Charles Dickens - Hard Times Trivia Quiz

Answer: Coketown

The setting of the story is in Coketown; a manufacturing town in the north of England.

Answer: 20

Mr Gradgrind refers to Sissy Jupe as "girl number twenty."
As if this wasn't a bad enough insult, Mr Gradgrind also tells her that her name is horrible and that it should be changed to Cecilia.

Answer: Stone Lodge

The Gradgrind family live in a house called Stone Lodge. This is a house that Mr Gradgrind built.

Answer: Louisa and Tom

Louisa and Tom Gradgrind are the children of Mr and Mrs Gradgrind. Louisa and Tom are very close and look out for each other.

Answer: Member of Parliament

Mr Gradgrind is a wealthy, retired merchant in Coketown, who becomes a Member of Parliament.

Answer: Facts

In the opening paragraph of the novel, Mr Gradgrind says, "Now, what I want is Facts."
Also, throughout the novel, Mr Gradgrind repeats the word 'fact.'

Answer: Mr Bounderby

Mr Bounderby asks Mr Gradgrind if Louisa will marry him. Louisa accepts, although she dislikes Mr Bounderby.

Answer: Bounderby's bank

Bitzer works alongside Mrs Sparsit at Bounderby's bank.

Answer: He is already married

Stephen Blackpool's wife is a drunken slob. The last time she was around she sold all of their possessions so that she could buy alcohol. Stephen Blackpool paid her money to go away, but just as he got close to Rachael, she returned again (drunk as usual).
Stephen Blackpool went to Mr Bounderby to get advice on how he could get a divorce from his wife. Mr Bounderby said that nothing can be done if there's no money.

Answer: Mrs Gradgrind

Mrs Gradgrind dies halfway through the story. She was always suffering from an illness because she was a hypocondriac. Sissy looks after Mrs Gradgrind when she moves in with the Gradgrinds. Her coffin was in the Gradgrind house for several days.

Answer: Mr Harthouse

Mr Harthouse is a sophisticated and manipulative young man who comes to Coketown to follow Mr Gradgrind because he thinks it might get rid of his boredom. Harthouse quickly becomes attracted to Louisa and resolves to seduce her.

Answer: Mr Sleary

Mr Sleary was the lisping proprietor of the circus where Sissy's father was an entertainer.

Answer: A Horse

"Girl number twenty unable to define a horse!" said Mr Gradgrind, "Bitzer, your definition of a horse."
Even though Sissy works with horses everyday, she is unable to tell Mr Gradgrind what a horse actually is.
Bitzer has never seen a horse before and he is able to define a horse.

Answer: Mr Bounderby's mother

Throughout the story, My Bounderby told people that he was abandoned as a child. When Mrs Sparsit and Bitzer captured the woman outside the bank (thinking she was the thief), we find out that she was Bounderby's mother Mrs Pegler.
Mrs Pegler tells us that Mr Bounderby had a decent, loving childhood, a good education, and that he was not abandoned after all.

Answer: He falls down a disused mine shaft

Stephen Blackpool's life came to an end when he was on his way back to town and fell down a disused mine shaft. Not long after Stephen Blackpool was rescued, he died in the arms of Rachael.

Answer: Josiah

Mr Bounderby's first name is Josiah. Mr Bounderby claims to be a self-made man and boasts about being abandoned by his mother as a young boy. From his childhood poverty he has risen to become a banker and factory owner and is known by everyone for his wealth and power.

Answer: Tom Gradgrind

When his gambling gets out of control, Tom tries to get more money from his sister Louisa. When Louisa can't give him anymore money, Tom arranges to meet Stephen Blackpool by the bank, but steals from the bank. The finger is pointed Stephen Blackpool and only Rachael believes that he's innocent.

Answer: Mrs Sparsit

Mrs Sparsit was Mr Bounderby's housekeeper/maid before he married Louisa.
Mrs Sparsit goes to live at the bank apartments when Bounderby marries Louisa.
Mrs Sparsit was once a member of the nobelity, but she fell on hard times after the collapse of her marriage.
Mrs Sparsit is a selfish, manipulative, dishonest woman. She secretly hopes that Bounderby's marriage will be over so that she can marry him herself.

Answer: Circus

Mr Sleary gives Tom a job as clown at the circus while arrangements were being made for him to flee the country.

Answer: The Hands

Stephen Blackpool and the other factory workers were known as 'The Hands.'
Stephen Blackpool claims that the Hands have only death to look forward to.