The Revenger’s Tragedy MCQs

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Author: Nasir Iqbal | Assistant Professor of English Literature


Updated on: November 19, 2025
Estimated Reading Time: 16 min

The Revenger’s Tragedy MCQs

1. Who is the central character seeking revenge in the play?

A. Vindice
B. Hippolito
C. Lussurioso
D. Spurio

A. Vindice.
Vindice is driven by vengeance after the old Duke poisoned his betrothed lady, Gloriana.

2. What specific item does Vindice hold and address when the play opens?

A. A skull
B. A dagger
C. A scroll
D. A purse

A. A skull.
Vindice enters carrying the skull of his poisoned, betrothed lady, calling it his “study’s ornament”.

3. Who poisoned Vindice’s betrothed lady?

A. The old Duke
B. Lussurioso, son
C. Spurio, bastard
D. The Duchess

A. The old Duke.
The old Duke poisoned Vindice’s lady because her “purer part would not consent / Unto his palsy-lust”.

4. What natural disaster does Vindice wish to strike the lustful old Duke?

A. Infernal fires
B. A tempest
C. A fever
D. A drought

A. Infernal fires.
Vindice wishes “infernal fires” would kindle within the dry Duke’s “spendthrift veins” instead of heat.
5. Whom does Vindice categorize as four “ex’lent characters” passing over the stage?

A. Duke, family
B. Judges, lords
C. Servants, masters
D. Bawds, usurers

A. Duke, family.
Vindice observes the Duke, Duchess, Lussurioso (son), and Spurio (bastard) as excellent characters in evil.

6. What comparison does Vindice make regarding his lost love’s face and other women’s?

A. Artificial shine
B. Bought complexion
C. Humble look
D. Pale beauty

A. Artificial shine.
His lady’s face was beyond the artificial shine of “any woman’s bought complexion” of the time.

7. Who is Vindice’s brother and confidant at court?

A. Hippolito
B. Lussurioso
C. Antonio
D. Piero

A. Hippolito.
Hippolito, Vindice’s brother, works at court and brings him news of Lussurioso’s plot.

8. Whom does Hippolito rely on to keep his place at court?

A. The Duchess
B. The Duke’s son
C. Antonio, Lord
D. His sister

A. The Duchess.
Hippolito admits he holds onto his place “by th’ Duchess’ skirt,” hinting at their relationship.

9. Whom does the Duke’s son, Lussurioso, seek a base-coin’d pander to find?

A. Ill-contented nature
B. Loyal courtier
C. New groom
D. Good lord

A. Ill-contented nature.
Lussurioso sought a “strange-digested fellow forth / Of ill-contented nature” to use in his plans.
10. What specific evil trait does Lussurioso seek in the man Hippolytus?

A. Evil is only good
B. Murderer
C. Cuckold
D. Bawd, wise

A. Evil only good.
Lussurioso desires a man who “was for evil only good,” implying pure wickedness.

11. What disguise does Vindice decide to adopt to enact his revenge?

A. A base pander
B. An old judge
C. A noble lord
D. A bricklayer

A. A base pander.
Vindice decides to “put on that knave for once” and prefers himself as a pander.

12. According to Vindice, what must a man be to exist successfully “i’ th’ world”?

A. Not honest
B. Well-featur’d
C. Very wealthy
D. Highly ambitious

A. Not honest.
Vindice concludes, “for to be honest is not to be in the world,” justifying his wicked disguise.

13. Who is raped by the Duchess’s youngest son, leading to her death?

A. Antonio’s wife
B. Gloriana
C. Castiza, sister
D. Gratiana, mother

A. Antonio’s wife.
The Duchess’s youngest son “Has played a rape on Lord Antonio’s wife”.

14. How did Lord Antonio’s wife die after the rape?

A. Took poison
B. Hung herself
C. Stabbed herself
D. Died of grief

A. Took poison.
She deemed it a nobler dowry for her name, “To die with poison than to live with shame”.
15. What specific object was used as a pillow when Antonio’s wife’s body was discovered?

