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"Dragonwyck" by Anya Seton Trivia Quiz

In "Dragonwyck" (1944), Anya Seton relates the romantic Gothic tale of a rich landowner and his innocent kinswoman. Warning: SPOILERS.

A multiple-choice quiz by ZaZeZo. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
ZaZeZo

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
372,704

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
104

Awards
Top 35% Quiz

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. Miranda Wells is an innocent farm girl from Greenwich, Connecticut. How does she end up going to the glorious estate home of Dragonwyck? Hint

She sneaks onto the estate one night.

Her mother gets a letter of invitation for either of the Wells girls.

Her mother writes a letter, begging her cousin to take Miranda.

She goes to work as a maid at Dragonwyck.

NEXT>

Question 2 of 10

2. Miranda is pleased by Nicholas Van Ryn's handsome and elegant appearance, but is surprised when she meets his wife Johanna. What is unusual about Johanna? Hint

She is skeletal.

She is young enough to be Nicholas's daughter.

She is obese.

She is bald.

NEXT>

Question 3 of 10

3. Miranda has an admirer in Doctor Jeff Turner. Why does the doctor seem to despise Nicholas Van Ryn? Hint

He is jealous of Nicholas' wealth.

He thinks Nicholas is an abusive alcoholic.

He was once in love with Johanna.

He believes farmers should not have to pay rent to the Patroons.

NEXT>

Question 4 of 10

4. When Johanna becomes extremely ill, who comes to diagnose her? Hint

A fancy doctor from New York City

A witch doctor

Johanna's quack doctor

Doctor Turner

NEXT>

Question 5 of 10

5. When Johanna dies unexpectedly, what does Nicholas ask Miranda to do? Hint

Hide her body

Adopt his daughter

Run away with him to London

Marry him

NEXT>

Question 6 of 10

6. Miranda returns home briefly after Johanna's death. Who guesses that Miranda is in love? Hint

Her sister

Her mother

Her father

Her brother

7. After marrying Nicholas, Miranda begins to realize that Nicholas is not quite what she thought. She begins to fear him. At one point they argue over her choice of lady's maid. Why does Nicholas disapprove of her maid Peggy? Hint

She's lame.

She's beautiful.

She's old.

She's fat.

NEXT>

Question 8 of 10

8. Miranda discerns that Nicholas is only after one thing: a male heir. What happens to the son that Miranda bears Nicholas? Hint

He becomes blind at age five.

He is kidnapped by Nicholas.

He dies soon after birth.

He is accidentally killed by Katrine.

NEXT>

Question 9 of 10

9. Miranda becomes more certain that her husband is not quite sane as time goes on. She's horrified to learn that Doctor Turner believes Nicholas killed his first wife. What does he claim as the method of murder? Hint

Poisoning

Overdose of medication

Suffocation

Strangulation

NEXT>

Question 10 of 10

10. What happens to Miranda at the end of the tale? Hint

She marries Doctor Turner.

She becomes a nun.

She devotes her life to good works in NY's slums.

She commits suicide.

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Miranda Wells is an innocent farm girl from Greenwich, Connecticut. How does she end up going to the glorious estate home of Dragonwyck?

Answer: Her mother gets a letter of invitation for either of the Wells girls.

Wealthy Patroon Nicolas Van Ryn writes a letter to his distant kinswoman, Mrs. Abigail Wells (Miranda's mother). In the letter, he simply invites either one of Mrs. Wells' daughters to visit Dragonwyck in the role of occasional companion to his daughter Katrine. Miranda is determined to go, and eventually convinces her reluctant father to allow her a chance at Dragonwyck.

2. Miranda is pleased by Nicholas Van Ryn's handsome and elegant appearance, but is surprised when she meets his wife Johanna. What is unusual about Johanna?

Answer: She is obese.

Johanna Van Ryn is extremely fat, and is seen constantly eating. While Nicholas treats his wife with superficial attentiveness and politeness, it is apparent that he is repulsed by her. Miranda herself secretly disapproves of the greedy, untidy woman.

3. Miranda has an admirer in Doctor Jeff Turner. Why does the doctor seem to despise Nicholas Van Ryn?

Answer: He believes farmers should not have to pay rent to the Patroons.

Doctor Jeff Turner believes that farmers should be allowed to own their land, rather than paying rent to Patroons like Nicholas. He feels that the Patroon system is outdated and harmful to the workers.

4. When Johanna becomes extremely ill, who comes to diagnose her?

Answer: Doctor Turner

Doctor Turner is initially not concerned about Johanna's illness. He thinks she should eat less and exercise more, ideas which Johanna rejects.

5. When Johanna dies unexpectedly, what does Nicholas ask Miranda to do?

Answer: Marry him

Miranda knows she's been falling in love with Nicholas, but she's shocked when he asks her to marry him so soon after his wife's death. Still, she cannot deny him. She agrees to marry him after a brief mourning period.

6. Miranda returns home briefly after Johanna's death. Who guesses that Miranda is in love?

Answer: Her mother

Everyone in the family notices that Miranda is no longer the same after she returns from Dragonwyck. She is quiet and reserved. She seems to be daydreaming all the time. Her father thinks that Dragonwyck has made her unhappy with her humble situation in life, but her mother guesses that she's in love.

Answer: She's lame.

Nicholas despises Peggy because she is lame. He claims he cannot tolerate any type of deformity. In fact, throughout the novel, Nicholas illustrates his need for perfection and beauty in all things.

8. Miranda discerns that Nicholas is only after one thing: a male heir. What happens to the son that Miranda bears Nicholas?

Answer: He dies soon after birth.

Miranda gives birth to Nicholas' son, but the infant dies soon after birth. Nicholas cannot accept the boy's death. He refuses to believe it at first, and then later locks himself away from everyone. It soon becomes clear to Miranda that his reaction is more intense than mere grief.

Answer: Poisoning

Doctor Turner is convinced that Nicholas murdered Johanna by poisoning her with oleander. Miranda and the doctor accuse Nicholas of killing Johanna and then run away together.

10. What happens to Miranda at the end of the tale?

Answer: She marries Doctor Turner.

Miranda comes to fall in love with Doctor Turner, and is grateful to him for helping her out of a terrifying situation with Nicholas. The two decide to move to California, far away from the bad memories of Dragonwyck.

Source: Author ZaZeZo

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