Wilkie Collins Trivia

1. In the novel "The Moonstone", the titular object is not actually the semi-precious gem of the same name. What is it instead?

From Quiz Under the Moonstone

Answer: A diamond

The moonstone is a yellow diamond that (in the context of the story) has become associated with Chandra, the Hindu goddess of the moon. In the story, the moonstone is given a history--going back several hundred years--that suggests a famous gem such as the Hope Diamond. The "wicked" Colonel Herncastle has managed to acquire the Moonstone by underhanded means. The story also introduces an order of guardians for the diamond who are seeking to reclaim it. Wilkie Collins (1824-1889) was an English author who may be best known for "The Moonstone" and "The Woman in White" (1859).

From Quiz "The Moonstone" by Wilkie Collins

Answer: Yellow Diamond

The traditions behind the name include having been set in the forehead of an Indian god who typified the moon; also its lustre was said to grow and fade with the waxing and waning of the moon.

From Quiz The Woman in White - Who Said What?

Answer: Professor Pesca

Pesca, the enthusiastic Italian teacher who is devoted to his friend Walter, has a mysterious 'political' past which has forced him to leave his homeland. He plays an essential part in the early story as it is on his recommendation that Walter Hartright goes to Limmeridge House, Cumberland, as the drawing master. His devotion results in part from Walter having saved him from drowning in Brighton.

From Quiz "The Woman in White" by Wilkie Collins

Answer: Professor Pesca

The diminutive Professor Pesca was a native of Italy who had left his country for political reasons. He played an important part in the beginning of the book as well as at the end of the book.

From Quiz Under the Moonstone

Answer: He is the head servant of the manor.

In the text, Betteredge is described as the "house-steward", but in more modern terms I think we can consider him the butler. In the story we learn that the Moonstone has been gifted from Colonel Herncastle to his niece Rachel Verinder. Shortly after that, the Moonstone was stolen. In an account that was written about six months later, Betteredge says that Franklin Blake (cousin of Rachel) on the advice of the family solicitor, is instructing everyone that was present on the day the Moonstone was stolen to write their recollections as far as they remember and were present. It is his hope that gathering this information may lead to a chance of finding the Moonstone. In his account, Betteredge shows his high opinion of himself from when expresses public concern about being able to write his account, but privately expresses his confidence in doing so. This sort of novel--where we have the writings of several characters--is known as an epistolary novel. In such a novel, common forms of expression include diary entries and letters, although other types of documents such as newspaper clippings and official reports may also be used.

From Quiz "The Moonstone" by Wilkie Collins

Answer: Vishnu

After Vishnu did this he commanded that the moonstone be watched by the three priests in turn, day and night, until the end of the generations of men.

From Quiz The Woman in White - Who Said What?

Answer: Frederick Fairlie

Frederick Fairlie tries to spend as much time as possible reclining in his room and looking at his art treasures. His account is forced from him but we only discover the circumstances later in the book. His indifference to and withdrawal from the outside world have a key part to play in the story, particularly with regard to his niece Laura's engagement to Sir Percival Glyde.

From Quiz "The Woman in White" by Wilkie Collins

Answer: Limmeridge House

Hartright took a 4 month job to teach Laura Fairlie and her sister drawing. His other duty was to restore "a valuable collection of drawings, which had been suffered to fall into a condition of total neglect." His employer was the owner of Limmeridge House, Frederick Fairlie, who was Laura's uncle.

From Quiz Under the Moonstone

Answer: Rosanna Spearman

Rosanna, one of the maids, has only been with the household for a few months and is the newest member of the household. Lady Verinder had visited the reformatory where Rosanna was living after being released from prison for theft. Lady Verinder decided, upon consulting with the warden of the reformatory, that Rosanna might be turned from a life of crime by being placed in new surroundings, and hired her as a maid. She and Gabriel Betteredge are the only people who know about Rosanna's past. Rosanna generally gets along with the other members of the staff, according to Betteredge, but keeps to herself somewhat. Penelope Betteredge, daughter of Gabriel, is one of the parlor maids. Nancy (name not give) is one of the kitchen maids who has been sent to fetch Rosanna for dinner and presumably grumpy at delaying her own. Rachel Verinder is the daughter of the deceased owner of the house.

From Quiz "The Moonstone" by Wilkie Collins

Answer: Why he refuses the friendship of his cousin John

He suspected his cousin to have murdered three Indians, and of lying about having found/stolen the moonstone.

From Quiz The Woman in White - Who Said What?

Answer: Anne Catherick

The mysterious Anne Catherick is revealed relatively early within the book as 'the Woman in White' who appeared and disappeared so mysteriously in the early chapters. Her true identity and ultimate fate are key plot points within the book.

From Quiz "The Woman in White" by Wilkie Collins

Answer: Laura Fairlie

Yes, Laura. A dumb blond if ever there was one. Her sister, Marian, was by far the more intelligent, witty, and engaging woman. So why'd he choose Laura? She was very beautiful.

From Quiz Under the Moonstone

Answer: Her birthday

Gabriel Betteredge relates that the Colonel visited the house to see Rachel on her birthday, the twenty-first of June. Winkie Collins indulges in some alliteration describing the Colonel as "wasted, and worn, ... wild and as wicked as ever". This occurs about eighteen months before the central part of the story, and about two years before Betteredge is recording the events. At that time, Lady Verinder, who is estranged from her brother, has Betteredge inform him that she and Rachel are unable to see him at that time.