A. A prayer book
B. A skull
C. A dagger
D. A bloody towel

A. A prayer book.
Lord Antonio found his wife’s body with “A prayer book the pillow to her cheek”.

16. What does the Latin inscription pointing from the prayer book mean?

A. Die with virtue
B. Live with shame
C. Forgive them
D. Seek revenge

A. Die with virtue.
The inscription translates to: “It is better to die with virtue than to live by disgrace”.

17. What decision does the Duke make about his youngest son after the trial?

A. Defer judgment
B. Execute him now
C. Grant pardon
D. Imprison Hippolito

A. Defer judgment.
The Duke suddenly says, “We will defer the judgment till next sitting,” keeping the son as close a prisoner.

18. What kind of wound does the Duchess plan to inflict on the Duke, claiming it will not bleed?

A. Kill him in the forehead
B. Stab his heart
C. Poison his cup
D. Expose his sin

A. Kill him in the forehead.
The Duchess vows, “I’ll kill him in his forehead; hate there feed: That wound is deepest tho’ it never bled”.

19. Who is the Duchess’s object of “love’s true-begot” that she passionately woos?

A. Spurio, bastard
B. Lussurioso, son
C. Antonio, Lord
D. Hippolito

A. Spurio, bastard.
The Duchess’s heart “points unto” Spurio, the Duke’s bastard son, whom she lusts for.
20. What is Spurio’s core motivation for embracing the Duchess’s incestuous desire?

A. Revenge on father
B. Love for her
C. Need for wealth
D. To become a duke

A. Revenge on father.
Spurio explicitly vows, “I’ll be reveng’d for all,” accepting incest as merely a “venial sin”.

21. What does Spurio imply was his “first father” because of the drunken circumstances of his conception?

A. Stirring dish
B. The Duke
C. A groom
D. Base male-bawds

A. Stirring dish.
Spurio suggests he was begot after some “gluttonous dinner; some stirring dish / Was my first father”.

22. Vindice adopts the false name of what when disguised as a pander?

A. Piato
B. Piace
C. Pipere
D. Parfait

A. Piato.
Vindice’s disguise is named Piato, and he attends Lord Lussurioso in this persona.

23. What former profession does Vindice claim to have to Lussurioso?

A. A bone-setter
B. A grocer
C. A lawyer
D. A scholar

A. A bone-setter.
Vindice states he was a “bone-setter,” cleverly interpreting this as a “bawd, my lord, / One that sets bones together”.

24. Lussurioso asks Vindice (Piato) to corrupt whom for him?

A. Castiza, sister
B. Gloriana
C. Gratiana, mother
D. Antonio’s wife

A. Castiza, sister.
Lussurioso targets “a virgin not far from court,” identifying her as Castiza, Vindice’s sister.
25. What part of Castiza’s person does Lussurioso specifically instruct Vindice to enter upon?

A. Her honour
B. Her chamber
C. Her soul
D. Her fortune

A. Her honour.
Lussurioso urges Vindice to “Enter upon the portion of her soul, / Her honour, which she calls her chastity”.

26. Why does Lussurioso say he would prefer a friend (mistress) over a wife?

A. Stealth has true delight
B. Wives are expensive
C. They are more honest
D. Nightly routine bores

A. Stealth has true delight.
Lussurioso believes “Give me my bed by stealth; there’s true delight,” as repetition breeds loathing.

27. What is Vindice’s immediate, violent reaction when Castiza realizes the man (Piato) is a pander?

A. Box a’ th’ ear
B. Knife to him
C. Insult his face
D. Spits at him

A. Box a’ th’ ear.
Castiza strikes Vindice, giving him “A box a’ th’ ear to her brother” for his base office.

28. Vindice praises his sister’s blow, saying her honour will have a rich name when many harlots share the Duke’s son with what?

