This GCSE English Literature quiz takes a look at understanding the text in Silas Marner by George Eliot. It is not always easy to understand a text. After all, if authors had a simple message to convey, it would not take them hundreds of pages and thousands of words in which to do so! Difficulty can be compounded when you are reading a text written a long time ago, as in the case of Silas Marner. The English language changes quickly and sometimes it takes a bit of practise to get used to how authors wrote in the past.
Authors convey meaning through using a variety of methods. They very rarely state what they mean directly. Instead, character, setting, plot, theme and dialogue offer authors a means to communicate with the reader.
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Pay close attention to each of these elements and try to understand the text as you read. Sometimes you might realise that certain sections will benefit from re-reading, especially if a later turn of events shows that you might have missed something. Don’t worry! This happens to everyone and just proves that you are paying attention!
Comprehension works on several levels simultaneously. Consider how context and setting relate to events. Ponder the way in which events relate to each other. Creating a timeline of events can be one very useful method for understanding a text. Don’t forget that events are not always revealed in the order in which they occur chronologically. Creating chapter summaries can be helpful in order to visualise the structure of the text, especially when that differs from the chronological timeline.
Think about the way in which characters’ motivations are revealed by their actions. Are there any clues in the text to explain their behaviour? Should readers understand their words at face value, or should the subtext of those words be examined more closely? Does the speech of a character always match his or her actions and beliefs? Try to answer why or why not, justifying your views by referring in detail to the text.
One extremely useful activity is to analyse beginnings and endings. Can you think of any reason the text begins as it does? How do you come to find out about the past? Is there any distance between the narrator and the time when reported events took place? Any foreshadowing of future events? How? Analyse individual chapters in the same way, by considering the significance of their beginnings and endings. By undertaking detailed analysis of this sort, you will really improve your comprehension of the text!
Read the questions below on George Eliot's Silas Marner and test your knowledge and understanding of the text.
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1.
|
Why does Silas Marner move to Raveloe? |
|
[ ] |
The congregation of his chapel in town order him to leave and suggest Raveloe as an appropriate place for him to settle |
[ ] |
He has been falsely accused of theft and chooses to settle somewhere very different from the town where he has always lived |
[ ] |
He has been falsely accused of theft and wishes to settles very close to the town where he has always lived |
[ ] |
The congregation of his chapel order him to leave town and Raveloe is the nearest village in which he can settle |
|
|
2.
|
Godfrey is being blackmailed by his brother Dunstan. What does Godfrey hope Dunstan will never reveal to their father? |
|
[ ] |
His regular stealing from his father's tenants |
[ ] |
His gambling habit |
[ ] |
His secret marriage to a poor, opium-addicted woman |
[ ] |
His lack of interest in marrying Nancy |
|
|
3.
|
Which of the following is true of Dunstan? |
|
[ ] |
He has a good understanding of others' impressions of him |
[ ] |
He bullies those whom he sees as weaker or worth less than himself |
[ ] |
He genuinely enjoys his brother's company |
[ ] |
He always intends to repay his debts |
|
|
4.
|
How does the theft of Silas's money affect the attitude of the people of Raveloe towards him? |
|
[ ] |
They become more sympathetic towards him |
[ ] |
They begin to hate him for having hoarded gold |
[ ] |
They begin to believe that he deserved ill fortune |
[ ] |
Their opinions of Silas do not change after the theft |
|
|
5.
|
How does Nancy respond to Godfrey's admission that he is Eppie's father? |
|
[ ] |
With understanding and joy |
[ ] |
With anger and disappointment |
[ ] |
With understanding and regret |
[ ] |
With anger and dismay |
|
|
6.
|
Why is Silas Marner regarded as a "heathen" by many of the people of Raveloe? |
|
[ ] |
He does not attend church |
[ ] |
He does not drink with the other men at the Rainbow |
[ ] |
He is unmarried |
[ ] |
He is not from Raveloe |
|
|
7.
|
Which of the following is NOT true of the investigation which follows the theft of Silas's money? |
|
[ ] |
No one connects Dunstan's disappearance with the theft of Silas's gold |
[ ] |
The pedlar is suspected because he is a stranger and visibly different from the people of Raveloe |
[ ] |
People slowly lose interest in the investigation |
[ ] |
The investigation involves a painstaking search for evidence as well as an unbiased consideration of this evidence |
|
|
8.
