- 1. The Life of Charlotte Brontë, written by Elizabeth Gaskell, is a deeply insightful biography that meticulously chronicles the life of one of the most prominent literary figures of the 19th century. Published in 1857, shortly after Charlotte's death, Gaskell's work paints a vivid portrait of Brontë as both an author and an individual, exploring her upbringing in the remote Yorkshire moors, where she and her siblings found solace in their imaginations, ultimately leading to their remarkable literary careers. Gaskell delves into Charlotte's struggles with personal loss, including the untimely deaths of her siblings, which profoundly affected her and influenced her writing. The biography also examines her relationship with her characters and the themes she grappled with in her novels, such as love, morality, and the quest for independence, particularly in her most famous work, 'Jane Eyre.' Gaskell's narrative is enriched by her closeness to the Brontë family, offering firsthand accounts and reflections that only someone with intimate knowledge could provide. Through her exploration of Charlotte's life, Gaskell not only pays tribute to a remarkable woman but also highlights the challenges faced by female writers in a patriarchal society, making this biography an important contribution to both literary history and women's studies.
What was Elizabeth Gaskell's relationship to Charlotte Brontë?
A) Friend and biographer
B) Publisher
C) Literary rival
D) Sister
- 2. In what year was 'The Life of Charlotte Brontë' first published?
A) 1857
B) 1855
C) 1847
D) 1861
- 3. What was the name of the Brontë family's home?
A) Thornfield Hall
B) Ponden Hall
C) Shirley Manor
D) Haworth Parsonage
- 4. Who was the father of the Brontë family?
A) William Weightman
B) Arthur Bell Nicholls
C) George Smith
D) Patrick Brontë
- 5. What was the cause of Charlotte Brontë's death according to Gaskell's biography?
A) Pneumonia
B) Hyperemesis gravidarum (complications of pregnancy)
C) Typhoid fever
D) Tuberculosis
- 6. What was the pseudonym used by Charlotte Brontë when publishing her novels?
A) Ellis Bell
B) George Sand
C) Currer Bell
D) Acton Bell
- 7. Which novel made Charlotte Brontë famous?
A) Agnes Grey
B) Wuthering Heights
C) Jane Eyre
D) The Tenant of Wildfell Hall
- 8. Who did Charlotte Brontë marry?
A) Constantin Héger
B) Arthur Bell Nicholls
C) William Weightman
D) George Smith
- 9. What was the name of the fictional country created by the Brontë children in their childhood writings?
A) Angria
B) Middle-earth
C) Gondal
D) Narnia
- 10. Which publisher initially rejected 'The Professor' but accepted 'Jane Eyre'?
A) Blackwood's Magazine
B) Chapman & Hall
C) Smith, Elder & Co.
D) Thomas Cautley Newby
- 11. What tragic event affected the Brontë family when Charlotte and her siblings were children?
A) House fire destroying their manuscripts
B) Financial ruin and debt
C) Death of their mother and two eldest sisters
D) Their father losing his position
- 12. Which literary figure did Charlotte Brontë meet and correspond with, as documented in Gaskell's biography?
A) Charles Dickens
B) Alfred Lord Tennyson
C) Elizabeth Barrett Browning
D) William Makepeace Thackeray
- 13. What was the original title of Gaskell's biography?
A) The Life of Charlotte Brontë
B) Remembering Charlotte
C) The Brontë Story
D) Charlotte Brontë: A Memoir
- 14. How many siblings did Charlotte Brontë have?
A) Four
B) Five
C) Three
D) Two
- 15. What was the profession of Charlotte Brontë's husband?
A) Schoolmaster
B) Publisher
C) Curate
D) Writer
- 16. Which Brontë sister wrote 'Wuthering Heights'?
A) Charlotte Brontë
B) Branwell Brontë
C) Anne Brontë
D) Emily Brontë
- 17. What was the primary reason Elizabeth Gaskell wrote this biography?
A) To critique Victorian society
B) To defend Charlotte's reputation
C) To expose the Brontë family secrets
D) To promote her own novels
- 18. Where did Charlotte Brontë go to study languages and teaching?
A) London
B) Edinburgh
C) Brussels
D) Paris
- 19. How did Emily Brontë die?
A) Tuberculosis
B) Cholera
C) Suicide
D) Childbirth
- 20. What was the name of the only Brontë brother?
A) Branwell
B) Benjamin
C) Bartholomew
D) Brendan
- 21. What was the primary source of information for Gaskell's biography?
A) Charlotte's letters
B) Ellen Nussey's memoirs
C) Patrick Brontë's diary
D) Branwell's paintings
- 22. Who was Charlotte's closest friend outside her family?
A) Harriet Martineau
B) Ellen Nussey
C) Mary Taylor
D) Elizabeth Gaskell
- 23. Which novel was inspired by Charlotte's experiences in Brussels?
A) Shirley
B) Villette
C) The Professor
D) Jane Eyre
- 24. What was the primary genre of Elizabeth Gaskell's work on Charlotte Brontë?
A) Novel
B) Poetry
C) Biography
D) Play
- 25. Who was the object of Charlotte Brontë's unrequited affection in Brussels?
A) William Weightman
B) George Smith
C) Constantin Héger
D) Arthur Bell Nicholls
- 26. How many months did Charlotte's marriage last before her death?
A) One year
B) Nine months
C) Two years
D) Six months
- 27. Which of these was a close friend and correspondent of Charlotte's, whom she visited in London?
A) Jane Austen
B) Harriet Martineau
C) Elizabeth Gaskell
D) George Eliot
- 28. What was the name of the fictionalized school based on Cowan Bridge in 'Jane Eyre'?
A) Gateshead Hall
B) Thornfield Hall
C) Moor House
D) Lowood School
- 29. Which Brontë sister wrote 'The Tenant of Wildfell Hall'?
A) Anne
B) Charlotte
C) Branwell
D) Emily
- 30. How many novels did Charlotte Brontë publish in her lifetime?
A) Five
B) Four
C) Three
D) Six
- 31. Which character in 'Jane Eyre' was inspired by real events at Cowan Bridge?
A) Mr. Rochester
B) Adele Varens
C) Helen Burns
D) Mrs. Reed
- 32. How did contemporary critics receive Gaskell's biography?
A) Mostly positive with some controversy
B) Overwhelming criticism
C) Universal praise
D) Largely ignored
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