The Orphan Or The Unhappy Marriage MCQs

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Author: Nasir Iqbal | Assistant Professor of English Literature


Updated on: November 25, 2025
Estimated Reading Time: 16 min

The Orphan; Or, The Unhappy Marriage MCQs

1. What setting introduces the opening conversation between Castalio and Polydore?

A. Indoor parlour
B. Public street
C. A Garden
D. Forest path

C. A Garden.
The first scene of the play, featuring Castalio and Polydore, takes place within A Garden.

2. What large animal nearly injured Castalio, forcing Polydore’s dramatic rescue?

A. Wild deer
B. Mad bull
C. Foaming boar
D. Raging lion

C. Foaming boar.
Castalio was borne headlong down a rock after meeting the foaming boar.

3. To whom does Castalio compare Polydore, riding in to save him on a winged steed?

A. Great Ajax
B. Pallas Athena
C. Perseus mounted
D. God Apollo

C. Perseus mounted.
Castalio praises Polydore’s “godlike act,” comparing him to Perseus mounted on his winged steed.

4. What does Polydore seek to acquire in his youth to ensure he is valued later in life?

A. Great wealth
B. Good manners
C. Youth renown
D. Quiet peace

C. Youth renown.
Polydore states he wants to purchase in his youth renown to be loved and valued when he grows old.
5. According to their father, Acasto, why is the outside world dangerous for his sons?

A. Too expensive
B. Full danger
C. It is unsafe
D. Corrupting youth

C. It is unsafe.
Acasto has grown weary of the world and believes It is unsafe for his sons to participate in it.

6. Polydore asks Castalio to speak freely about their father’s ward, who is she?

A. Sweet Serina
B. Lady Partlet
C. Fair Monimia
D. Dame Florella

C. Fair Monimia.
Polydore refers to their father’s ward, the woman they both love, as Fair Monimia.

7. What kind of claim does Castalio assert over Monimia since he loved her first?

A. Ancient right
B. Marriage claim
C. Birthright passion
D. Polydore’s silence

C. Birthright passion.
Castalio informs Polydore that he cannot quit the claim but will preserve the birthright passion.

8. What specific bond does Castalio claim he could not tolerate a rival entering?

A. True brotherhood
B. Monimia’s love
C. Rival friendship
D. Shared duties

C. Rival friendship.
Castalio confesses his nature is obstinate, and he could not bear a rival friendship with Polydore.

9. Castalio states that even if Monimia were perfect, she should not cheat him of what?

A. My fortune
B. True honor
C. Cheat freedom
D. Shared wealth

C. Cheat freedom.
Castalio emphatically states he would not marry Monimia, as she should not cheat him of freedom.
10. If Castalio dies without an heir, to whom does he first wish to bequeath his estate?

A. My king
B. My friend
C. Brave man
D. My servant

B. My friend.
If Polydore survives him, Castalio suggests his friend Polydore should possess the estate he leaves.

11. Castalio reveals he should have met Monimia again where after their private meeting?

A. Monimia’s room
B. Here again
C. Father’s place
D. Down the rock

B. Here again.
Castalio reveals he was with her privately last night and should have met her here again in the garden.

12. Monimia says she feels what specific feelings sitting round her heart upon entering?

A. Sudden fear
B. Deep sadness
C. Distrust heaviness
D. Vague dread

C. Distrust heaviness.
Monimia states that “Distrust and heaviness sit round my heart,” and apprehension shocks her soul.

13. What is the name of the Page Monimia asks about the brothers’ private talk?

A. Young soldier
B. Page servant
C. Cordelio sir
D. Boy attendant

C. Cordelio sir.
Monimia addresses the Page directly as “Come near, Cordelio; I must chide you, sir”.

14. What did the Page reveal was the subject of the brothers’ last discourse?

A. Going travelling
B. Love Monimia
C. Father’s health
D. Estate rights

B. Love Monimia.
The Page tells Monimia that she was the subject of their last discourse concerning their love Monimia.
15. What did the brothers ultimately resolve to avoid doing over Monimia?

A. Yielding claim
B. Not quarrel
C. Seeking marriage
D. Speak falsehoods

B. Not quarrel.
After their heated debate and much struggling, the two brothers resolved Not quarrel for her.

16. The Page reported that Castalio described love as what, rather than a painful feeling?

A. Duty calling
B. Play’d pleasure
C. Simple fun
D. Mortal folly

B. Play’d pleasure.
The Page recalls that Castalio “play’d with love, and smiling show’d the pleasure, not the pangs of his desire”.

17. What is Monimia’s resolution after learning Castalio will not marry her?

A. Start weeping
B. I ruined
C. Leave immediately
D. Forgive easily

B. I ruined.
When she learns Castalio rejects marriage, she concludes, “Then I am ruin’d!”.

18. Castalio leaves Monimia with Polydore, claiming he must attend to whom?

A. His rival
B. Attend father
C. His brother
D. His Footman

B. Attend father.
Castalio excuses himself quickly, stating that “Business of importance calls me away: I must attend father”.