|
How many years pass between the ending of Part One and the beginning of Part Two of the book? |
|
[ ] |
Five |
[ ] |
Twelve |
[ ] |
Sixteen |
[ ] |
Twenty |
|
|
9.
|
How does Silas view the first arrival of Eppie at his hearth? |
|
[ ] |
He sees her as a living replacement for his lost treasure |
[ ] |
He sees her as somewhat troublesome, but also as his duty to raise |
[ ] |
He believes that the world owed him the love which Eppie provides |
[ ] |
He believes that he deserved to have a child of his own |
|
|
10.
|
From what does Silas believe he has been saved? |
|
[ ] |
Overwork |
[ ] |
A living death |
[ ] |
Alcoholism |
[ ] |
Returning to Lantern Yard in search of forgiveness |
|
|
1.
|
Why does Silas Marner move to Raveloe? |
|
[ ] |
The congregation of his chapel in town order him to leave and suggest Raveloe as an appropriate place for him to settle |
[x] |
He has been falsely accused of theft and chooses to settle somewhere very different from the town where he has always lived |
[ ] |
He has been falsely accused of theft and wishes to settles very close to the town where he has always lived |
[ ] |
The congregation of his chapel order him to leave town and Raveloe is the nearest village in which he can settle |
|
|
2.
|
Godfrey is being blackmailed by his brother Dunstan. What does Godfrey hope Dunstan will never reveal to their father? |
|
[ ] |
His regular stealing from his father's tenants |
[ ] |
His gambling habit |
[x] |
His secret marriage to a poor, opium-addicted woman |
[ ] |
His lack of interest in marrying Nancy |
|
|
3.
|
Which of the following is true of Dunstan? |
|
[ ] |
He has a good understanding of others' impressions of him |
[x] |
He bullies those whom he sees as weaker or worth less than himself |
[ ] |
He genuinely enjoys his brother's company |
[ ] |
He always intends to repay his debts |
|
|
4.
|
How does the theft of Silas's money affect the attitude of the people of Raveloe towards him? |
|
[x] |
They become more sympathetic towards him |
[ ] |
They begin to hate him for having hoarded gold |
[ ] |
They begin to believe that he deserved ill fortune |
[ ] |
Their opinions of Silas do not change after the theft |
|
|
5.
|
How does Nancy respond to Godfrey's admission that he is Eppie's father? |
|
[ ] |
With understanding and joy |
[ ] |
With anger and disappointment |
[x] |
With understanding and regret |
[ ] |
With anger and dismay |
|
|
6.
|
Why is Silas Marner regarded as a "heathen" by many of the people of Raveloe? |
|
[x] |
He does not attend church |
[ ] |
He does not drink with the other men at the Rainbow |
[ ] |
He is unmarried |
[ ] |
He is not from Raveloe |
|
|
7.
|
Which of the following is NOT true of the investigation which follows the theft of Silas's money? |
|
[ ] |
No one connects Dunstan's disappearance with the theft of Silas's gold |
[ ] |
The pedlar is suspected because he is a stranger and visibly different from the people of Raveloe |
[ ] |
People slowly lose interest in the investigation |
[x] |
The investigation involves a painstaking search for evidence as well as an unbiased consideration of this evidence |
|
|
8.
|
How many years pass between the ending of Part One and the beginning of Part Two of the book? |
|
[ ] |
Five |
[ ] |
Twelve |
[x] |
Sixteen |
[ ] |
Twenty |
|
|
9.
|
How does Silas view the first arrival of Eppie at his hearth? |
|
[x] |
He sees her as a living replacement for his lost treasure |
[ ] |
He sees her as somewhat troublesome, but also as his duty to raise |
[ ] |
He believes that the world owed him the love which Eppie provides |
[ ] |
He believes that he deserved to have a child of his own |
|
|
10.
|
From what does Silas believe he has been saved? |
|
[ ] |
Overwork |
[x] |
A living death |
[ ] |
Alcoholism |
[ ] |
Returning to Lantern Yard in search of forgiveness |
|
|