Study Questions for Moliere’s Tartuffe

1.      Locate examples of irony (the various kinds) and discuss.

2.      Locate and discuss the various type characters: the hypocrite, the clever maid, etc. Can you identify any more types?

3.      Examine the social conventions portrayed in the play. What is a father supposed to be like in this society? Wife? Daughter? Son? Servant? Do the characters ever break their roles? How so?

4.      Discuss the following as a theme of the play: people are often driven by their own obsessions to be blind to the needs of others. Can you think of other possible themes?

5.      Discuss the various functions of the first scene. What all does the scene accomplish?

6.      In your opinion is the play anti-religious, or does it attack only corruptions of religion?

7.      Discuss Cleante’s role as the voice of reason in the play.

8.      Discuss the struggle between power and weakness within various characters and between various characters.

9.      At what points in the plot were you surprised? Why do you think you were surprised?

10.  Discuss the nature of belief in the play: is seeing believing? If so, what does this seem to say about the nature of religious belief?

11.  Discuss the Preface and Petitions in relation to the Enlightenment view of the function of comedy (see the author’s biographical note for this).

12. Discuss the ending. Is it plausible? Discuss its various functions in the play.

13. How do argument and rhetoric function in the play?