Mayor of Casterbridge IV Quiz

Final Quiz IV on Thomas Hardy's The Mayor of Casterbridge (rating: difficult)

Almost 'A' level stuff this, but anyone who has read the book should be able to find the answers. The Mayor is a recommended read, extremely well-written and one of the easiest books to read as it flows so well.

So here's a further chance to pick up 2 points per question.

36. Why are Lucetta and Elizabeth-Jane always to be found at home on Saturdays ?
37. At what time does the weather deteriorate, and what would have happened had Henchard been more patient ?
38. Who is put on trial at the Town Hall, and why ?
39. What chases Elizabeth-Jane and Lucetta, and who saves them ?
40. Why does Henchard go to live with Jopp ?
41. Where does Jopp say he was for several years, and how many of the novel's characters have been there ?


........and for 3 points each,

42. Who finances the 'skimmington ride' and for what reason ?
43. Why does Henchard bind one of his arms ?
44. How does Newson treat Henchard's lie to him, after he is re-united with Elizabeth-Jane, and how does his reaction differ from hers ?
45. Why does Abel Whittle care for the now down-and-out Henchard ?

Good luck ! I've a feeling you'll need it !

[H&J]

37. at noon
39. An old bull and they were saved by Henchard
40. he was made bankrupt
41. He had lived in Jersey he and Lucetta had both been there
42. Newson he said he would like to see the old custom
43. as he was the strongest man and did not want to take advantage of Farfrae as they fought in the corn store loft
44. he treated it as a joke Elizabeth was shocked
45. Henchard was kind to Abel's mother

got to go shopping now so will return later.......

Harry and Jill score heavily once more......
37. I have to be harsh, more needed !
39. correct, 2pts
40. well, to elaborate, all his wordly goods have been re-possessed, and Jopp is the only man whose opinion he despises to the point of indifference. Enough for the 2pts tho' .
41. correct, 2pts
42. 3 points. *Jill for a further 3 points would you like to explain for our readers what exactly is a "skimmington" or "skimmitty" ride ?*
43. correct, 3pts
44. I'd go further to say that Newson saw it as "a joke, well carried out and with no malice intended" whereas Elizabeth-Jane was angry at the deceit and resolved to disown her hitherto-"father" Henchard. Enough for the 3pts though.
45. correct, 3pts

Leaderboard:
[glow=red,2,300]H&J 18pts[/glow]

To get: 36,37,38 and bonus to 42.

[H&J]

36. to see farfrae on his way to market
37. the weather begins to deteriorate in the morning, it started to rain at twelve and an hour later the heavens opened, had henchard waited until 6 oclock the storm would have abated
38. The furmity-seller she was charged with the offence of disorderly female and nuisance
42. a skimmitty ride was an old custom of riddicule, where effigies were made up of straw and dressed to look like someone and riden on the back of a donkey through town, in this case it was of Lucetta and Henchard.

Maximum points, but just a few qualifying comments before closing the quiz.

36. Lucetta's quarters actually overlooked the market square, so they could see everything going on, and gaze at Farfrae in the process.
37. The weather actually deteriorated and ruined the entire crop immediately that Henchard had sold all his corn stock. Had he been more patient and held on to it, it would have been in such short supply that it would have made him a rich man.
38. 'Furmity' for the benefit of our readers is a sort of mixture of porridge with alcohol - a cheap way for anyone to get their 'fix'.
42. Good description of a 'skimmity'. It is ironic that though humiliating him, it later saves Henchard's life, as he pulls back from suicide when he sees his own effigy floating past him at Ten Hatches weir.

Anyway, well done, quiz ended thus:

[glow=red,2,300]H&J 27pts[/glow]