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2 Jean Racine quizzes and 20 Jean Racine trivia questions.
1.
  Jean Racine's "Phaedra"   great trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
"Phaedra" is French dramatist Jean Racine's tenth play. The French title is "Phèdre" (originally "Phèdre et Hippolyte"). See how much you know about this play based on Greek mythology! [English translation by Richard Wilbur]
Average, 10 Qns, AlexxSchneider, Dec 28 09
Average
AlexxSchneider gold member
240 plays
2.
  Quotes from Racine's "Phaedra"   great trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
See if you can identify the source of these quotes, all taken from Richard Wilbur's translation of Jean Racine's "Phaedra". The French names used by Racine appear in brackets where applicable. Good luck!
Tough, 10 Qns, AlexxSchneider, Dec 28 09
Tough
AlexxSchneider gold member
229 plays
Related Topics
  French Literature [Literature] (9 quizzes)

  Plays [Literature] (59 quizzes)


Jean Racine Trivia Questions
1. "He's here. Blood rushes to my heart: I'm weak And can't recall the words I meant to speak." Who said it?

From Quiz Quotes from Racine's "Phaedra"

Answer: Phaedra (Phèdre)

Act II, Scene V. Phaedra is talking about her step-son Hippolytus, and she is about to reveal her love for him after hearing of her husband's death. But, of course, Theseus is indeed alive, and this scene is the beginning of the downfall of everyone involved.

2. When did Racine write this play?

From Quiz Jean Racine's "Phaedra"

Answer: 1677

Racine wrote the play at the age of 38, after which he abandoned the theater. He wrote no more plays except for two religious works, "Esther" and "Athalie", which he wrote more than a decade later, in 1689 and 1691 respectively.

3. Who said to Theseus "The Queen, remember, could not tolerate him. "It was his infamous love which made her hate him" ?

From Quiz Quotes from Racine's "Phaedra"

Answer: Oenone

Act IV, Scene I. Oenone is, of course, lying to Theseus. Phaedra had convinced her husband to banish Hippolytus, but this was because of HER forbidden love for him, not the other way around as Oenone tells Theseus, leading to the death of his son.

4. How many acts does the play have?

From Quiz Jean Racine's "Phaedra"

Answer: 5

Richard Wilbur translated the play into English in 1987. His translation replaces the alexandrine meter with the pentameter, and has the exact same number of lines as the original (1,654)!

5. "Allow Hippolytus to say farewell To any region where your wife may dwell." Who made this request?

From Quiz Quotes from Racine's "Phaedra"

Answer: Hippolytus (Hippolyte)

Act III, Scene V. Hippolytus knows the truth about his step-mother's desires, and, wishing not to betray his father or his love for Aricia, he tells his father that he never wants to see Phaedra again. This is all said before Phaedra's wicked lies can be exposed, and unfortunately, Hippolytus does not leave Troezen before he is accused and confronted.

6. I've already mentioned that the story and characters are based on Greek myth. Many Greek and Roman tragic poets wrote about Phaedra. Which two are most notable? (The former is Greek, the latter Roman.)

From Quiz Jean Racine's "Phaedra"

Answer: Euripides and Seneca

Seneca the Younger's "Phaedra" was adapted from Euripides' "Hippolytus".

7. "You've tamed his heart, which none could capture, And taught his stubborn lips to sigh with rapture." Who said this?

From Quiz Quotes from Racine's "Phaedra"

Answer: Theseus (Thésée)

Act V, Scene III. Theseus confronts Aricia. Hippolytus finally confessed his forbidden love for Aricia, who has been cursed never to marry by Theseus, because of her brothers' plot to overthrow him. However, Theseus believes his son's confession to be a lie, an excuse to counter Phaedra's confession.

8. In Racine's play, who rules Athens?

From Quiz Jean Racine's "Phaedra"

Answer: Theseus

Phaedra is his wife, and therefore the queen. Hippolytus is his son from a previous marriage to Antiope, Queen of the Amazons. Aricia is forbidden by Theseus to marry, to stop her continuing her line. Theseus has killed her brothers, as they revolted against him.

9. Who delivered the news that "Oenone, driven from her in disgrace, Has thrown herself into the sea's embrace" ?

From Quiz Quotes from Racine's "Phaedra"

Answer: Panope

Act V, Scene V. Panope, Phaedra's lady-in-waiting, alerts Theseus of Oenone's death just as he asks to see her once more, confused by Aricia's broken-up speech concerning the truth about Phaedra's confession.

