"I Capture the Castle" Quiz

Answer: Cassandra Mortmain

Cassandra is a thoroughly likable character. She begins her diary "sitting in the kitchen sink," beginning her months-long chronicle of her successes and failures.

Answer: Wrestling

Cassandra's father crafted a one-time, ground-breaking success for himself, a novel called "Jacob Wrestling," which is never fully described.

Answer: he is their ex-maid's live-in orphan son

Stephen Colly is terribly fond of Cassandra, and he carefully copies poems to give to her. Cassandra is fond of Stephen, but finds him a bit too provincial (he more or less works for the Mortmains). The Stephen issue carries throughout the book, and at one point, Cassandra finds herself in the middle of a difficult love triangle.
Cassandra does have a real brother, though, and his name is Thomas.

Answer: Rose

Rose is Cassandra's rather vain and pessimistic older sister. Since the success of "Jacob Wrestling" has dwindled, the Mortmains have had to sell much of their property and are living like paupers in their old castle. Cassandra sees the situation as rather romantic, but Rose feels oppressed by it.

Answer: bathing

Cassandra first becomes acquainted with Simon Cotton on a rainy night. Americans who have inherited a nearby estate, the Cotton brothers get their car stuck in the mud outside the castle. Unknowingly, Simon Cotton pokes his head into the kitchen while Cassandra is bathing in an old tub (luckily behind a screen). This is the beginning of a friendship with Simon and his brother Neil.

Answer: to collect their inheritance

Rose and Cassandra go to London to pick up the items left to them by their Aunt Millicent, which turn out to be old fur coats. The trip to London is quite an event for the sisters, who haven't anything to wear but their conspicuous white summer dresses.

Answer: true

Cassandra's father was wrongly accused of threatening his wife with a cake knife. The "Cake knife incident" occurred when Cassandra was a young girl. Her mother, who was not harmed by cake knives at any time, later died of illness. Mr. Mortmain later married Topaz, a young and rather Bohemian painters' model.

Answer: Stephen and Thomas

Rose and Cassandra are invited to a fine dinner party at the Cottons' estate. Stephen and Thomas peer in through the outside windows as everyone dances. When Simon good-naturedly invites the boys in, Stephen is horribly embarrassed.

Answer: Simon

Cassandra had "never kissed any man in [her] life before" she kissed Simon. This proves to be extremely complicating for Cassandra, as Rose is engaged to Simon at this point. Also, Stephen has previously made some advances toward Cassandra and she does not know how to respond. The confusion!

Answer: false

Stephen, by the end of the book, has grown up a bit and has found a nice village girl. Simon and Rose are no longer engaged (a sort-of, kind-of mutual agreement), and Rose and Neil have surprisingly found an interest in one another. And Cassandra - she and Simon have a close, intellectual (and perhaps more) relationship. Simon goes to America, and Cassandra stays at her castle, older and wiser than at the start.

The castle - captured at last!