Inn in Lichfield. Aimwell, a poor lord, and Archer, disguised as his footman Martin, arrive. They plan a “stratagem”—a trick—to pretend Aimwell is rich to find a wealthy wife. They only have two hundred pounds left.

Boniface, the inn owner, tells them about Lady Bountiful, who cures many people. Lady Bountiful has a son, Squire Sullen, who is married to Mrs. Sullen. The Sullens are deeply unhappy and constantly argue.

Aimwell quickly falls in love with Dorinda, Lady Bountiful’s daughter. He pretends to have a fit near her house to gain entry. Archer, playing the servant, gains the trust of the house staff, especially Scrub, the butler.

Archer discovers a French priest, Foigard, is secretly helping the French Count Bellair visit Mrs. Sullen. Archer and Aimwell trick Foigard into confessing his identity as an Irishman named Mackshane.

Later, highwaymen break into Lady Bountiful’s house. Archer and Aimwell fight the thieves and save the women. Cherry, the innkeeper’s daughter, who suspects the men are criminals, sends Archer a strongbox of money and a letter revealing that her father is running away.

Aimwell confesses to Dorinda that he is poor and not a true lord. However, Sir Charles Freeman, Mrs. Sullen’s brother, arrives and reveals that Aimwell is now the true Viscount Aimwell because his brother has died. Aimwell and Dorinda prepare to marry.

Mrs. Sullen and Squire Sullen agree that they want “to part” and are immediately divorced by mutual consent. Sir Charles Freeman gets Mrs. Sullen’s ten thousand pounds fortune back.

 

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