THE STORY OF ACT V
THE DEFEAT OF MERCENARY LOVEMAKING
Make clear the ins and outs of the Fairy trap, first for its actors, then for the dupes? Can the apparent inconsistencies in the wearing of green or white and the mention of "Quickly" for "Queene" be accounted for on the supposition that everybody is deceived except Nan and Fenton? (See Notes on V. v. 421, 205-209).
The compliments to Queen Elizabeth in the Play: What are they and how is their appropriateness to the Plot made good?
Consider the "humors" of the Welsh and French speeches and episodes as exploitations and developments of the similar humors of Fluellen and the Frenchmen of "Henry V."
The fairy scenes and effects of this Play compared with those of the wedding night feast at the end of "A Midsommer Nights Dreame."
What indications are there in the Falstaffe of "Henry IV." that he is superficially affected by the Puritanism about him? Is he any more deeply affected by it in the present Play? What is the difference in his appearance in this Play with respect to Puritanic morals: Is he more affected by them, at the last, when he is so grossly their victim, or have they grown, and put him out of date in England except as an atavism?
Have Page and his Wife any loftier standpoint as to mercenary love than Falstaffe himself? Is Fenton's speech (V. v. 225-235) the moral of the last Act or is Ford's (237-238)?
QUERIES FOR DISCUSSION
Is the main design of the Play to "cure Ford of his unreasonable jealousy," as Rowe says, or to dupe and reform Falstaffe? Is the total aim sport to laugh over "by a Countrie fire?" Is it a Comedy of irony turned against all mercenary motives in love?