Elizabeth Gaskell Trivia

1. The narrator, Mary Smith, states at the beginning of the novel that Cranford is "in possession of the Amazons". What does she mean?

From Quiz "Cranford" by Elizabeth Gaskell

Answer: All substantial homeowners are women.

Mary Smith states: "...all the holders of houses, above a certain rent, are women". She adds that any men that do settle in Cranford somehow disappear--terrified at being the only males at Cranford socials.

From Quiz Elizabeth Gaskell's "Mary Barton"

Answer: "John Barton"

This information comes from a letter Gaskell wrote to a friend, Mrs Greg. She claimed that her publisher, Edward Chapman, had suggested the revision. One of the false answers - "A Tale of Manchester Life" - is the novel's subtitle.

From Quiz Elizabeth Gaskell - Life and Works

Answer: Unitarian minister

Gaskell's husband was a Unitarian minister, which may account for the values and (discrete) Biblical references to be found in her works. More importantly, as a minister's wife, she was led to help and interact with most classes of society. This viewpoint - rather unique at the time, especially for a woman - enabled her to write convincingly about the poor workers as well as the factory owners.

From Quiz "Cranford" by Elizabeth Gaskell

Answer: 12:00 noon to 3:00pm

Visitors may only call upon their neighbors from 12:00 noon to 3:00pm. Once a Cranford lady enters her friend's home, she must never stay longer than 15 minutes. After one receives a call, Cranford etiquette demands that the visit be repaid within three days.

From Quiz Elizabeth Gaskell's "Mary Barton"

Answer: 1837 - 42

Although "Mary Barton" was published in 1848, the political events in the novel suggest it is set in a slightly earlier period. John Barton is heavily involved with several influential reformist movements that grew in the nineteenth century, including the Chartists. In essence, this was a campaign to gain more equality for working class men, such as universal male suffrage. At one point in the novel, he travels to London, with a group of delegates from other parts of the country, in order to take 'a petition' to parliament. Gaskell dates this event as taking place in 1839 - interestingly, such a convention for the Chartists did happen in that year. The movement saw a huge surge in popularity as workers grappled with the horrors of the 'hungry forties'(1837 - 42), which led to serious economic decline. However, by the time "Mary Barton" was published, the depression was drawing to a close. A third petition by the Chartists (1848) saw a fall in support, which suggests the novel was set in earlier years.

From Quiz Elizabeth Gaskell - Life and Works

Answer: Manchester

"Mary Barton" (published 1848) takes place in Manchester, where Gaskell lived when her husband was the minister of the Unitarian chapel on Cross Street. "Mary Barton" brought instant success to her writer, who was encouraged to write further about the social question. Some critics thought the workers' view was too exclusively represented, leaving no room for the concerns and struggles of factory owners. As a result, she tried to present a more balanced view in "North and South".

From Quiz Mrs Gaskell's 'North and South'

Answer: 'Margaret Hale'

Charles Dickens pressured Elizabeth Gaskell to change the name to shift the focus of the book from a romantic tale to a serious piece of literature. Many people think it was Dickens that devised the new title.

From Quiz "Cranford" by Elizabeth Gaskell

Answer: Sucking oranges

Miss Matty, ever fastidious, cannot eat oranges in public. Cutting open an orange is a messy business. The only way to truly enjoy an orange, according to Mary Smith, is to suck it. However, it would be highly impolite for genteel ladies to openly suck oranges, so Miss Matty always eats her favorite fruit in complete privacy.

From Quiz Elizabeth Gaskell's "Mary Barton"

Answer: Charles Dickens

Dickens became a great admirer of Gaskell after he read her first novel. This is perhaps not entirely surprising, given the fact that their work discusses similar themes and expresses sympathy for the most marginalised members of Victorian society. Gaskell is sometimes described as the 'female Dickens', but rather predictably, he's never called the 'male Gaskell'! As for the other writers, Hardy was only eight years old in 1848 and Wilde was not born until the 1850s. Gaskell became good friends with Bronte and went on to write a remarkable account of Bronte's life, now widely regarded as one of the finest examples of biographical work in English literature.

