The Beggar’s Opera
Introduction + Context
Plot Summary
Detailed Summary & Analysis
Introduction
Act 1, Scene 1
Act 1, Scene 2
Act 1, Scene 3
Act 1, Scene 4
Act 1, Scene 5
Act 1, Scene 6
Act 1, Scene 7
Act 1, Scene 8
Act 1, Scene 9
Act 1, Scene 10
Act 1, Scene 11
Act 1, Scene 12
Act 1, Scene 13
Act 2, Scene 1
Act 2, Scene 2
Act 2, Scene 3
Act 2, Scene 4
Act 2, Scene 5
Act 2, Scene 6
Act 2, Scene 7
Act 2, Scene 8
Act 2, Scene 9
Act 2, Scene 10
Act 2, Scene 11
Act 2, Scene 12
Act 2, Scene 13
Act 2, Scene 14
Act 2, Scene 15
Act 3, Scene 1
Act 3, Scene 2
Act 3, Scene 3
Act 3, Scene 4
Act 3, Scene 5
Act 3, Scene 6
Act 3, Scene 7
Act 3, Scene 8
Act 3, Scene 9
Act 3, Scene 10
Act 3, Scene 11
Act 3, Scene 12
Act 3, Scene 13
Act 3, Scene 14
Act 3, Scene 15
Act 3, Scene 16
Act 3, Scene 17
Themes
All Themes
Moral Corruption and Hypocrisy
Gender, Love, and Marriage
Class, Capitalism, and Inequality
Opera, High Art, and Performance
Quotes
Characters
All Characters
Polly Peachum
Peachum
Lucy Lockit
Lockit
Macheath
Mrs. Peachum
The Beggar
The Player
Mrs. Coaxer
Filch
Robin of Bagshot (“Bob Booty”)
Mrs. Diana Trapes
Terms
All Terms
Cordial
Newgate Prison
Transportation
Symbols
All Symbols
Account Book
Literary Devices
All Literary Devices
Allusions
Foil
Frame Story
Genre
Hyperbole
Idioms
Imagery
Irony
Metaphors
Mood
Motifs
Paradox
Pathos
Satire
Setting
Similes
Situational Irony
Style
Tone
Download PDF
Download Teacher Edition
AI Tools
Ask LitCharts AI
Discussion Question Generator
Essay Prompt Generator
Quiz Question Generator
Guides
Literature Guides
Poetry Guides
Shakespeare Translations
Literary Terms
Sign In
Sign up for A
+
Sign up
The Beggar’s Opera
by
John Gay
PDF
Upgrade to A
+
Introduction
Intro
Plot Summary
Plot
Summary & Analysis
Introduction
Act 1, Scene 1
Act 1, Scene 2
Act 1, Scene 3
Act 1, Scene 4
Act 1, Scene 5
Act 1, Scene 6
Act 1, Scene 7
Act 1, Scene 8
Act 1, Scene 9
Act 1, Scene 10
Act 1, Scene 11
Act 1, Scene 12
Act 1, Scene 13
Act 2, Scene 1
Act 2, Scene 2
Act 2, Scene 3
Act 2, Scene 4
Act 2, Scene 5
Act 2, Scene 6
Act 2, Scene 7
Act 2, Scene 8
Act 2, Scene 9
Act 2, Scene 10
Act 2, Scene 11
Act 2, Scene 12
Act 2, Scene 13
Act 2, Scene 14
Act 2, Scene 15
Act 3, Scene 1
Act 3, Scene 2
Act 3, Scene 3
Act 3, Scene 4
Act 3, Scene 5
Act 3, Scene 6
Act 3, Scene 7
Act 3, Scene 8
Act 3, Scene 9
Act 3, Scene 10
Act 3, Scene 11
Act 3, Scene 12
Act 3, Scene 13
Act 3, Scene 14
Act 3, Scene 15
Act 3, Scene 16
Act 3, Scene 17
Themes
All Themes
Moral Corruption and Hypocrisy
Gender, Love, and Marriage
Class, Capitalism, and Inequality
Opera, High Art, and Performance
Quotes
Characters
All Characters
Polly Peachum
Peachum
Lucy Lockit
Lockit
Macheath
Mrs. Peachum
The Beggar
The Player
Mrs. Coaxer
Filch
Robin of Bagshot (“Bob Booty”)
Mrs. Diana Trapes
Terms
All Terms
Cordial
Newgate Prison
Transportation
Symbols
All Symbols
Account Book
Lit Devices
All Literary Devices
Allusions
Foil
Frame Story
Genre
Hyperbole
Idioms
Imagery
Irony
Metaphors
Mood
Motifs
Paradox
Pathos
Satire
Setting
Similes
Situational Irony
Style
Tone
Theme Wheel
Theme Viz
Download this Chart (PDF)
Download the Teacher Edition
Get instant help with LitCharts AI
New
Back to Guide
Previous
Account Book
The Beggar’s Opera Literary Devices
Next
Allusions
Previous
Account Book
Previous
Account Book
Next
Allusions
Next
Allusions
Cite This Page
Company
About Us
Our Story
Jobs
Support
Help Center
Contact Us
Connect
Facebook
Twitter
Legal
Terms of Service
Privacy Policy
Privacy Request
Home
About
Contact
Help
Copyright © 2024 All Rights Reserved
Terms
Privacy
Privacy Request
Save time. Stress less.
Sign up!
AI Tools
for on-demand study help and teaching prep.
Quote explanations,
with page numbers, for over 45,220 quotes.
PDF downloads
of all 2,040 LitCharts guides.
Expert analysis
to take your reading to the next level.
Advanced search
to help you find exactly what you're looking for.
Quizzes, saving guides, requests,
plus so much more.
Expert analysis
to take your reading to the next level.
Advanced search
to help you find exactly what you're looking for.
Quizzes, saving guides, requests,
plus so much more.
Requesting a new guide requires a free LitCharts account
You'll also get updates on new titles we publish and the ability to save highlights and notes.
or
Complete your free account to request a guide
Creating notes and highlights requires a free LitCharts account.
You'll be able to access your notes and highlights, make requests, and get updates on new titles.
or
Complete your free account to access notes and highlights
Saving guides requires a free LitCharts account
Easily access your saved guides anytime.
or
Complete your free account to save guides