10. Where is the play set?

From Quiz Jean Racine's "Phaedra"

Answer: Troezen

Although Theseus and Phaedra rule Athens, the play actually takes place in Troezen. Theseus has been absent for six months, and he sends his wife to Troezen under Hippolytus' care for her safety.

11. "For six months now, ashamed and in despair, I've borne Love's piercing arrow everywhere." Who said this?

From Quiz Quotes from Racine's "Phaedra"

Answer: Hippolytus (Hippolyte)

Act II, Scene II. You may have thought that the answer was Phaedra, but this is Hippolytus' confession of love to Aricia. At this time he is unaware of Phaedra's true feelings for him. Phaedra had felt lust for Hippolytus ever since she first married his father; she had him banished almost immediately.

12. What is the name of Phaedra's nurse and confidante?

From Quiz Jean Racine's "Phaedra"

Answer: Oenone

The answer is indeed Oenone. Panope is Phaedra's lady-in-waiting. Ismene is the confidante of Aricia. Oenone is blamed by Phaedra for Hippolytus rejecting her confession of love. She is shunned by Phaedra, and commits suicide by drowning herself.

13. Who said this? "Since when, my lord, have you begun to fear This peaceful place your childhood held so dear."

From Quiz Quotes from Racine's "Phaedra"

Answer: Theramenes (Théramène)

Act I, Scene I. The very first scene of the play. Theramenes, Hippolytus' tutor, wonders why Hippolytus, after spending his childhood at Troezen, now feels the want to flee. He believes that it may be because Phaedra is in his life again and Hippolytus may worry that she may do him more harm, but in reality he flees from Aricia, who has been brought to Troezen by Theseus. She usually lives in Athens with the King and Queen.

14. Who is the object of Hippolytus' affections?

From Quiz Jean Racine's "Phaedra"

Answer: Aricia

Theramenes is Hippolytus' tutor, so I hope he isn't in love with him! And of course, he certainly does not love his step-mother in that way! An interesting question: why do they refer to the Roman gods instead of the Greek ones?

15. Who asks: "Will Phaedra, who is still her frenzy's prey, Accuse herself, and throw her life away?"

From Quiz Quotes from Racine's "Phaedra"

Answer: Hippolytus (Hippolyte)

Act III, Scene VI. This scene consists of just 13 lines, all spoken by Hippolytus to Theramenes. Theseus has just returned, and has no idea that any drama has unfolded. Hippolytus doubts that Phaedra will willingly confess to her husband what she has done, but of course he has no idea that she will turn the tables on him.

16. How does Hippolytus die?

From Quiz Jean Racine's "Phaedra"

Answer: He is dragged to his death in his chariot.

Theseus curses and banishes him after Oenone lies that he tried to rape Phaedra. As he is leaving, a sea monster - half-bull, half-dragon - scares his horses, who panic and rush away, dragging the fallen chariot along the stony road with Hippolytus tangled in the reins. Ouch!

17. "Has Greece, so often sheltered by my arm, Chosen to shield this criminal from harm?" Who says this?

From Quiz Quotes from Racine's "Phaedra"

Answer: Theseus (Thésée)

Act III, Scene V. It may have been fairly obvious that these words come from the mouth of a king. Theseus asks this question, confused upon his return as he greets some not-so-happy faces.

18. How does Phaedra die?

From Quiz Jean Racine's "Phaedra"

Answer: She poisons herself.

This was a bit of a trick question, actually, since in Euripides' play she hangs herself, pinning to her body a note accusing Hippolytus of rape. In Racine, she takes "a poison which Medea brought to Greece". Medea was Theseus' step-mother in Greek mythology. Another interesting point is that Theseus killed the Minotaur, who was the half-brother of Phaedra.

19. Who asks Hippolytus to "(b)ehold Phaedra as she is, insane"?

From Quiz Quotes from Racine's "Phaedra"

Answer: Phaedra (Phèdre)

Act II, Scene V. This is the all-important scene in the play, where Phaedra confesses her love to Hippolytus. She belives that she is cursed by Venus, but is convinced by Oenone that Hippolytus will want to reign by her side in the event of Theseus' death. He is horrified, and in love with Aricia, and rejects his step-mother. I hope you enjoyed this quiz!

20. In the last scene of Act V, after Phaedra's and Hippolytus' deaths, what does Theseus do to Aricia?

From Quiz Jean Racine's "Phaedra"

Answer: He declares her his daughter.

He has discovered that Hippolytus had loved Aricia and planned to marry her. He takes away her chains and declares that she will be his daughter now. Hope you enjoyed the quiz!

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