The Help (2011) Trivia Quiz

Answer: Jackson

"The Help" is set in the city of Jackson, Mississippi. During the 1960s, (when the film was set), it was the state's capital, and a place known for civil rights activism. Indeed numerous marches and protests against the segregation of African Americans took place in Jackson, including the Freedom Rides of 1961, when over 300 African Americans were arrested after demonstrating against segregation on public transport.

Answer: Kathryn Stockett

It is American author, Kathryn Stockett, who wrote the novel on which the 2011 film "The Help", is based. Also entitled "The Help" Stockett's debut novel was published in 2009, and was an instant hit, spending more than 100 weeks on The New York Times Best Seller List. Rather ironically however, the novel was rejected by at least 60 agents, before Susan Ramer came to Stockett's aid.

Answer: For using her employer's private toilet

Minny Jackson, played by Octavia Spencer, is a headstrong African American woman, with a history of being fired. Throughout the film she comes across as a loyal friend, who often finds it difficult to keep her thoughts to herself. However she is a fantastic cook. During the film her white employer, Hilly Holbrook, fires her after finding her using her own private toilet.

Answer: Aibileen

Having recently lost her only son, African American maid, Aibileen Clark, agrees to be interviewed for Skeeter's controversial novel about African American maids. Despite initially refusing, she bravely takes the risk, and is also the reason that Minny Jackson agrees to share stories too.

Answer: Constantine

An African American maid named Constantine was the one who, (in Skeeter's own words), "practically raised" her. However Constantine is nowhere to be found when Skeeter returns home from university and the story she is told is that Constantine left them to go and live with her daughter in Chicago. Skeeter's parents stick resolutely to this story.

But she refuses to believe them, knowing that Constantine would have written to her. Skeeter eventually discovers the truth, and it is revealed that Constantine was sacked by the Phelans after her daughter came to see her while Mrs Phelan was entertaining guests.

When Mrs Phelan later sent her son to bring Constantine back, they discovered she had died.

Answer: The homemaker hints column

Upon graduating from university, Skeeter secures a job as a columnist at her local newspaper. However the column is about homemaker hints, which is something Skeeter has no experience of. This prompts her to enlist the help of her friend's African American maid, Aibileen.

When Skeeter later decides to write a book from the perspective of African American maids, Aibileen is the logical place for her to start.

Answer: Hilly Hollbrook

Skeeter's one time friend, Hilly Hollbrook, (played by Bryce Dallas Howard), says these words to Skeeter after finding a Mississippi rights pamphlet amongst Skeeter's things. Her idea of what makes a "real racist" only serves to further emphasise how narrow minded and ignorant she really is.

Answer: Yes

The man who says these words (Chris Lowell) tells Skeeter that she's refreshingly different. Despite their disastrous first date, in which Skeeter storms out early, Chris later turns up to apologise. The two then end up getting together, and he does tell Skeeter that he hopes she finds something that will make her happy. Skeeter responds by telling him that she wants to be "a journalist, or maybe a writer, or both", prompting Chris to reply with, "sounds good to me".

However once Skeeter tells Chris about the book, he calls her selfish and breaks up with her, as he is disgusted by her actions.

Answer: Important

While being humiliated by a stunt of Skeeter's, during which toilets are strewn across her lawn, Hilly calls Elizabeth for help. Aibileen also goes along, and they find passers by taking pictures of the scene, and an enraged Hilly. However Elizabeth herself is soon mortified, after her little girl tries eagerly to make her mother proud by going to the toilet all by herself.

However this results in a severe smacking, before being passed back to Aibileen, who cuddles the child before uttering the above quote.

Answer: True

Skeeter's novel was published and she did give some of her earnings to the ladies who shared their stories with her. In fact during the latter stages of the film there is a lovely scene showing Minnie running up to Abileen, with her money, and the pair of them jump up and down together in amazement.