19. What does Polydore claim Monimia’s beauty does to his soul with every glance?

A. Stops life
B. Dart’s soul
C. Heals wounds
D. Fires senses

B. Dart’s soul.
Polydore describes that “every glance they send Darts through my soul”.
20. Monimia asserts that she is a helpless orphan due to whose fate?

A. Brother’s poverty
B. Parents’ dy’d
C. Father’s shame
D. Acasto’s refusal

B. Parents’ dy’d.
Monimia reminds Polydore that her tender parents dy’d and their fortunes expired with them.

21. Polydore labels “peevish virtue” as what, taught by what kind of people?

A. Great lesson
B. Cheat hypocrites
C. Woman’s folly
D. True kindness

B. Cheat hypocrites.
Polydore insists that Monimia’s peevish virtue is “a cheat; And those who taught it first were hypocrites”.

22. What fate does Monimia swear she would prefer over Polydore persisting?

A. True sickness
B. World beggar
C. Deep dishonour
D. Dying instantly

B. World beggar.
She swears she would rather wander through the world beggar and live on sordid scraps than see him.

23. What is the outcome of Acasto’s hunt that he relates to his sons?

A. Boar escaped
B. Monster killed
C. Hunters lost
D. Javelin broken

B. Monster killed.
Acasto tells his sons how he struck the ugly brindled monster to the heart, so the monster killed.

24. Acasto characterizes flattery as a little sneaking art used to soften what group?

A. His friends
B. Proud men
C. Soft fools
D. Honest knaves

C. Soft fools.
Acasto warns his son that flattery is used by knaves “To cajole and soften soft fools withal”.
25. Who brings the welcome news to Acasto regarding Chamont’s unexpected arrival?

A. Castalio
B. Monimia
C. Serina child
D. Chaplain friend

C. Serina child.
Serina, Acasto’s daughter (“My little cherub”), announces that Young Chamont is just arriving.

26. What relationship does Chamont instantly claim with Serina after learning she is Acasto’s daughter?

A. True cousin
B. Brother adoption
C. Future husband
D. Distant kin

B. Brother adoption.
Since Acasto is like a father to Chamont, he claims to be Serina’s brother adoption.

27. What is the occasion that Acasto announces must be a day of joy throughout the house?

A. His recovery
B. Birth day
C. New venture
D. Chamont’s arrival

B. Birth day.
Acasto proclaims that the day is the birth day of his royal master and requires celebration.

28. Chamont claims he avoids court because he lacks the temperance to attend whose heels?

A. A good king’s
B. Favorite’s heels
C. Loyal subjects’
D. Wealthy lords’

B. Favorite’s heels.
Chamont says he lacks the slavish temperance needed to attend a favorite’s heels and watch for his smiles.

29. What precious thing did Chamont’s father prize above “mines of wealth”?

A. His land
B. His honour
C. Brave spirit
D. Good family

B. His honour.
Chamont recalls that his father prized the jewel of His honour more than mines of wealth.
30. What horrifying image did the phantom in Chamont’s dream present to him?

A. Sister murdered
B. Wanton lover
C. Father dying
D. Brother raging

B. Wanton lover.
The phantom form of Monimia appeared with a wanton lover in each hand caressing her freely.

31. What scene was interwoven on the arras where Chamont struck his sword?

A. The boar
B. Oedipus tale
C. Theban slew
D. King’s funeral

C. Theban slew.
The arras depicted “that famous tale was interwoven, How the unhappy Theban slew his father”.

32. What warning did the wrinkled hag give Chamont when he met her on the road?

A. Stay home
B. Save sister
C. Return home
D. Beware lies

B. Save sister.
The hag asked for charity and told Chamont to hasten “To save sister!”.

33. Chamont advises Monimia that when a man swears about love, he will certainly do what?

A. Love always
B. Deceive thee
C. Seek kindness
D. Feel sorrow

B. Deceive thee.
Chamont warns her that if a man swears love, “he’ll certainly deceive thee”.

34. How does Chamont instruct Monimia to act towards Castalio next, to see his love cool?

A. Smile sweetly
B. Appear cold
C. Show passion
D. Tell falsehood

B. Appear cold.
Chamont advises her to “Appear as cold” as great ones when merit begs to see his heart cool quickly.
35. Polydore secretly instructs the Page to watch his brother thoroughly from what location?

