1.) Is Orlando justified in his quarrel with his older brother Oliver? Does Oliver owe him access to an education fitting for a gentleman?
2.) Why does Oliver plot to harm Orlando?
3.) Why is Rosalind sad? Why hasn't she left the court since her father was banished by the present Duke? Should she have left the court?
4.) Why does Orlando want to challenge Charles the wrestler?
5.) How is Orlando affected when Rosalind gives him a chain to wear as a reward and token of esteem?
6.) Why does Duke Frederick banish Rosalind from the court? Why does he think Celia should be glad that she is leaving?
7.) What does Celia's response to her father's treatment of Rosalind show about her character? Is her love stronger than Rosalind's as she claims?
Act II:
1.) How is life different in the Forest of Arden from the Court? Do you think the life in the woods is better and why? Or would you prefer to live in the court and why?
2.) How do the woods change with the arrival of the Duke and his lords? How do they disturb nature? Is this right or wrong?
3.) How does Adam characterize the plan of Oliver to harm his brother? How is Adam's behavior towards Orlando used as a contrast to Oliver's? What is Shakespeare telling us about the right order of relationships?
4.) What are the characteristics of romantic love? How does Silvius identify himself as a romantic lover? When is love foolish? When is love true?
5.) Is Rosalind truly in love with Orlando? What is her love based on? Is Orlando truly in love with Rosalind?
6.) What are the seven ages of man described by Jacques in his speech? Is this description still relevant or how else should the stages of life be described? What stages has the average high school student gone through?
7.) Why does the Duke offer food to Orlando? If he is not impressed with Orlando's show of force, what does move him to be generous to Orlando?
Act III:
1.) What are the truths that the shepherd Corin tells Touchstone?
2.) If you were the director of this play, how would you direct the scene between Corin and Touchstone? Would Corin be an innocent who is all seriousness in his "wisdom," or would you have him act the role of a "smart alec" who is speaking in mockery trying to outdo Touchstone? Explain your reasons for your choice.
3.) Contrast the rhyme that Touchstone wrote about Rosalind with the one written by Orlando and read by Celia. How do the two characterizations differ?
4.) How is Orlando's view of the world different from that of Jaques (Monsieur Melancholy)?
5.) Why does Rosalind decide to "play the knave (fool)" to Orlando?
6.) When Rosalind tells Orlando that he does not look like a lover, he says that he wants to make her believe it is true. Is this why he agrees to pretend she is Rosalind and woo her even though he thinks she is a man? Are there any other possible reasons?
7.) Rosalind, in the disguise of a man, reveals some of the ways that women differ from men. List these differences and judge whether a modern audience would consider them as true.
8.) In Touchstone's speech to Audrey, he refers to the inevitability of horns for a married man, suggesting that all wives are unfaithful. Even so, he says that it is better to be married than not. Why might he think so?
9.) How would you describe Touchstone's attraction to Audrey? Does he express romantic love or some other kind of feeling?
10.) Contrast Phebe's feeling for Silvius to her feeling for Rosalind (disguised as Ganymede).
Act IV:
1.) Celia accuses Rosalind of misusing "our sex in your love-prate." How has Rosalind defamed women in her speeches to Orlando?
2.) How does Rosalind respond to the sight of Orlando's blood? What does this say about her nature?
Act V:
1.) What role does Rosalind play in her disguise as Ganymede in the uniting of Phebe and Silvius and herself with Orlando?
2.) In the resolution of the play, the lovers are united in marriage, and they are restored to their rightful places in society. What does this resolution imply about nature and fortune?