From Quiz Elizabeth Gaskell - Life and Works

Answer: south & South

Margaret grew up at her aunt's house in London, as a companion to her cousin Edith. After her cousin's mariage to an officer, she went to live with her parents in a peaceful southern village called Helstone. Sortly afterwards, her father gave up his job as a minister (for conscience's sake), and moved to Manchester to become a private tutor. This is the beginning of the culture shock which is at the core of the book, and justifies its title.

From Quiz Mrs Gaskell's 'North and South'

Answer: Milton-Northern and Helstone

'North' refers to the fictional town of Milton-Northern, which is actually based on the present day city of Manchester. While Margaret also lives in Harley Street with her aunt and cousin at the beginning of the novel, she still considers her home in the 'South' to be Helstone.

From Quiz "Cranford" by Elizabeth Gaskell

Answer: Candles

Miss Matty tries very diligently to never waste candles. She will sit by a window while knitting to take advantage of the sunlight. Once the light gives way, she continues knitting in the dark or by a fire-light. She also only burns one candle at a time, but is careful to keep all of her candles at an equal height so it appears that she burns more.

From Quiz Elizabeth Gaskell's "Mary Barton"

Answer: Grandfather and granddaughter

One of the most moving relationships in the novel.

From Quiz Elizabeth Gaskell - Life and Works

Answer: dressmaker's assistant

Ruth is apprenticed to a dressmaker - this profession was typically a "dangerous" one. Indeed, the young apprentices were likely to be led astray, not least because they came to be in contact with the aristocracy. This is indeed what happens to Ruth, whose virtue is corrupted by the treacherous Mr Bellingham.

From Quiz "Cranford" by Elizabeth Gaskell

Answer: He dressed in his sister's clothes and paraded himself before the townspeople

Peter, for unknown and perverse reasons, decided to dress in his sister Deborah's clothes--gown, shawl, and bonnet! To make matters worse, he cradled a pillow disguised as a baby in his arms. All of the townspeople were shocked to see "Miss Deborah" walking around with a baby, spouting nonsense. When his father, Mr. Jenkyns, found out, he publicly flogged him.

From Quiz Elizabeth Gaskell's "Mary Barton"

Answer: A young woman who acts as a messenger for Henry Carson during his romance with Mary.

Sally is one of the few comic characters in the book. Gaskell describes her as being "... vulgar-minded to the last degree; never easy unless her talk was of love and lovers."

From Quiz Elizabeth Gaskell - Life and Works

Answer: it told of a young girl who shockingly became an unmarried mother

Gaskell wanted to take up the cause of women led astray, on which she had already brushed in "Mary Barton", through the character of Esther. The latter, who was a prostitute, was hardly a suitable topic for a writer, especially female, at the time. Gaskell, in order to advocate her cause better, chose a virtuous young girl whose unfortunate circumstances led her to vice. After a week or so in Wales with her seducer, Ruth spends the rest of her life patiently expiating her fault. It is an impressive example of how different society's outlook on morals was at the time. Despite (or partly because of) the discrepancies in judgement with current society's, this is a deeply entertaining and enriching book.

From Quiz Mrs Gaskell's 'North and South'

Answer: Bessy Higgins

The Higginses are an extremely poor, but proud family, who won't accept charity. Margaret goes to visit them as an equal and becomes close friends with Bessy.

From Quiz "Cranford" by Elizabeth Gaskell

Answer: Milk

Mrs. Forrester washes this one-of-a-kind lace in milk to "stiffen" it and to give it a "very good creamy color". Her cat once swallowed the lace while it was soaking in a bowl of milk, and gentle Mrs. Forrester had to make the cat vomit the lace back up.

From Quiz Elizabeth Gaskell's "Mary Barton"

Answer: She is so flattered by the wealthy Henry Carson's attentions, that she fails to understand her own feelings for Jem.

