Elizabeth Gaskell's novel "Wives and Daughters" Quiz

Answer: "Wives and Daughters. An Every-Day Story."

Elizabeth Gaskell (1810-1865) captured the everyday life and the various struggles of social classes of Victorian England. She was a Unitarian minister's wife and had four daughters. Though early on she sometimes used male pseudonyms, most of her works were published under the name "Mrs. Gaskell", keeping with Victorian convention.

Answer: The Cornhill Magazine

The Cornhill Magazine was founded in 1859 by George Murray Smith. Its first editor was William Makepeace Thackery; Fredrick Greenwood was the editor during the publication of "Wives and Daughters". The magazine continued to publish until 1975. All The Year Round was Charles Dickens' weekly journal. Dickens also was the editor of the magazine Household Words in the 1850's and published and edited a number of Gaskell's early works.

Answer: It was unfinished.

Elizabeth Gaskell died suddenly of a heart attack on 12 November 1865. 60 chapters had already been completed, and the main plot had been set out. A series of concluding remarks by the publishing magazine's editor Frederick Greenwell ties togethers some loose ends, referencing remarks Gaskell had made to her friends about how she would depict the denouement, the rest is left to the reader's imagination.

Answer: George du Maurier

After his eyesight faded, cartoonist and illustrator George du Maurier (1834-1896) became a successful author in his own right with "Peter Ibbetsen" and "Trilby". He is the father of Sylvia Llewelyn Davies, whose children and relationship with J.M. Barrie inspired "Peter Pan". He is also the grandfather of author Daphne du Maurier.

Answer: Miss Eyre

Elizabeth Gaskell and "Jane Eyre" author Charlotte Bronte (1816-1855) were good friends. Gaskell's only non-fiction book was "The Life of Charlotte Bronte" published in 1857. It's speculated and plausible the name "Miss Eyre" was a nod to her by-then departed friend, though Gaskell's sudden death prevented confirmation.

Answer: Mr. Coxe

Molly's father, Mr. Gibson, intercepts a love note written by Mr. Coxe to the innocent Molly, at the time not yet 17. Coxe is Mr. Gibson's apprentice in his medical practice. The bemused though steadfast father returns the note to Mr. Coxe along with a prescription he should take himself for "Vericundi, Fidelitatis Domestic, and Reticenti", roughly translated as "self-restraint, family loyalty, and silence", making it clear that as Mr. Gibson's apprentice he is to consider himself part of the Gibson family and to discontinue any pursuit of Molly.

Answer: Sends her for a stay with neighbors

Mr. Gibson takes Mr. Coxe's word that there won't be a renewal of his affections, but as a precaution he sends Molly to Squire Hamley and his ill wife for several weeks. The Hamleys, much respected members of the landed gentry, themselves have two sons, and Mr. Gibson ponders that he might be sending the innocent girl out of the frying pan and into the fire ("From Scylla to Charybdis") but quickly concludes it's for the best. Molly of course may have her own feelings...

Answer: Osborne Hamley

During her stay with the Hamleys, Molly hears many stories about their sons Osborne and Roger, who are away at Trinity College, Cambridge. Roger is described as steady and is uninspiring, though he does befriend Molly (eventually) when he returns home first. Squire Hamley and his wife exalt Osborne as a brilliant student, winner of many prizes, a poet, fashionable: all the qualities that might spark a young woman's fancy.

Answer: Cynthia Kirkpatrick

Roger's engagement with Molly's stepsister Cynthia is a bit one-sided: he tells her before he leaves on his two-year scientific expedition that she does not have to consider herself engaged, but that he will. She eventually calls off the engagement because she does not love him. The other options listed are actresses who have appeared in filmed versions of "Wives and Daughters".

Answer: Roger Hamley

Roger believed he lost any chance at winning Molly's love after his foolish relationship with Cynthia. Though Molly had strong feelings for him she did not want to embarrass herself and risk rejection by revealing them. Her 'coldness' sets him back, but he was resolute.

The concluding remarks from The Cornhill Magazine's editor Frederick Greenwell mention that Gaskell talked about having Roger return from his South Africa trip bearing a cherished promise rose that Molly had given him (to prove she wasn't mad at him during their last face-to-face meeting), as a testament to his devotion.

In a 1999 BBC serial of the novel, scriptwriter Andrew Davies has a different ending where they meet in the rain, though with the same basic outcome.