From Quiz "The Moonstone" by Wilkie Collins

Answer: Three

"If you know anything of the fashionable world, you have heard tell of the three beautiful Miss Herncastles. Miss Adelaide; Miss Caroline; and Miss Julia--this last being the youngest and the best of the three sisters, in my opinion;" -"The Moonstone" by Wilkie Collins

From Quiz The Woman in White - Who Said What?

Answer: Count Fosco

The oily, greedy and outwardly charming Count Fosco, with a seemingly endless appetite for desserts and sweets is a wonderful character. Right at the heart of most of the action, he is intelligent yet dangerous.

From Quiz "The Woman in White" by Wilkie Collins

Answer: intelligent, but unattractive

Marian described herself this way in the book: "I am dark and ugly, and she [Laura] is fair and pretty." She doesn't go on to say how kind, witty, and intelligent she is as well. However, as you read the novel, all that becomes apparent.

From Quiz Under the Moonstone

Answer: Franklin is the cousin of Rachel.

Franklin Blake is the cousin of Rachel and a playmate of hers when they were young. His father, seeking claim to a dukedom, has had Franklin educated abroad (first in Germany, and then in other countries). According to Betteredge, Franklin seems to have acquired a little knowledge of many things but expertise in none. Franklin's father had previously agreed to serve as the executor to the Colonel's will in return for the Colonel giving him some papers he had in his possession. One of the main clauses of the will is the delivery of the Moonstone to Rachel, with a reminder to Lady Verinder that the Colonel forgave her for refusing his visit somewhat previously.

From Quiz "The Moonstone" by Wilkie Collins

Answer: Penelope

After five years of neither happy nor un-happy marriage, his wife died and left him with only his daughter Penelope, who when old enough became Rachel's maid.

From Quiz The Woman in White - Who Said What?

Answer: Vincent Gilmore

The gentle family lawyer takes up the narrative where Walter Hartright leaves off. As any good family lawyer would, he offers few opinions but considers all the evidence laid before him as objectively as possible. The varying viewpoints of the narrators throughout the book make determining what is truly going on quite difficult until the final chapters of the book.

From Quiz "The Woman in White" by Wilkie Collins

Answer: She was already engaged to be married.

She was already engaged, and what's more, she was an heiress and he was a penniless drawing master.

From Quiz Under the Moonstone

Answer: intellectual

He describes men and women with "tastes are of what is called the intellectual sort" as usually either torturing something or spoiling something. In the one case, they go to the woods to find a newt or similar creature to prod and poke and examine and dissect, etc. In the other case, they cut into something like a flower to see what gives it its color or its scent. In either case, the gentlefolk usually finish with a mess that needs to be cleaned by the servants. Franklin Blake and Rachel Verinder, who spend some time together during Blake's visit, may have tastes of the "intellectual sort" but Betteredge gives them a backhanded compliment by indicating that their pursuits--mostly artistic--only make a mess and largely avoid dissecting or spoiling anything.

From Quiz "The Moonstone" by Wilkie Collins

Answer: Mr. Franklin

Gabriel is the narrator when Mr. Franklin appears in the story.

From Quiz "The Woman in White" by Wilkie Collins

Answer: Childlike and easily led.

Therein lies the only flaw in the book. Our Laura Fairlie while very sweet and attractive was not going to be invited to Mensa -- ever. What did Walter see in her??

From Quiz Under the Moonstone

Answer: She is strong-willed.

Betteredge says of Rachel "that she had ideas of her own ... it carried her ... too far." I must admit I wonder whether she would truly be described as too opinionated or if this more from the point of view of a Victorian male. Betteredge describes Rachel as "one of the prettiest girls your eyes ever looked on". He also states that she may choose not to answer a question, but she won't lie about it. As to keeping to herself, that was more a characteristic of the maid, Rosanna.

From Quiz "The Moonstone" by Wilkie Collins

Answer: Rosanna

Rosanna was a reformed thief and was being given a chance to prove herself worthy any Christian woman's interest in her.

From Quiz The Woman in White - Who Said What?

Answer: Laura Fairlie

Laura Fairlie, the rich but powerless heiress, soon to be Laura Glyde, wants to keep her unhappiness secret from her beloved Walter, but is happy that he has struck up a friendship and correspondence with her sister Marian.

From Quiz "The Woman in White" by Wilkie Collins

Answer: gentleness and pliability

"... those feminine attractions of gentleness and pliability, without which the beauty of the handsomest woman alive is beauty incomplete." I do wonder how much Collins himself felt this as when he died he was living with one mistress and keeping another on the side. In Victorian England, I guess you needed a 'gentle and pliable' woman to get away with this. Excuse my cynicism. The book is a wonderful book.

From Quiz Under the Moonstone

Answer: Robinson Crusoe

Considering this book has seemingly been read and re-read by Betteredge for decades, and "The Moonstone" is set in the mid-1800s, "David Copperfield" would almost be too new. In fact, "Robinson Crusoe" is the book that he reads on a regular basis. He quotes from the book on more than one occasion. He describes having re-read six copies to pieces and is working on his seventh. Betteredge talks about turning to the text for advice in various situations--advice, bad spirits, etc.

From Quiz "The Moonstone" by Wilkie Collins

Answer: Rachel

In the story, the question is asked if the Colonel knew of the Moonstone's legacy of trouble and danger, and if he willed it to his sister's child as an act of revenge upon his sister.

From Quiz "The Woman in White" by Wilkie Collins

Answer: He needed money immediately.

Sir Percival (Laura's intended) stood to gain income by marrying Laura.

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Last Updated Oct 26 2024 5:49 AM

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