A. Shame
B. Poverty
C. Disgrace
D. Death

A. Shame.
Castiza’s honor will have a rich name “When several harlots shall share his with shame”.

29. After failing with Castiza, whom does Lussurioso instruct Vindice to try corrupting next?

A. The mother
B. Diaphanta
C. The Duchess
D. The maid

A. The mother.
Lussurioso suggests, “Venture upon the mother, and with gifts / As I will furnish thee, begin with her”.
30. What reason does Vindice give to tempt his mother, Gratiana, toward becoming a bawd?

A. Lack of money
B. Love for son
C. Ambition
D. Her age

A. Lack of money.
Vindice tempts Gratiana by highlighting that she is poor and should live wealthy through her daughter’s “fall”.

31. How much money (angels) does Vindice mention can turn forty good people into devils?

A. Forty angels
B. Ten gold marks
C. Twenty crowns
D. A thousand ducats

A. Forty angels.
Vindice states, “that forty angels can make fourscore devils”.

32. What finally overcomes Gratiana’s virtue when tempted by Vindice (Piato)?

A. Poor estate
B. Her husband’s death
C. Desire for jewels
D. Her son’s anger

A. Poor estate.
Gratiana confesses, “He touch’d me nearly, made my virtues bate / When his tongue struck upon my poor estate”.

33. What does Gratiana plan to tell Lussurioso about his pleasure visit?

A. Lord welcome soon
B. Castiza is chaste
C. She is unhappy
D. She must pray

A. Lord welcome soon.
Gratiana promises, “My lord shall be most welcome when his pleasure / Conducts him this way”.

34. Lussurioso is told that the mother going first to sin before the daughter is merely what?

A. Good manners
B. Good policy
C. Bad luck
D. Sinful habit

A. Good manners.
Lussurioso accepts Vindice’s explanation that “the mother / For her age must go foremost” as good manners.
35. What office does Vindice invent for himself, joking about the court?

A. Fees behind arras
B. City grocer
C. Royal poet
D. Duke’s guard

A. Fees behind arras.
Vindice jokingly wishes for the job of taking all the fees “behind the arras” and fallen farthingales.

36. After Lussurioso dismisses him, what does Vindice intend to do to the Duke’s son?

A. Kill him first
B. Beg forgiveness
C. Swear loyalty
D. Expose his lust

A. Kill him first.
Vindice decides, “Oh, shall I kill him a’ th’ wrong side now? No. / I’ll pierce him to his face”.

37. Who informs Spurio that Lussurioso intends to seduce Hippolito’s sister?

A. Lussurioso’s servant
B. Vindice’s servant
C. The Duke
D. The Duchess

A. Lussurioso’s servant.
A servant who is “most inward with the duke’s son’s lust” whispers the plan to Spurio.

38. Why is Spurio happy about Lussurioso’s planned sin with Castiza?

A. Disinherit him
B. To make him mad
C. To steal his gold
D. To see him weep

A. Disinherit him.
Spurio sees this as an occasion to “disinherit” his half-brother Lussurioso in a short time.

39. Vindice stops Lussurioso from reaching Castiza by warning him that Spurio is doing what?

A. Shadowing the duchess
B. Murdering duke
C. Stealing money
D. Preparing a masque

A. Shadowing the duchess.
Vindice claims Spurio is currently “Shadows the duchess” and is making the Duke a cuckold.
40. When Lussurioso bursts into the bedchamber, who does he find there?

A. Duke, Duchess
B. Spurio, Duchess
C. Vindice, Hippolito
D. Guards, Nobles

A. Duke, Duchess.
Lussurioso is “amaz’d to death” to find the Duke and Duchess in bed together, not Spurio.

41. What crime does the Duke accuse Lussurioso of attempting when found in the bedchamber?

A. Depose me
B. Adultery
C. Murder
D. Treason

A. Depose me.
The Duke claims Lussurioso “Intending to depose me in my bed” out of ambition.

42. Whom do Ambitioso and Supervacuo secretly want dead after Lussurioso is arrested?

A. Lussurioso, brother
B. Spurio, bastard
C. The Duchess
D. The Duke

A. Lussurioso, brother.
Ambitioso decides, “No, thy death shall thank me better,” scheming against Lussurioso.

43. Whom do Ambitioso and Supervacuo arrange to kill using the Duke’s signet?

A. Their brother, Junior
B. The Duke, father
C. Lussurioso
D. Spurio

A. Their brother, Junior.
Ambitioso and Supervacuo use the signet intended for Lussurioso’s execution on their youngest brother.