A. A window
B. At door
C. The garden
D. Far distance

B. At door.
Polydore tells the Page to “Here place yourself, and watch my brother thoroughly” At door.

36. Monimia calls Castalio’s “bewitching tongues” similar to the mournful sound of what animal?

A. Wild fox
B. False hyena
C. Distemper’d sky
D. Serpent’s hiss

B. False hyena.
Monimia states that “Tis thus the false hyena makes her moan, To draw the pitying traveller to her den”.

37. Monimia tells Castalio that Polydore spoke “licentiously” because she was the object of what?

A. His desires
B. Father’s charity
C. His vengeance
D. Brother’s plot

B. Father’s charity.
Polydore spoke crudely knowing she was the unhappy object of their father’s charity.

38. What extreme happened to Acasto when he sat with guests, causing a collapse?

A. Great anger
B. Sudden death
C. Sudden trembling
D. Speaking falsehood

C. Sudden trembling.
A sudden trembling seized on all Acasto’s limbs, and his speech forsook him during this event.

39. Where did the Servant report that Castalio and Monimia could not be found?

A. The garden
B. The grove
C. The house
D. The city

C. The house.
The Servant reports that he has searched “all the house” as commanded, but they Not found.
40. To what common location does the Chaplain confirm he had joined the hands of Castalio and Monimia?

A. The saloon
B. The grove
C. The fountain
D. The chamber

B. The grove.
The Chaplain admits that he met them there, received their vows, and joined their hands in The grove.

41. What kind of sign did Monimia instruct Castalio to give at her chamber door?

A. Loud whisper
B. Three soft
C. Quick knock
D. Single light

B. Three soft.
Monimia instructed Castalio that the sign would be “three soft strokes upon the chamber door”.

42. Polydore uses Castalio’s Page by having him invent what to keep Castalio delayed?

A. Small errands
B. Invent a story
C. Start argument
D. Find a friend

B. Invent a story.
Polydore instructs the Page to “invent a tale, no matter what” to keep his brother occupied.

43. What is the name of the woman who answers the window when Polydore gives the secret sign?

A. Monimia
B. Serina
C. Flo there
D. Page Cordelio

C. Flo there.
When Polydore gives the sign, the window opens, and the text indicates that the speaker is Flo there.

44. What does Florella claim Monimia thinks Castalio is attempting by coming to the window?

A. Seeking help
B. Do violence
C. Admit marriage
D. Tell the truth

B. Do violence.
Florella tells Castalio that Monimia knows he is Polydore, sent to affront and do violence.
45. What common metaphor does Castalio use to characterise the woman (Eve), causing the downfall of man?

A. Gold curse
B. Apple damned
C. Poison sweet
D. Devil’s friend

B. Apple damned.
Castalio concludes that for an apple, a woman (Eve), Apple damned mànkind.

46. What does Castalio promise Monimia he will do every day if she remains his wife?

A. Love always
B. Play tyrant
C. Seek peace
D. Give pleasure

B. Play tyrant.
Castalio spitefully vows to Monimia that “all day I’ll play tyrant” and forsake her at night.

47. When Chamont enters, Monimia’s grief is so overwhelming that it causes what physical reaction?

A. Violent sobbing
B. Silent weeping
C. Chokes cause
D. Immediate faint

C. Chokes cause.
Monimia says she cannot speak because “grief flows so fast upon me, it chokes me”.

48. When Castalio throws Monimia from him, Chamont curses him, swearing he will resemble what object?

A. Bad dog
B. Dead dog
C. Wild boar
D. Mad villain

B. Dead dog.
Chamont swears he will throw Castalio to earth “like a dead dog despis’d”.

49. What does Polydore admit he has done that has polluted Castalio’s bed and marriage joys?

A. Great treason
B. Stained bed
C. Told a falsehood
D. Lost friendship

B. Stained bed.
Polydore confesses, “I’ve stained thy bed; thy spotless marriage joys Have been polluted by thy brother’s lust”.
50. How did Monimia claim to have finished the task of taking her own life?

A. Knife blade
B. Drunk draught
C. Fell sword
D. Hanging myself

B. Drunk draught.
Monimia states to Castalio, “I’ve drunk draught for all my cares, and never more shall wrong thee”.

Brief Overview

The Orphan, or The Unhappy Marriage, is a domestic tragedy by Thomas Otway. It was first produced and published in 1680. Written in blank verse, the play details the destructive consequences of deception, miscommunication, and tragic fate.

The central conflict involves two brothers, Castalio and Polydore, and the orphan girl they both love, Monimia. Monimia was taken in and raised by the boys’ father, Acasto.

Castalio and Polydore initially quarrel over Monimia. Castalio claims he will not marry her because he wants to maintain his freedom. The brothers agree not to fight, and Castalio tells Polydore he can try to win her love. However, Castalio secretly marries Monimia that same day.

Later that night, Castalio gives Monimia a signal of three soft strokes to let him into her room. Polydore, who secretly overheard the plan, maliciously tricks Castalio into staying away from the room. Polydore then uses the exact signal and pretends to be Castalio to sleep with Monimia.

The next morning, Castalio oppresses Monimia. He assumes she betrayed him since he spent the night alone. Monimia’s brother, Chamont, is told that Castalio has wronged her and challenges Castalio.

Polydore finally reveals that he slept with Monimia, believing he was only winning the woman his brother did not want. They fight, and Polydore is wounded. Monimia, who thinks she has betrayed Castalio by sleeping with his brother, drinks poison and dies.

Polydore soon dies, admitting Monimia was innocent and thought he was Castalio. Castalio, heartbroken by the entire disaster, stabs himself and dies beside her.

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