The Spectre Bridegroom Trivia Quiz

Answer: Upper Germany

The Odenwald is a mountain range located between the Upper Rhine Plain in the west and the Bauland in the east. Its north-south boundaries lay between the Hanau-Seligenstadt Basin in the north and the Kraichgau in the south Located in the states of Hesse, Bavaria, and Baden-Württemberg, the Odenwald's highest peak at 2,054 feet (626 meters) is the extinct volcano Katzenbuckel.

Irving's later mention of a noble from Bavaria and Wurtzburg may further give us an idea just where the story takes place. Wurtzburg may be another spelling for Würzburg, a city in northern Bavaria. Given the closeness of the baron's castle to Wurtzburg it may place "The Spectre Bridegroom" as happening in that part of the Odenwald along the Main River (as Würzburg is one of the largest cities on the Main).

Irving's use of the Odenwald as a setting for his story seems rather appropriate as there are many stories of sites within the Odenwald that are reputed to be haunted or in some way connected with the supernatural. Nor was he to be the only American author at that time who may have been inspired by that part of Germany. In southern Hesse atop one of the peaks of the Odenwald overlooking the city of Darmstadt is a castle which is reputed to have been one of the inspirations for a novel released the year before Irving published the first stories in "The Sketchbook of Geoffrey Crayon, Gent." (Among the stories from the book which were first published in 1819 was "The Spectre Bridegroom"). The name of the castle is none other than Burg Frankenstein (Frankenstein Castle). It is reputed that the castle, and particularly one of its 17th century inhabitants, was among the inspirations for Mary Shelley's 1818 novel "Frankenstein; or, the Modern Prometheus".

Answer: Nægling

Nægling is one of the swords associated with Beowulf in the epic poem "Beowulf". The sword broke in two when Beowulf fought against the dragon in the battle that resulted in his death.

In the first sentence of the second paragraph of "The Spectre Bridegroom" Irving tells us that Baron Von Landshort "inherited the relics of the property and all the pride, of his ancestors." In the same paragraph he goes on to say that the baron cherishes old family feuds that go back several generations. In fact, this caring for old family feuds has put him on ill terms with some of his nearest neighbors.

Answer: Count Von Altenburg

Count Von Altenburg is the son of a nobleman from Bavaria. The marriage between Baron Von Landshort's daughter and the young Count Von Altenburg has been arranged by the two fathers to unite their houses. Unsurprisingly for such arranged marriages, the bride and bridegroom had never laid eyes on each other.

Washington Irving wrote under a number of pennames, his two most famous being Diedrich Knickerbocker and Geoffrey Crayon. Among the wrong answers was another of Irving's pennames: Launcelot Langstaff, one of the pennames he used in the satirical magazine "Salmagundi" which he published with his brother William and James Kirke Paulding. The magazine's full title was "Salmagundi; or The Whim-whams and Opinions of Launcelot Langstaff, Esq. & Others" and only ran from 1807 to 1808 (the modern Salmagundi was founded in 1965).

Those familiar with history probably eliminated one of the wrong names out of hand, that of the last German president before Hitler took control of Germany and World War I, Field Marshal Paul Ludwig Hans Anton von Beneckendorff und von Hindenburg. Better known as Paul von Hindenburg.

Answer: Herman Von Starkenfaust

Although she's betrothed to Count Von Altenburg, the daughter of Baron Von Landshort ultimately marries Herman Von Strarkenfaust. In fact she can't marry Count Von Altenburg, as he's killed before they have a chance to meet.

All four answers are Irving characters, but only Count Von Altenburg and Herman Von Starkenfaust appear in "The Spectre Bridegroom". The two remaining appear in Irving's two most famous short stories, both of which appear in "The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon, Gent." alongside "The Spectre Bridegroom". Derrick Van Bummel is the schoolteacher turned militia general and Congressman in "Rip Van Winkle". And Hans Van Ripper was the farmer and owner of Gunpowder, the horse Ichabod Crane borrows to make an appearance on at Van Tassel's party in "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow". He's also the farmer whose family Ichabod was staying with at the time of the Van Tassel party.

Answer: The Army

The young Count Von Altenburg was returning from the army for his wedding. As this was an arranged marriage, it is possible he'd been in the army at the time his father and Baron Von Landshort arranged the marriage between him and the baron's daughter. Irving doesn't make it clear when the two young people were betrothed, only that they had never laid eyes on each other.

The night before the marriage was to take place would have been the first time they'd ever seen each other.

Answer: False

The young Count Von Altenburg and Von Starkenfaust, who were friends and had served in the army together, had met in Wurtzburg the day before the Count was supposed to arrive at Baron Von Landshort's castle. The had foolishly set out the following morning ahead of the count's retinue, with the count instructing the others to follow after they set out and eventually overtake them. This despite the fact that the area they would be travelling through was besieged with bandits and highwaymen.

It was after the friends entered the wooded paths of the Odenwald that they were attacked by a band of thieves. Despite putting up a good fight, the thieves were only eventually scared off when the young count's retinue finally caught up to them. But by then Count Von Altenburg had been mortally wounded by the bandits. He sent his friend ahead to Baron Von Landshort's castle to tell them what had befallen him.