Even before Mary realises she is in love with Jem, her dreams about life with Carson consists of dances and luxury and pretty clothes - Carson himself isn't that important! Mary doesn't recognise that particular fact, convinced that their romance is genuine, and looks forward to the day when she can show Jane Wilson - Jem's mother - how a gentleman thought she was good enough for him (she believes Jane dislikes her). Unfortunately, Mary fails to admit a deep attachment to Jem, until he has already proposed - and been turned down.

From Quiz Elizabeth Gaskell - Life and Works

Answer: Cynthia Kirkpatrick

Cynthia Fitzpatrick, the fickle and shallow co-heroine, was (conveniently) dispatched to France by her mother Hyacinth Clare Fitzpatrick (later) Gibson. It is amusing to note that in many Victorian novels, closeness to France - for women - was usually a blemish on their virtue. For instance, Thackeray's character Becky Sharpe (in "Vanity Fair") is half French and therefore partly evil... and, throughout his novel, French novels crop up as a symptom of low morals... that is for women. Men's virtue was apparently beyond corruption by such influences.

From Quiz "Cranford" by Elizabeth Gaskell

Answer: Because of his unfortunate last name

Mr. Hoggins is described as being wealthy, attractive, kind, and pleasant. Yet, all of the ladies in Cranford look down upon him because of his "coarse" surname.

From Quiz Elizabeth Gaskell's "Mary Barton"

Answer: Esther fears that Mary may end up in prostitution, after seeing her with Henry Carson. She begs Jem to protect her niece.

Esther ran away with a soldier, who promised marriage, but ended up abandoning her instead. Like many women at that time, Esther has little choice but to become a prostitute. She did have one baby, a little girl, but we quickly learn that the child has long since died. Realising that John Barton won't listen to her, Esther asks the kindly Jem to help Mary.

From Quiz Elizabeth Gaskell - Life and Works

Answer: "Cranford"

"Cranford" was published serially by Charles Dickens in his Magazine "Household Words". He loved it as much as he had disliked Gaskell's novel "North and South" (also requested for and published in "Household Words"). Gaskell's social satire in "Cranford" is very entertaining, and well worthy of Jane Austen (a bit in the Miss Bates vein).

From Quiz Mrs Gaskell's 'North and South'

Answer: She throws herself in front of him to protect him from a crowd of strikers

At this point in the novel, Margaret is still unaware of her feelings for Mr Thornton, so were her actions in front of the strikers a subconscious act? Margaret has rejected Mr Henry Lennox, her cousin's husband's brother, but Mr Thornton doesn't learn of their relationship until later on, when he becomes a little jealous.

From Quiz Elizabeth Gaskell's "Mary Barton"

Answer: He can provide an alibi for Jem, after the latter is arrested for Henry Carson's murder.

She finds him - at the very last moment - with the assistance of several friendly sailors, who agree to chase after Will's vessel, the 'John Cropper'. Fair and noble, Will agrees to do anything he can to prove Jem's innocence.

From Quiz Elizabeth Gaskell - Life and Works

Answer: Charlotte Bronte

At the request of Charlotte Bronte's father, Gaskell wrote her biography, "Life of Charlotte Bronte" (published 1857). Gaskell determined both to tell the truth and honour her friend. It was well received and, for the first time, Gaskell's name appeared on the front page of one of her books.

From Quiz Mrs Gaskell's 'North and South'

Answer: He is in exile for participating in a naval mutiny

For the most part of the novel, Frederick remains in exile in Spain where he meets his future wife. If he returns to England, he risks death by hanging if caught.

From Quiz "Cranford" by Elizabeth Gaskell

Answer: A muslin gown and pearl necklace

Since Peter and Matty have been separated for decades, both imagine one another much younger in their minds than their actual ages. Peter brings Miss Matty gifts that are more suitable for a young girl, not the aging spinster that she has become.

From Quiz Elizabeth Gaskell - Life and Works

Answer: Philip Hepburn the cautious merchant

In this heart-rending story of love, passion and betrayal, Sylvia slowly reconciles herself to the idea of marrying her cousin Philip. It is only later that she discovers how manipulated she has been. Played on a poignant background of contemporary human and political issues, it really is a rare and memorable read.

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