The French Lieutenant's Woman by John Fowles
- 1. The French Lieutenant's Woman, a novel by John Fowles published in 1969, is a rich and complex story set in the Victorian era, exploring themes of love, freedom, and the constraints of societal conventions. The narrative follows Charles Smithson, a young Englishman engaged to a conventional and proper woman named Ernestina Freeman. During a trip to Lyme Regis, he encounters Sarah Woodruff, an enigmatic and independent woman ostracized by the townsfolk for her passionate nature and rumored affair with a French lieutenant. As Charles becomes fascinated by Sarah, he is torn between his attraction to her free spirit and his obligations to Ernestina and the expectations of society. Fowles employs a distinctive narrative style, including an unreliable narrator and multiple endings, which invites readers to reflect on the nature of choice and the possibilities of life. The novel challenges the social mores of the time, highlighting the struggles of women for autonomy and the conflict between individual desires and societal pressures, ultimately positioning Sarah Woodruff as a symbol of modernity and resistance against the restrictive traditions of the Victorian age.
What is Sarah Woodruff often referred to as?
A) The Baker's Wife
B) The French Lieutenant's Woman
C) The Woman in White
D) The Lady of the Sea
- 2. In what period is the novel set?
A) Edwardian Era
B) Georgian Era
C) Victorian Era
D) Regency Era
- 3. Who is Charles Smithson engaged to?
A) Julia Smithson
B) Ernestina Freeman
C) Sarah Woodruff
D) Mary Anning
- 4. What does Charles struggle with throughout the novel?
A) His financial problems.
B) His family obligations.
C) His feelings for Sarah and societal expectations.
D) His career choices.
- 5. What profession does Charles Smithson have?
A) Clergyman
B) Merchant
C) Paleontologist
D) Artist
- 6. Why is Sarah Woodruff considered an outcast?
A) She is a foreigner.
B) She was abandoned by her lover.
C) She practices witchcraft.
D) She is a widow.
- 7. In which year was 'The French Lieutenant's Woman' published?
A) 1971
B) 1975
C) 1965
D) 1969
- 8. What does Charles eventually have to choose between?
A) Travel and work.
B) Science and religion.
C) Sarah and Ernestina.
D) Career and love.
- 9. What does the ending of the novel emphasize?
A) Success and marriage.
B) Ambiguity and choice.
C) Tragedy and loss.
D) A clear resolution.
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