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Quiz about The Murder at the Vicarage
Quiz about The Murder at the Vicarage

The Murder at the Vicarage Trivia Quiz


Adultery, theft, a mysterious, beautiful woman, and finally murder (in the vicar's study)! Enter Miss Jane Marple, the unlikeliest criminal investigator in the history of crime fiction.

A multiple-choice quiz by jouen58. Estimated time: 5 mins.
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Author
jouen58
Time
5 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
122,261
Updated
Dec 03 21
# Qns
20
Difficulty
Average
Avg Score
13 / 20
Plays
1555
Awards
Top 10% Quiz
Last 3 plays: Guest 31 (5/20), Guest 200 (12/20), Guest 173 (13/20).
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Question 1 of 20
1. Christie states that she got the idea for Miss Marple from the pleasure she took in creating the doctor's sister in this previous novel. Hint


Question 2 of 20
2. The name of Miss Marple first appears in print from the mouth of Griselda, the vicar's wife, preceded by what adjective? Hint


Question 3 of 20
3. From whose point of view is the story told? Hint


Question 4 of 20
4. Miss Marple, in this novel, is frequently seen in the company of three other "old pussies". My favorite is this lady, whose ministries to the village poor are much dreaded. Hint


Question 5 of 20
5. What was notable about the clock in the vicar's study? Hint


Question 6 of 20
6. Colonel Protheroe, the victim, was oblivious to the fact that artist Lawrence Redding was having an affair with his wife, Anne. Who did Protheroe suspect Lawrence of being romantically involved with? Hint


Question 7 of 20
7. Why did Miss Marple insist that Anne Protheroe didn't have a gun on her when she entered the vicarage? Hint


Question 8 of 20
8. What other significant thing did Miss Marple notice about Anne on that day, though she didn't realize until later how extraordinary it was? Hint


Question 9 of 20
9. One of the most amusing characters in this novel is the secretary to Dr. Stone, the prominent (alleged) archaeologist. What is her name? Hint


Question 10 of 20
10. "Dr. Stone" turns out not to be an archaeologist at all but a "cracksman" who has assumed the identity of the real Dr. Stone. How does the vicar accidentally find this out? Hint


Question 11 of 20
11. What was in the suitcase which Miss Marple saw Miss Cram take into the woods, but came back without? Hint


Question 12 of 20
12. Who heard the fatal shot? Hint


Question 13 of 20
13. What was used to simulate the shot heard "in the woods"? Hint


Question 14 of 20
14. What made Miss Marple suspicious of Lawrence Redding when he brought her a stone for her rock garden? Hint


Question 15 of 20
15. What was the subject of the letter that Colonel Protheroe was actually writing when he was killed? Hint


Question 16 of 20
16. Who placed the insulting call to Mrs. Price-Ridley? Hint


Question 17 of 20
17. Dr. Haydock is seen to be quite unhappy throughout much of the novel. What is the likeliest reason? Hint


Question 18 of 20
18. Who does Mrs. Lestrange turn out to be? Hint


Question 19 of 20
19. Why did Lettice destroy the portrait in the attic of the Old Hall? Hint


Question 20 of 20
20. What does Miss Marple describe as "my hobby"? Hint



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Most Recent Scores
Mar 22 2024 : Guest 31: 5/20
Mar 20 2024 : Guest 200: 12/20
Mar 17 2024 : Guest 173: 13/20
Mar 08 2024 : Guest 51: 16/20
Mar 03 2024 : TheQueenly1: 13/20
Feb 29 2024 : Guest 193: 9/20
Feb 27 2024 : Guest 176: 10/20
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Score Distribution

quiz
Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. Christie states that she got the idea for Miss Marple from the pleasure she took in creating the doctor's sister in this previous novel.

Answer: The Murder of Roger Ackroyd

In her biography, Christie states that Miss Marple's creation probably originated from the pleasure she got in creating the character of Caroline Sheppard in "The Murder of Roger Ackroyd". "She had been my favorite character in the book- an acidulated spinster, full of curiosity, knowing everything, hearing everything, the complete detective service in the home."
2. The name of Miss Marple first appears in print from the mouth of Griselda, the vicar's wife, preceded by what adjective?

Answer: terrible

Griselda tells the vicar that "that terrible Miss Marple" is coming to tea, along with three other "old pussies" (in this first appearance, Miss Marple is rather less lovable than Christie would later make her). Griselda resents the way Miss Marple always thinks the worst of people and later refers to her as a "nasty old cat".

However the vicar, being older and less idealistic about human nature, rather likes Miss Marple.
3. From whose point of view is the story told?

Answer: The vicar's

Len Clement, the vicar of St. Mary Mead, narrates the book and plays much the same role with Miss Marple as Hastings does with Poirot, only the vicar is much more intelligent and humorous. Indeed, the vicar's often wry observations are one of the best things about the book.
4. Miss Marple, in this novel, is frequently seen in the company of three other "old pussies". My favorite is this lady, whose ministries to the village poor are much dreaded.

Answer: Miss Hartnell

Anyone who has belonged to a small-town church of any denomination knows this type all too well.
5. What was notable about the clock in the vicar's study?

Answer: It was fifteen minutes fast.

