56 pages • 1 hour read
Aphra BehnThe Rover
Fiction | Play | Adult | Published in 1677A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Essay Topics
Research English theatre during the Restoration and the conventions of Restoration Comedy. How does The Rover fit into that society and the conventions of the form? How is it different?
The Rover was written by a woman during an era when female playwrights were exceedingly rare. Is Behn’s perspective as a woman reflected in the play? Would you consider the play’s commentary to be feminist or proto-feminist? Why or why not?
The Rover includes major tropes in roles written for the novelty of women acting onstage, such as the rape scene and the “breeches” role. Research these tropes and explain how they function in the play. How do they function within the narrative? Are they egregious or do they integrate well?
