- 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) Literary rival
C) Publisher
D) Sister
- 2. In what year was 'The Life of Charlotte Brontë' first published?
A) 1855
B) 1857
C) 1861
D) 1847
- 3. What was the name of the Brontë family's home?
A) Thornfield Hall
B) Haworth Parsonage
C) Ponden Hall
D) Shirley Manor
- 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) Typhoid fever
B) Pneumonia
C) Hyperemesis gravidarum (complications of pregnancy)
D) Tuberculosis
- 6. What was the pseudonym used by Charlotte Brontë when publishing her novels?
A) Acton Bell
B) Ellis Bell
C) Currer Bell
D) George Sand
- 7. Which novel made Charlotte Brontë famous?
A) Agnes Grey
B) Wuthering Heights
C) The Tenant of Wildfell Hall
D) Jane Eyre
- 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) Gondal
B) Angria
C) Middle-earth
D) Narnia
- 10. Which publisher initially rejected 'The Professor' but accepted 'Jane Eyre'?
A) Smith, Elder & Co.
B) Blackwood's Magazine
C) Thomas Cautley Newby
D) Chapman & Hall
- 11. What tragic event affected the Brontë family when Charlotte and her siblings were children?
A) House fire destroying their manuscripts
B) Their father losing his position
C) Financial ruin and debt
D) Death of their mother and two eldest sisters
- 12. Which literary figure did Charlotte Brontë meet and correspond with, as documented in Gaskell's biography?
A) Elizabeth Barrett Browning
B) William Makepeace Thackeray
C) Charles Dickens
D) Alfred Lord Tennyson
- 13. What was the original title of Gaskell's biography?
A) The Life of Charlotte Brontë
B) The Brontë Story
C) Charlotte Brontë: A Memoir
D) Remembering Charlotte
- 14. How many siblings did Charlotte Brontë have?
A) Five
B) Four
C) Two
D) Three
- 15. What was the profession of Charlotte Brontë's husband?
A) Publisher
B) Schoolmaster
C) Writer
D) Curate
- 16. Which Brontë sister wrote 'Wuthering Heights'?
A) Anne Brontë
B) Charlotte Brontë
C) Emily Brontë
D) Branwell Brontë
- 17. What was the primary reason Elizabeth Gaskell wrote this biography?
A) To promote her own novels
B) To expose the Brontë family secrets
C) To critique Victorian society
D) To defend Charlotte's reputation
- 18. Where did Charlotte Brontë go to study languages and teaching?
A) Edinburgh
B) Brussels
C) Paris
D) London
- 19. How did Emily Brontë die?
A) Cholera
B) Childbirth
C) Tuberculosis
D) Suicide
- 20. What was the name of the only Brontë brother?
A) Benjamin
B) Brendan
C) Branwell
D) Bartholomew
- 21. What was the primary source of information for Gaskell's biography?
A) Ellen Nussey's memoirs
B) Patrick Brontë's diary
C) Branwell's paintings
D) Charlotte's letters
- 22. Who was Charlotte's closest friend outside her family?
A) Ellen Nussey
B) Harriet Martineau
C) Elizabeth Gaskell
D) Mary Taylor
- 23. Which novel was inspired by Charlotte's experiences in Brussels?
A) Villette
B) Jane Eyre
C) The Professor
D) Shirley
- 24. What was the primary genre of Elizabeth Gaskell's work on Charlotte Brontë?
A) Biography
B) Novel
C) Poetry
D) Play
- 25. Who was the object of Charlotte Brontë's unrequited affection in Brussels?
A) George Smith
B) Arthur Bell Nicholls
C) Constantin Héger
D) William Weightman
- 26. How many months did Charlotte's marriage last before her death?
A) Nine months
B) Two years
C) One year
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) George Eliot
D) Elizabeth Gaskell
- 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) Emily
B) Charlotte
C) Branwell
D) Anne
- 30. How many novels did Charlotte Brontë publish in her lifetime?
A) Three
B) Six
C) Four
D) Five
- 31. Which character in 'Jane Eyre' was inspired by real events at Cowan Bridge?
A) Mrs. Reed
B) Mr. Rochester
C) Helen Burns
D) Adele Varens
- 32. How did contemporary critics receive Gaskell's biography?
A) Overwhelming criticism
B) Universal praise
C) Mostly positive with some controversy
D) Largely ignored
|