This GCSE English Literature quiz takes a look at character in Silas Marner by George Eliot.
George Eliot’s novel, Silas Marner, is populated by a handful of key characters and an entire village of minor characters. The main characters are Silas, the weaver, land-owners Godfrey and Dunstan Cass, Nancy Lammeter, Eppie, Dolly and Aaron Winthrop. Other characters appear only briefly, but are highly significant to the plot. These include Eppie’s mother, Molly Farren, Squire Cass, and William Dane, Silas’s best friend before his relocation to Raveloe. Local characters include the doctor, farrier and inn-keeper, among others.
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Silas Marner, bewildered by his unexpected ill-treatment by his non-conformist religious community, uproots himself from town and moves to Raveloe. There his solitary habits prevent the neighbours from becoming close to him until further misfortune and the seemingly-miraculous arrival of Eppie inspire their natural kindness. Unlearning his mistrust of others, Silas moves from his life of solitude to become fully part of village life.
Paying attention to speech and action, in addition to narratorial description, helps the reader to develop an understanding of character. In Silas Marner, the omniscient third-person narrator often tells the reader exactly what to think of a character and these observations tend to align with that character’s speech and action. We are told directly how characters feel, what they think and what they plan to do. In many ways this technique makes many of the characters less knowable and more capable of being representative types. Does Eppie merely represent a type, the innocent and dutiful daughter, in the same way that Squire Cass is a typical gruff local landowner? Is Dolly just a recognisable kindly village gossip? These qualities in the novel lend it the air of a fairy tale, marking it at the same time as a didactic tale which aims above all to teach an important moral lesson.
Answer the questions below to see how well you understand the characters in Silas Marner.
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1.
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"Silas was still looking at his friend. Suddenly a deep flush came over his face, and he was about to speak impetuously, when he seemed checked again by some inward shock, that sent the flush back and made him tremble." What is the reason for Silas's blush here? |
|
[ ] |
He is shy and easily embarrassed |
[ ] |
He dreads speaking in front of a group of people |
[ ] |
He realises suddenly that his friend has lied about him |
[ ] |
He does not wish anyone to know how much he cares for his fiancée |
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|
2.
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"No! he would rather trust to casualties than to his own resolve — rather go on sitting at the feast and sipping the wine he loved, though with the sword hanging over him and terror in his heart, than rush away into the cold darkness where there was no pleasure left." What do these lines reveal of Godfrey's character? |
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[ ] |
He is weak-willed |
[ ] |
He is courageous |
[ ] |
He is a cautious man by nature |
[ ] |
He enjoys the thrill of danger |
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|
3.
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Why does Silas apologise so quickly after accusing Jem Rodney of stealing his gold? |
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[ ] |
He wishes to hide his true feelings |
[ ] |
He is a swift-tempered man |
[ ] |
He is afraid of angering the men in the Rainbow |
[ ] |
He remembers how it felt to be falsely accused and wishes to be just |
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4.
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When Silas warns Eppie that she will make herself "beholden" to Aaron by allowing him to create a garden, she responds by disagreeing, saying that "he likes it". What does this tell us of Eppie's character? |
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[ ] |
She is selfish |
[ ] |
She is used to being beloved |
[ ] |
She enjoys toying with Aaron's feelings |
[ ] |
She is unaware of Aaron's feelings for her |
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5.
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Which of the following best describes Dolly? |
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[ ] |
Reluctant, dutiful, traditional |
[ ] |
Honest, caring, traditional |
[ ] |
Nosy, caring, unthinking |
[ ] |
Superstitious, dour, dutiful |
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6.
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"It was impossible to have lived with her fifteen years and not be aware that an unselfish clinging to the right, and a sincerity clear as the flower-born dew, were her main characteristics." What does this statement tell the reader about Godfrey's view of Nancy? |
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[ ] |
Godfrey believes that her behaviour is both predictable and explicable |
[ ] |
Godfrey believes Nancy to be unjust |
[ ] |
Godfrey believes that Nancy changes her views depending on circumstances |
[ ] |
Godfrey believes she is too harsh |
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7.
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When Eppie refuses the offer to live with Godfrey and Nancy, she explains that she does not wish to be a lady. What does her refusal demonstrate about her character? |
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[ ] |
She is both humble and confident |
[ ] |
She is proud and ungrateful |
[ ] |
She is affectionate but gullible |
[ ] |
She is condescending and severe |
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8.