44. When the Junior Brother is executed, what does he realise was the meaning of the promised “trick”?

A. Four officers
B. His lawyer
C. His mother’s fault
D. A coffin

A. Four officers.
An officer explains that the “trick” meant four cards, referring to the four execution officers.
45. What sight do Vindice and Hippolito arrange for the Duke to witness before his death?

A. Incestuous kiss
B. Lussurioso’s death
C. Antonio’s wife
D. His own coffin

A. Incestuous kiss.
The Duke will witness the incestuous kiss between Spurio and the Duchess in the lodge.

46. What does Vindice dress the skull of his dead love in for the Duke’s fatal encounter?

A. In tires
B. Silk and silver
C. Ragged imperfections
D. A court mask

A. In tires.
Vindice brings the skull “dress’d up in tires,” preparing it to resemble a lady.

47. What toxic substance does Vindice apply to the skull’s mouth?

A. Poison
B. Sweetmeats
C. Damnation
D. Perfume

A. Poison.
Vindice applies a drug, “The mortal curse of the earth,” to the skull’s mouth to poison the Duke.

48. How do Vindice and Hippolito ensure their escape and cover the murder of the Duke?

A. Disguise as masquers
B. Set fire to the room
C. Tell Lussurioso
D. Blame the nobles

A. Disguise as masquers.
They hide the Duke’s body and use the disguise to appear as a pander fled, or later, a masquerade.

49. How is Lussurioso killed?

A. Stabbed in a masque
B. Poisoned
C. Died of grief
D. Shot with a piece

A. Stabbed in a masque.
Vindice and Hippolito, disguised as masquers, stab Lussurioso and three nobles during the banquet.
50. What is Vindice’s final, fatal mistake that leads to his own execution?

A. Confessed to the murder
B. Killed Lussurioso
C. Stabbed Hippolito
D. Took the gold

A. Confessed to the murder.
Vindice boasts about managing the murder, leading Antonio to condemn both brothers to “speedy execution”.

Brief Overview

Brief Overview

The Revenger’s Tragedy was first published in 1607 by English playwright Thomas Middleton. It is a dark, violent Jacobean tragedy that centers on the destructive nature of revenge and justice, set against the backdrop of a deeply corrupt Italian court.

The play centers on Vindici, the protagonist, who seeks revenge for his love, Gloriana. The old Duke poisoned Gloriana because she refused his lust. Vindici carries her skull as a constant, morbid symbol of his vengeance.

Vindici disguises himself as Piato. The Duke’s son, Lussurioso, hires the disguised Vindici to corrupt a virgin, who is actually Vindici’s sister, Castiza. Castiza bravely refuses Lussurioso’s offers.

Vindici then successfully uses gold to corrupt his own mother, Gratiana, turning her into a bawd. Later, Vindici and his brother, Hippolito, force their mother to repent her sin.

Vindici gets his central revenge by covering Gloriana’s skull with poison. He presents the dressed-up skull to the old Duke. The Duke kisses it and is poisoned. Vindici and Hippolito finish killing the Duke, who dies slowly.

Lussurioso becomes the new Duke. Vindici and Hippolito orchestrate a final, bloody act of vengeance. Disguised in a masque, they murder Lussurioso and his nobles. The Duchess’s sons also kill each other in the chaos. Vindici proudly confesses all the murders to Antonio, the new ruler.

Antonio immediately orders Vindici and Hippolito to be executed. The revengers die, having killed all their enemies but failing to escape the final consequences of their own destructive actions.

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