"From Hell" - "A State Of Darkness" Part 1 Quiz

Answer: 3

This is the title of a pamphlet which is being written by Hinton's son Howard, much later in the timeline of the story. The comments and questions heard and said in this darkness foreshadow events which are yet to come.

Answer: Napoleon

The young William Gull had been told that his mother had to look at numerous pictures of Napoleon during her pregnancy, because it was around the time of the French Revolution. She claimed that the image was impressed on her mind so strongly, that her child resembled him. William Gull's father backs this up, saying that it is a medical fact that this could occur.

Answer: A difficult task

William Gull says to his father "Is it vanity to hope that the Lord may choose for me a task most difficult?". His father replies that it would not be vanity, as long as he did not only wish this for the sake of gaining glory. William replies that he wouldn't care if nobody knew of his achievements, as long as God knew.

Answer: Cholera

Mr Gull's body is returned to Thorpe-Le-Soken by barge, and the doctor is impressed at the speed which it arrives. Mrs Gull insists that she and William will continue to run their barge business, and they will not be intimidated by the new invention of the steam train.

Answer: 16

It is thought by those who have studied the history of Wiliam Gull, that part of the reason Rector Harrison agreed to tutor Gull was because he was attracted to Mrs Gull, who, according to accounts from the time, was a very attractive woman. It was Rector Harrison who enabled Gull to learn his trade as a doctor, by letting him study with Benjamin Harrison - his uncle.

Answer: Guy's Hospital

Gull trained at Guy's hospital, from the age of 21, and was taught by Benjamin Harrison. He was given fifty pounds, and a room to live in at the hospital. It was here that he learned his surgical skills.

Answer: 5

He was nominated to become a Freemason by Benjamin Harrison at the age of 26, after working at Guy's Hospital for five years. Benjamin Harrison tells Gull that it will help to further his career if he joins, as the Freemasons have friends in very high places. He thinks that Gull is definitely suited to the life of a Freemason.

Answer: Moon and stars

All of these are symbols which can be seen on the various different members' aprons. Benjamin Harrison is wearing the apron with the moon and stars on it, and he points a knife to Gull's chest throughout the ceremony. The members have to endure a different ceremony each time they rise to the next rank.

Answer: His heart would be removed and burned until it was black

Part of the ceremony is swearing to keep the secrets of the Freemasons - breaking this vow is punishable by death. The actual vow he has to make is:

"I, William Withey Gull, in the presence of the Great Architect of the Universe, do solemnly swear to always hele, conceal, and never reveal the mysteries of Free and Accepted Masons, under no less a penalty than my throat be cut across, my tongue torn out by the root, and that I be buried in sand a cable's length from the shore, where the tide regularly ebbs and flows twice in twenty-four hours".

Answer: Hinton

James Hinton becomes a very close friend of Gull's, until his untimely death. He accompanies Gull while he does his rounds at the hospital, dealing with the "deranged women". Hinton is very interested in their plight, and believes they can be cured, but Gull is less hopeful.

Answer: He went to get coal and never came back

Gull examines the woman, and discovers that she has a syphilitic sarocele, which has infected her spine, and will eventually be her downfall. All the while she is insisting her husband went out for coal, and didn't come back.

Answer: Susan

We see Susan getting afraid before the wedding night, and insisting on turning out the lights because she's shy. She's also really scared about what will happen, and whether it will hurt her. Eventually, she makes Gull stop, because she's in too much pain.

Answer: Dorset Street

Hinton and Gull frequently take walks around London, and often ended up in Whitechapel. Gull claims that he enjoys walking round the area, and he particularly loves the churches, many of which were built by an idol of his, Nicholas Hawksmoor.

Answer: Hinton's son

Hinton's son, Howard, is writing the pamphlet: "What is the Fourth Dimension?", which suggests that all times co-exist together. The title of the pamphlet is one of the things that is repeated over and over at the beginning of the chapter.

Answer: Anubis

Anubis was the jackal-headed god of the dead, from Ancient Egypt. Ancient Egypt seems to have had a big impact on the Freemasons - part of their god, Jahbulon, is based on an Ancient Egyption god.