1. How does Sheridan convey humour?

One example of humour is the screen scene on page 77. When Charles comes in, he and Joseph discuss Lady
Teazle and Sir Peters suspicion that Charles is her lover. Charles mentions that he believes Joseph to be her
favorite and recounts all the little incidents that lead him to think so. Embarrassed by this turn in the
conversation, Joseph interrupts to say that Sir Peter is within hearing. Placed in a difficult position, Charles
explains to Sir Peter that he has merely been playing a joke on Joseph. Sir Peter knows a good joke on
Joseph, too, he says: Joseph is having an affair with a milliner. Charles decides that he wants to have a look
at the milliner and pulls down the screen, revealing Lady Teazle. Joseph is undone because Lady Teazle
refuses to agree with any of the excuses he makes. She angrily informs her husband of the whole nature of
Josephs intentions and departs. Sir Peter follows her, leaving Joseph to his own conscience.

Sheridan uses dramatic irony to convey humour because the audience know that Lady Teazle is hiding
behind the screen but neither Sir Peter nor Charles knows that she is there.

Another example of dramatic irony: when Premium (Sir Oliver) visits Charles and he doesnt know Mr
Premium is his uncle.

Sheridan also makes use of disguise. Sir Oliver disguised as Mr Stanley, and as Premium.

2. Discuss the use of label names

Teazle: a plant with leaves and flowers that feel sharp when you touch them
Surface: the outside or top layer of something/the qualities, emotions etc of someone or something that are
easy to notice, but which are not the only or not the real qualities, emotions etc
Rowley: "roughly cleared meadow"
Sneerwell: leader of a group that creates and spreads malicious gossip

3. What are the views of:

Social classes: Sir Oliver Surface is the wealthy uncle of Charles and Joseph Surface
Lady Sneerwell, who in her youth was the target of slander, has set her life upon a course to reduce the
reputations of other women to the level of her own.

Charles Surface has a reputation as a scoundrel. But beneath his flawed veneer, he is a decent fellow. Joseph
Surface has a reputation as an upright man. But beneath his flawless veneer, he is a villain

Lady Teazles marriage profoundly raised her social status from a country maid to a woman of rank and
fortune. Lady Teazles husband, Sir Peter, remarks that before they were married, she was "in somewhat a
humbler style"

Men and women: Mr. Joseph Surface employs a screen of noble sentiment in order to conceal his own
malicious intentions. Sir Peter Teazle, husband to Lady Teazle, describes Joseph as a man of the "noblest
sentiments"
Lady Sneerwell, who in her youth was the target of slander, has set her life upon a course to reduce the
reputations of other women to the level of her own.
Lady Teazles marriage profoundly raised her social status from a country maid to a woman of rank and
fortune. Lady Teazles husband, Sir Peter, remarks that before they were married, she was "in somewhat a
humbler style"

Love and marriage: Sir Peter Teazle: Upright gentleman of about age fifty who has recently married a young
woman. Fooled by Joseph Surface's pretensions, he promotes a marriage between Joseph and Maria. Lady
Teazles marriage profoundly raised her social status from a country maid to a woman of rank and fortune.
Lady Teazles husband, Sir Peter, remarks that before they were married, she was "in somewhat a humbler
style"
Joseph is in love with the fortune Maria is to receive. He plots with Lady Sneerwell to break up Charles and
Maria. Meanwhile, he attempts to seduce the wife of Sir Peter Teazle.

Youth and old age: Lady Teazle is married to a man olden than her. She and her husband have their little
spats. When he visits Joseph Surface one day, he discovers his wife hiding behind a screen and at first thinks
she has been having an affair with Joseph, whom he now brands as a villain.

Countrylife and city life: Lady Teazle, a simple village woman married to Sir Peter Teazle, is the typical
country wife allured by the slanderers, a victim who finally discovers her errors to find love and trust in her
husband.

4. Find connections between She stoops to Conquer and The School for Scandal

Screen scene in both plays.
Disguising: Kate as a housekeeper and Sir Oliver as a money lender, and as a poor relative.

Charles and Tony Lumpkin: they like making jokes, they enjoy life, are playboys. But Charles gives the
possibility of changing and Tony continues with the same way of life.

Lady Teazle and Mrs Hardcastle: not satisfied with their way of life. They argue with their husbands, they like
fashion, clothes. Both are superficial characters.

Maria and Kate: very static character, pure, perfect innocent. But Kate likes fashion; she stoops to conquer
what she wants.

Sir Peter Teazle and Mr Hardcastle: they are constantly arguing with their wives. They hate town life.