The clock was deliberately kept fifteen minutes ahead in order to keep the vicar punctual in his appointments. The vicar tried several times to apprise Inspector Slack of this fact without success. Slack would later be much put out that the vicar had "kept" this information from him.
6. Colonel Protheroe, the victim, was oblivious to the fact that artist Lawrence Redding was having an affair with his wife, Anne. Who did Protheroe suspect Lawrence of being romantically involved with?

Answer: Lettice Protheroe, his daughter.

Protheroe was incensed that Redding was painting Lettice in her bathing suit! (Hey, this was 1930!). Miss Marple, however, had spotted the truth and hinted as much to the vicar, who later found Anne Protheroe and Lawrence in each other's arms.
7. Why did Miss Marple insist that Anne Protheroe didn't have a gun on her when she entered the vicarage?

Answer: She was wearing a clinging dress- no place to hide it.

When questioned by the inspector, Miss Marple insisted that when Anne stopped to speak with her on the way to the vicarage "She hadn't so much as a handkercheif in the top of her stocking."
8. What other significant thing did Miss Marple notice about Anne on that day, though she didn't realize until later how extraordinary it was?

Answer: She had no handbag.

It was part of the plan that Anne should stop and speak with Miss Marple long enough for that observant lady to notice that Anne could not have been concealing a gun; a handbag would have defeated the purpose. But in retrospect, Miss Marple realized that it was quite extraordinary for her not to have had one.
9. One of the most amusing characters in this novel is the secretary to Dr. Stone, the prominent (alleged) archaeologist. What is her name?

Answer: Miss Cram

Miss Cram takes a sudden interest in parish work, interestingly, just after a scandalous murder has taken place in the vicarage. Her (older) employer is clearly rather silly over her.
10. "Dr. Stone" turns out not to be an archaeologist at all but a "cracksman" who has assumed the identity of the real Dr. Stone. How does the vicar accidentally find this out?

Answer: Miss Marple's nephew (Raymond West) tells him.

The vicar is seeing "Dr. Stone" to the train when they both nearly collide with Raymond West, whom the vicar recognizes but Dr. Stone does not. In conversation later at Miss Marple's home, the vicar mentions Dr. Stone and is surprised when Raymond says that he knows Stone and that the man at the station bore no resemblance to him.
11. What was in the suitcase which Miss Marple saw Miss Cram take into the woods, but came back without?

Answer: Colonel Protheroe's silver.

The vicar retrieves from the woods the suitcase after Miss Marple tells him this story; under some clothing they find some Charles II silver pieces which had belonged to Colonel Protheroe and had been burgled from his home.
12. Who heard the fatal shot?

Answer: Clara (Mrs. Price Ridley's maid)

Mrs. Price-Ridley told Clement that her maid had heard a "sneeze" as she was standing by the gate in front of the Clement's house on the day of the murder. "What you need to look for" Mrs. Price Ridley insists "is a man with a head cold." The "sneeze", however, was actually the gun being fired with a Maxim silencer.
13. What was used to simulate the shot heard "in the woods"?

Answer: An explosive

Lawrence Redding had rigged a stone in the woods to fall on some picric acid, causing a small, but loud explosion at about the time the murder was committed.
14. What made Miss Marple suspicious of Lawrence Redding when he brought her a stone for her rock garden?

Answer: It was the wrong kind of stone.

Lawrence tried to remove the stone he had used to rig the explosion when he was surprised by the vicar. He gave the excuse that he was bringing it to Miss Marple for one of her Japanese rock gardens. Miss Marple, however, was not deceived; it was entirely the wrong kind of stone, a fact that Lawrence, being an artist, should have known.
15. What was the subject of the letter that Colonel Protheroe was actually writing when he was killed?

Answer: That Hawes was the person responsible for the missing funds.

Lawrence Redding discovered the letter incriminating Hawes when he went to the study after the murder and realized it could be useful later on. He tried to poison Hawes by doctoring his "headache powders" and planted the incriminating letter in Hawes' room so that it would seem that Hawes had comitted suicide out of guilt over the murder of Protheroe.
16. Who placed the insulting call to Mrs. Price-Ridley?

Answer: Dennis and Griselda

The call was placed as a joke, in retaliation for the stories that Mrs. Price Ridley had been spreading about the vicar being responsible for the missing funds. Coincidentally, it was placed at the same time as the fake "shot" heard in the woods.
17. Dr. Haydock is seen to be quite unhappy throughout much of the novel. What is the likeliest reason?

Answer: He knows Mrs. Lestrange is dying.

Haydock is treating Mrs. Lestrange, whom he is clearly quite taken with. As her doctor, he knows that, unfortunately, she has not long to live.
18. Who does Mrs. Lestrange turn out to be?

Answer: Colonel Protheroe's ex-wife and Lettice's mother.

When Lettice casually reveals this toward the end of the novel I, for one, kicked myself; it made such perfect sense and yet I had never suspected it.
19. Why did Lettice destroy the portrait in the attic of the Old Hall?

Answer: It was a painting of her mother (Mrs. Lestrange).

The painting was of Lettice's mother in younger days. She destroyed it because if the police found it, they would guess who "Mrs. Lestrange" was and suspect her of murdering her ex-husband.
20. What does Miss Marple describe as "my hobby"?

Answer: Human nature

Miss Marple is constantly prefacing one of her observations with the phrase "Human nature being what it is". She admits to the vicar that "observing human nature" is her principal hobby, though others might describe it less kindly as snooping. However, her hobby helps solve a murder, not (thankfully) for the last time.
Source: Author jouen58

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