Jane Eyre, Chapter XVII quiz

Questions and answers

1. 1

   Question 1. How does Jane learn that Rochester is returning to Thornfield with guests?

   • Grace Poole lets the news slip to Jane
   • Adele overhears the servants talking
   • Rochester sends Jane a personal letter
   • Correct answer: Mrs. Fairfax receives a letter from Rochester

   Mrs. Fairfax receives a letter from Rochester at breakfast announcing his return in three days with a large party of guests.

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2. 2

   Question 2. What is Jane's role during the preparations for the guests' arrival?

   • She continues teaching Adele in the schoolroom as usual
   • She arranges flowers in vases throughout the drawing-room
   • Correct answer: She helps in the storeroom making pastry and garnishing dishes
   • She oversees the kitchen hands hired from the George Inn

   Mrs. Fairfax pressed Jane into service, and she spent all day in the storeroom "helping (or hindering) her and the cook; learning to make custards and cheese-cakes and French pastry, to truss game and garnish desert-dishes."

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3. 3

   Question 3. Who rides at Rochester's side when the party arrives at Thornfield?

   • Correct answer: Blanche Ingram
   • Mrs. Colonel Dent
   • Louisa Eshton
   • Mary Ingram

   Miss Ingram rides at Rochester's side, the only lady equestrian. She wears a purple riding-habit and her raven ringlets stream through her veil.

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4. 4

   Question 4. What metaphor does Jane use to describe the pleasure and pain of watching Rochester?

   • A moth drawn again and again to a candle flame
   • Correct answer: A thirst-perishing man drinking from a poisoned well
   • A bird beating its wings against the bars of a cage
   • A ship lost on a stormy sea without a compass

   Jane describes her feelings as "a pleasure like what the thirst-perishing man might feel who knows the well to which he has crept is poisoned, yet stoops and drinks divine draughts nevertheless."

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5. 5

   Question 5. What does Blanche Ingram call Adele when she first sees her?

   • A love of a child
   • Correct answer: A little puppet
   • A pretty French doll
   • A little angel

   Miss Ingram looks down at Adele with a mocking air and exclaims, "Oh, what a little puppet!"

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6. 6

   Question 6. What distinguishes Grace Poole's wages from those of other servants?

   • Correct answer: She earns more than five times what Leah earns
   • She earns the same but receives free lodging
   • She earns twice what other servants earn
   • She earns three times what other servants earn

   Leah tells the charwoman that her own wages "are not one fifth of the sum Mrs. Poole receives," so Grace earns more than five times Leah's wage; the text says nothing of the other servants.

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7. 7

   Question 7. What narrative technique does Bronte use during the drawing-room scene?

   • She introduces a second narrator
   • She uses stream-of-consciousness prose
   • She switches from first person to third person narration
   • Correct answer: She shifts from past tense to present tense

   Bronte shifts to the present tense ("At last coffee is brought in, and the gentlemen are summoned") during the drawing-room scene, giving it vivid immediacy.

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8. 8

   Question 8. What does Rochester say he will do if Jane refuses to come to the drawing room?

   • He will dismiss her from Thornfield
   • He will reduce her salary
   • Correct answer: He will come and fetch her himself
   • He will send Mrs. Fairfax to bring her

   Rochester tells Mrs. Fairfax: "if she resists, say I shall come and fetch her in case of contumacy."

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9. 9

   Question 9. Which of these events actually happened in this chapter?

   • Jane introduces herself to Blanche Ingram in the drawing room.

     Didn't happen

     Jane never introduces herself to Blanche. She hides behind a window curtain and observes the guests from the shadows. Blanche only notices Jane to dismiss her as a governess.

   • Rochester sings while Blanche Ingram plays the piano.

     Happened

     This does happen. Blanche commands Rochester to sing ("Signior Eduardo, are you in voice to-night?") and plays the piano accompaniment while he sings in a "mellow, powerful bass."

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10. 10

    Question 10. What does the word "contumacy" mean as used in this chapter?

    • Shyness or awkwardness in company
    • Ready obedience to authority
    • Correct answer: Stubborn resistance to authority
    • Insulting language; scornful abuse

    Rochester uses the phrase "in case of contumacy," meaning stubborn refusal to comply with authority. He is humorously warning that if Jane stubbornly refuses his command, he will come fetch her himself.

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11. 11

    Question 11. What does "incubi" mean when Blanche calls governesses "all incubi"?

    • Persons of low birth and humble rank
    • Correct answer: Oppressive burdens or evil presences
    • Prying, meddlesome, and gossiping busybodies
    • Welcome helpers or trusted guardians

    Incubi is the plural of incubus, meaning oppressive burdens or evil presences that weigh upon someone. Blanche uses it to express her contempt for governesses as oppressive nuisances.

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12. 12

    Question 12. What does "physiognomy" refer to when Lady Ingram says she is "a judge of physiognomy"?

    • Correct answer: The art of reading character from facial features
    • Knowledge of family genealogy and social rank
    • The study of the body's natural workings and health
    • The study of proper etiquette and behavior

    Physiognomy is the practice of assessing a person's character or personality from their facial features. Lady Ingram claims this ability to justify her cruel judgment that Jane's face shows "all the faults of her class."

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