FREE! Click here to Join FunTrivia. Thousands of games, quizzes, and lots more!
Quiz about B is for Bronte
Quiz about B is for Bronte

B is for Bronte Trivia Quiz


The Bronte sisters - Charlotte, Emily and Anne - were amazing authors whose lives were tragically short. This quiz is about their family life, other family members, home, school, jobs etc. but all answers, like the Bronte name, begin with the letter B.

A multiple-choice quiz by Wordpie. Estimated time: 4 mins.
  1. Home
  2. »
  3. Quizzes
  4. »
  5. People Trivia
  6. »
  7. People A-B
  8. »
  9. Bronte Sisters

Author
Wordpie
Time
4 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
242,155
Updated
Dec 03 21
# Qns
10
Difficulty
Average
Avg Score
7 / 10
Plays
1234
Awards
Top 35% Quiz
Last 3 plays: gracious1 (4/10), Guest 209 (5/10), Guest 92 (9/10).
- -
Question 1 of 10
1. Their father, Patrick, changed his surname to Bronte while he was at Cambridge University. What was his surname before this? Hint


Question 2 of 10
2. Maria Bronte, their mother, chose her maiden name as the middle name for the only son in the family. What was this name? Hint


Question 3 of 10
3. Many of the early elements of Charlotte's novel, Jane Eyre, are semi-autobiographical. Which book of illustrations, an early favourite of Jane's, did Charlotte and her siblings copy from as part of their painting practice? Hint


Question 4 of 10
4. Lowood School in Jane Eyre is based on Cowan Bridge: the school for the daughters of clergymen which Charlotte and her sisters attended. Which character in the book parodies the real life founder of this school, Rev. Carus Wilson? Hint


Question 5 of 10
5. In which Yorkshire city, only eight miles from the Brontes' home in Haworth, did Branwell briefly establish himself as a portrait painter? Hint


Question 6 of 10
6. As children, the Bronte siblings prepared tiny magazines and books with microscopic handwriting. These were initially modelled on and inspired by which popular magazine of the day? Hint


Question 7 of 10
7. Which romantic poet, whose lifestyle was in sharp contrast to the quiet Brontes, inspired both Emily and Charlotte in their writing? Hint


Question 8 of 10
8. Which European city did Emily and Charlotte travel to in order to attend the Pensionnat Heger school with a view to later opening their own school in Haworth? Hint


Question 9 of 10
9. Which surname did the sisters adopt as a pseudonym to cover their true identities when publishing their poetry and novels? Hint


Question 10 of 10
10. What is the name of the public house in Haworth where Branwell spent many of the last evenings of his life getting drunk? Hint



(Optional) Create a Free FunTrivia ID to save the points you are about to earn:

arrow Select a User ID:
arrow Choose a Password:
arrow Your Email:




Most Recent Scores
Mar 26 2024 : gracious1: 4/10
Mar 26 2024 : Guest 209: 5/10
Mar 25 2024 : Guest 92: 9/10
Mar 17 2024 : Guest 90: 10/10
Mar 13 2024 : Guest 110: 10/10
Mar 07 2024 : Guest 82: 9/10
Mar 06 2024 : DizWiz: 2/10
Mar 01 2024 : Guest 86: 6/10
Feb 10 2024 : Guest 81: 10/10

Score Distribution

quiz
Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. Their father, Patrick, changed his surname to Bronte while he was at Cambridge University. What was his surname before this?

Answer: Brunty

Despite his strong Northern Irish accent, Patrick was trying to distance himself from his home country and appear more impressive. It may not seem much of a difference now but clearly he felt changing his name was one way to achieve this. Lord Nelson had recently been granted the title 'Duke of Bronte' by the King of Naples so it did provide an instant pedigree. Accounts differ on the spelling of his name and some list Prunty as the original.

At Cambridge, and throughout his life, this surname would have many spellings and a variety of accents and marks over the 'e' but the sisters adopted the classic Bronte spelling, with a diaeresis (..) above the e.
2. Maria Bronte, their mother, chose her maiden name as the middle name for the only son in the family. What was this name?

