- 1. The Invisible Woman by Claire Tomalin is a biographical account that delves into the life of Nelly Ternan, a young actress who became the long-time mistress of the renowned Victorian author Charles Dickens. Tomalin intricately explores the complexities of Ternan's life, illustrating how she navigated the societal constraints of the 19th century while maintaining her own dignity and sense of self amid a deeply secretive romantic relationship. The book not only paints a vivid picture of Ternan as an individual, shedding light on her personal struggles and aspirations, but it also contextualizes her within the bustling theatrical world of the time and Dickens's own turbulent personal life. Through meticulous research and engaging narrative, Tomalin reveals the often-overlooked role that women like Ternan played in the lives of prominent men, emphasizing themes of love, sacrifice, and the pursuit of agency in a patriarchal society. The narrative invites readers to reconsider the legacy of Dickens not only as an iconic literary figure but also as a man whose private life was marked by personal contradictions and the quiet resilience of the women connected to him, ultimately allowing Nelly Ternan to emerge from the shadows and find her voice in history.
Nelly Ternan had a secret long-term relationship with which famous Victorian novelist?
A) George Eliot
B) William Makepeace Thackeray
C) Anthony Trollope
D) Charles Dickens
- 2. How old was Nelly Ternan when she first met Charles Dickens?
A) 25
B) 16
C) 21
D) 18
- 3. What was the profession of Nelly Ternan and her family?
A) Writers
B) Musicians
C) Painters
D) Actors
- 4. In which country did Dickens and Ternan suffer a serious train crash in 1865?
A) United States
B) France
C) England
D) Italy
- 5. What was the primary reason this relationship was kept secret?
A) Dickens was a married public figure.
B) Dickens was afraid of his publisher.
C) Ternan was from a criminal family.
D) Ternan was terminally ill.
- 6. What significant act did Dickens do regarding his wife, Catherine, during his relationship with Nelly?
A) He formally divorced her.
B) He publicly separated from her.
C) He moved her to a different country.
D) He had her committed to an asylum.
- 7. What is a major theme of Tomalin's biography?
A) The history of British railways.
B) The golden age of Victorian theatre.
C) The technical evolution of the novel.
D) The erasure of women from history.
- 8. What was the name of Nelly Ternan's mother?
A) Frances Ternan
B) Elizabeth Ternan
C) Sarah Ternan
D) Eleanor Ternan
- 9. What was the name of Nelly Ternan's husband?
A) John Forster
B) Henry F. Chorley
C) Wilkie Collins
D) George Wharton Robinson
- 10. What is the significance of the title 'The Invisible Woman'?
A) It describes Ternan's career as a spy.
B) It is the title of a play Ternan performed in.
C) It refers to Ternan's deliberate erasure from history.
D) It was Dickens's nickname for Ternan.
- 11. Which of these was a close friend and biographer of Dickens who helped conceal the affair?
A) Wilkie Collins
B) Thomas Carlyle
C) John Forster
D) Alfred Lord Tennyson
- 12. In what year was Claire Tomalin's 'The Invisible Woman' first published?
A) 1990
B) 2000
C) 1980
D) 1970
- 13. What was the name of the play Dickens was involved in when he first met the Ternan family?
A) The Lady of Lyons
B) The Corsican Brothers
C) Money
D) The Frozen Deep
- 14. What does Tomalin's biography achieve regarding Nelly Ternan?
A) It proves she was a terrible actress.
B) It shows she was the real author of his novels.
C) It reveals she blackmailed Dickens.
D) It restores her as a significant figure in Dickens's life.
- 15. What was the profession of Nelly Ternan?
A) Governess
B) Suffragist
C) Actress
D) Novelist
- 16. What was the name of the railway accident Dickens and Ternan were involved in?
A) The Staplehurst rail crash
B) The Paddington train wreck
C) The Clapham Junction collision
D) The Tay Bridge disaster
- 17. What was the name of Dickens's wife, from whom he separated?
A) Agnes
B) Catherine
C) Georgina
D) Estella
- 18. Which of Dickens's novels was being serialized at the time of the Staplehurst crash?
A) A Tale of Two Cities
B) David Copperfield
C) The Mystery of Edwin Drood
D) Our Mutual Friend
- 19. How did Dickens and Ternan likely meet?
A) During a theatrical production
B) At a literary salon
C) At a publishing house
D) Through family friends
- 20. What is Claire Tomalin's profession?
A) Literary critic
B) Biographer and journalist
C) Novelist
D) Historian
- 21. Which of Dickens's sisters-in-law remained his housekeeper after his separation?
A) Helen Ternan
B) Mary Hogarth
C) Fanny Ternan
D) Georgina Hogarth
- 22. For roughly how many years did the relationship between Dickens and Ternan last?
A) 13 years
B) 5 years
C) 20 years
D) Until his death (8 years)
- 23. How many children did Nelly Ternan have?
A) None
B) Three
C) Two
D) One
- 24. What was Nelly Ternan's full first name?
A) Elizabeth
B) Emily
C) Ellen
D) Eleanor
- 25. Which of Dickens's novels is thought to have been influenced by his relationship with Ternan?
A) Oliver Twist
B) A Christmas Carol
C) Hard Times
D) Great Expectations
- 26. In which country did Nelly Ternan live for a time with Dickens?
A) America
B) Italy
C) France
D) Germany
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