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Which of the following best describes Dunstan's character? |
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[ ] |
Dishonest |
[ ] |
Haughty |
[ ] |
Selfish |
[ ] |
All of the above |
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9.
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Which of the following does NOT describe Aaron? |
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[ ] |
Reliable |
[ ] |
Passive |
[ ] |
Kind |
[ ] |
Generous |
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10.
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"'O, father,' said Eppie, 'what a pretty home ours is! I think nobody could be happier than we are.'" What does the final line of the novel tell us of Eppie's priorities? |
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[ ] |
Simple domestic relationships give her great joy |
[ ] |
Her early abandonment had no effect on her life |
[ ] |
Eppie has forgotten all about her real father |
[ ] |
Eppie prefers daydreams to reality |
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|
1.
|
"Silas was still looking at his friend. Suddenly a deep flush came over his face, and he was about to speak impetuously, when he seemed checked again by some inward shock, that sent the flush back and made him tremble." What is the reason for Silas's blush here? |
|
[ ] |
He is shy and easily embarrassed |
[ ] |
He dreads speaking in front of a group of people |
[x] |
He realises suddenly that his friend has lied about him |
[ ] |
He does not wish anyone to know how much he cares for his fiancée |
|
|
2.
|
"No! he would rather trust to casualties than to his own resolve — rather go on sitting at the feast and sipping the wine he loved, though with the sword hanging over him and terror in his heart, than rush away into the cold darkness where there was no pleasure left." What do these lines reveal of Godfrey's character? |
|
[x] |
He is weak-willed |
[ ] |
He is courageous |
[ ] |
He is a cautious man by nature |
[ ] |
He enjoys the thrill of danger |
|
|
3.
|
Why does Silas apologise so quickly after accusing Jem Rodney of stealing his gold? |
|
[ ] |
He wishes to hide his true feelings |
[ ] |
He is a swift-tempered man |
[ ] |
He is afraid of angering the men in the Rainbow |
[x] |
He remembers how it felt to be falsely accused and wishes to be just |
|
|
4.
|
When Silas warns Eppie that she will make herself "beholden" to Aaron by allowing him to create a garden, she responds by disagreeing, saying that "he likes it". What does this tell us of Eppie's character? |
|
[ ] |
She is selfish |
[x] |
She is used to being beloved |
[ ] |
She enjoys toying with Aaron's feelings |
[ ] |
She is unaware of Aaron's feelings for her |
|
|
5.
|
Which of the following best describes Dolly? |
|
[ ] |
Reluctant, dutiful, traditional |
[x] |
Honest, caring, traditional |
[ ] |
Nosy, caring, unthinking |
[ ] |
Superstitious, dour, dutiful |
|
|
6.
|
"It was impossible to have lived with her fifteen years and not be aware that an unselfish clinging to the right, and a sincerity clear as the flower-born dew, were her main characteristics." What does this statement tell the reader about Godfrey's view of Nancy? |
|
[x] |
Godfrey believes that her behaviour is both predictable and explicable |
[ ] |
Godfrey believes Nancy to be unjust |
[ ] |
Godfrey believes that Nancy changes her views depending on circumstances |
[ ] |
Godfrey believes she is too harsh |
|
|
7.
|
When Eppie refuses the offer to live with Godfrey and Nancy, she explains that she does not wish to be a lady. What does her refusal demonstrate about her character? |
|
[x] |
She is both humble and confident |
[ ] |
She is proud and ungrateful |
[ ] |
She is affectionate but gullible |
[ ] |
She is condescending and severe |
|
|
8.
|
Which of the following best describes Dunstan's character? |
|
[ ] |
Dishonest |
[ ] |
Haughty |
[ ] |
Selfish |
[x] |
All of the above |
|
|
9.
|
Which of the following does NOT describe Aaron? |
|
[ ] |
Reliable |
[x] |
Passive |
[ ] |
Kind |
[ ] |
Generous |
|
|
10.
|
"'O, father,' said Eppie, 'what a pretty home ours is! I think nobody could be happier than we are.'" What does the final line of the novel tell us of Eppie's priorities? |
|
[x] |
Simple domestic relationships give her great joy |
[ ] |
Her early abandonment had no effect on her life |
[ ] |
Eppie has forgotten all about her real father |
[ ] |
Eppie prefers daydreams to reality |
|
|