Answer: Branwell

Although his first name was Patrick he was always known as Branwell or 'Brany'. As the only boy in a clergyman's family a lot of pressure fell on Branwell to achieve great things. Unfortunately, despite some artistic ability, success eluded him. His drinking, drug addiction and debts horrified his sisters and father and no doubt contributed to his death in 1848 at the age of 30.
3. Many of the early elements of Charlotte's novel, Jane Eyre, are semi-autobiographical. Which book of illustrations, an early favourite of Jane's, did Charlotte and her siblings copy from as part of their painting practice?

Answer: Bewick's History of British Birds

It is this book that comforts the young Jane in the first chapter of Jane Eyre. It is later snatched from and thrown at her by her spiteful cousin John Reed. There are a number of examples of the Brontes' faithful copies from this book at the Bronte Parsonage Museum in Haworth.
4. Lowood School in Jane Eyre is based on Cowan Bridge: the school for the daughters of clergymen which Charlotte and her sisters attended. Which character in the book parodies the real life founder of this school, Rev. Carus Wilson?

Answer: Mr Brocklehurst

As in the book, the real life founder wrote a series of terrifying stories known as the Children's Friend. These describe unfortunate children being set on fire, having their limbs amputated and dying. The aim was to 'educate' children in the importance of living a pure life on earth.

Even more sadly, the eldest Bronte sisters, Maria and Elizabeth became dangerously ill at Cowan Bridge and succumbed to tuberculosis despite being sent home. They were only ten and eleven years old when they died and the early loss brought the four remaining siblings - Charlotte, Branwell, Emily and Anne - even closer.
5. In which Yorkshire city, only eight miles from the Brontes' home in Haworth, did Branwell briefly establish himself as a portrait painter?

Answer: Bradford

An easy one if you know British cities - the other three options are real but in different counties: Bideford, Devon; Blandford, Dorset and Bedford, Bedfordshire.

Branwell apparently had real talent and had earlier gone to London armed with letters of introduction to the Royal Academy - no mean feat. It's unclear why but he couldn't bring himself to enter the building when he got to London and came home again, having squandered the money he'd been given and the hopes that went with him.

He seems to have been a competent enough portrait painter while in Bradford but a new invention - photography - was in its earliest form and he just couldn't compete.
6. As children, the Bronte siblings prepared tiny magazines and books with microscopic handwriting. These were initially modelled on and inspired by which popular magazine of the day?

Answer: Blackwood's Magazine

As in the real life magazine the children included stories, book reviews and even correspondence sections to which their imaginary characters contributed. It is difficult to envisage what amazing works these are until you view those that have been preserved in the Bronte Parsonage Museum in Haworth.

They are only about 2 inches high by 1 inch wide and the writing inside is tiny but perfectly legible if you have good enough eyesight or a magnifying glass!
7. Which romantic poet, whose lifestyle was in sharp contrast to the quiet Brontes, inspired both Emily and Charlotte in their writing?

Answer: Byron

Although their father was a clergyman, the Brontes read widely even as children and this included the works of Byron. The racy poet was a particular inspiration in their childhood writings and creation of their fantasy kingdoms of Angria and Gondal. Their later creations of Heathcliff and Mr Rochester also owe more than a little to Byron's moody influence. One of the letters from Charlotte to her lifelong friend Ellen Nussey recommends Byron's works, although she did say she should probably skip Don Juan.
8. Which European city did Emily and Charlotte travel to in order to attend the Pensionnat Heger school with a view to later opening their own school in Haworth?

Answer: Brussels

Charlotte would also teach there for just over a year, becoming infatuated with Monsieur Heger, the director. Her experiences were probably very similar to those she would later describe in her novels The Professor and Villette.

The sisters got as far as printing a prospectus for their school for young ladies, which would have been based at the parsonage in Haworth, but didn't receive a single application.
9. Which surname did the sisters adopt as a pseudonym to cover their true identities when publishing their poetry and novels?

Answer: Bell

Charlotte was Currer Bell, Emily took Ellis Bell and Anne became Acton Bell. The surname was inspired by the middle name of the curate who would later become Charlotte's husband: Arthur Bell Nicholls.
10. What is the name of the public house in Haworth where Branwell spent many of the last evenings of his life getting drunk?

Answer: The Black Bull

The Black Bull still stands in Haworth today, at the top of the hill on the main street. The church is beside it and the parsonage only a short walk up the hill.
Source: Author Wordpie

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor gtho4 before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.
3/28/2024, Copyright 2024 FunTrivia, Inc. - Report an Error / Contact Us