Answer: Katzenellenbogen

In the footnote Irving tells us this translates as "Cat's Elbow" and had been awarded to a dame of the family as a compliment for her "fine arm".

Katzenellenbogen is a real surname. Originating in the Rhineland, it comes from the Holy Roman immediate state of County of Katzenelnbogen as well as Castle Katzenelnbogen (note the spelling difference between the surname and the county and castle). Immediate states were imperial estates of the Holy Roman Empire which were free of a local lord's authority and under the direct authority of the Holy Roman Empire. The County of Katzenelnbogen existed from 1095 to 1479. Among members of the Katzenellenbogens were William III, Prince of Orange and King of England, Scotland, and Ireland.

The three other choices I made up (at least I think I made them up as surnames) using Google translate, altering them into a single word each. Hässlicherhund was actually Hässlicher hund and is supposed to translate as "ugly dog". Weisealteeule was actually Weise alte Eule and is supposed to translate as "wise old owl". Finally, Sturwieeinesel was actually Stur wie ein Esel which is supposed to translate as "stubborn as a mule".

Answer: True

Herman Von Starkenfaust's family was one of those neighboring the Katzenellenbogen lands with whom the baron feuded. In fact when we are first introduced to the young Von Starkenfaust we're told that because the families are on such hostile terms with each other they have never actually met and are strangers to each other. Because of this, Von Starkenfaust had never laid eyes on the baron's daughter prior to his arrival at his castle to relay the news of Count Von Altenburg's death. And the feud between the two families has young Von Starkenfaust perplexed as to what will happen to him when he delivers the bad news.

Answer: Midnight

Herman Von Starkenfaust, when he's leaving Baron Von Landshort's castle, tells the baron that the count had been killed by robbers and is to be buried at midnight at the Wurtzburg Cathedral. At this time everyone at the castle believes him to be Count Von Altenburg, leading to the belief that they have been dining with a ghost.

Answer: A prodigy

"...but Nature, when she grants but one child, always compensates by making it a prodigy;"

Irving first tells us that Baron von Landshort's daughter was beautiful, not exactly something one might consider would make an individual a prodigy. But he then goes on to explain that his daughter was raised by two maiden aunts who had spent some years in a German court (nobility, not law) and were well versed in that knowledge required to educate a refined lady. He explains that under their tutelage "she became a miracle of accomplishments". She was extremely talented making tapestries, was well versed in reading, had excellent penmanship, had a knack for craftsmanship, knew most of the dances of the time, as well as being able to play harp and guitar, among other accomplishments.

Answer: False

In fact it's quite the opposite. The baron's daughter had been attracted to the man she believed was her fiancé after meeting him. After learning that Count Von Altenburg was dead, she filled the castle with lamentations for a couple of days.

Her period of mourning would be short lived, however, as two nights after he had been mistaken for his friend, Herman Von Starkenfaust would begin a week of courting the baron's daughter. Because of the hostility he would have faced from the baron and his family had they known who he really was, he had to court her at night.

Answer: Worms

When Herman Von Starkenfaust arrives at Baron Von Landshort's castle to relay the news that Count Von Altenburg has just recently died, he's not given a chance. The baron and his guests treat him continuously as his fallen friend. We're told that after his first attempt to deliver the sad news he tries once or twice more to do so; both times his words fall on deaf ears. He is about to try one last time when he finally sees the baron's daughter and becomes instantly smitten, and her with him. He allows the feast to continue while trying to figure a way to exit without being killed by those his family is feuding with.

Finally, after some time the words of the baron give him a way to escape. He tells the baron that he must lay his head in another chamber that evening. When further pushed he finally tells the baron "No! no! my engagement is with no bride-the worms! the worms expect me! I am a dead man-I have been slain by robbers-my body lies at Wurtzburg-at midnight I am to be buried-the grave is waiting for me-I must keep my appointment!"

Still thinking that Von Starkenfaust was really Count Von Altenburg, this declaration had most of the assembled company believe that they had dined with a ghost. Or he had been the wild huntsman. Or perhaps some other supernatural figure. From that point until the truth is revealed, the baron and those around him believe Von Starkenfaust to be the titular Spectre Bridegroom.

For those who are familiar with specters but less familiar with spectre, this is not a misspelling on either mine or Irving's part. Irving used the British spelling of the term for his story. I've chosen to use the same spelling for this quiz.

Answer: True

Mortally wounded fighting off the robbers, Count Von Altenburg made Herman Von Starkenfaust promise to travel on to Baron Von Landshort's castle and tell them what had befallen him. Although his family was mortal enemies with the baron's family, Von Starkenfaust was an honorable man and a good friend who made the promise knowing what could befall him to carry it out.

The count then falls into delirium from his wound shortly after receiving his friend's word. He begins raving about his bride to be and about keeping his word. It is at this point that he calls for his horse that he himself may ride on to the baron's castle. It is quite likely, given the wording that it was a fancied act, that his horse was never brought. But he clearly believed his horse was there as he died right in the midst of jumping up into the saddle.

Answer: Black

Herman Von Starkenfaust is confirmed to ride a black charger. The first mention of this is when he is leaving Baron Von Landshort's castle. Irving tells us that the "black charger stood pawing the earth and snorting with impatience." And just a few short paragraphs later he tells us that the young Von Starkenfaust "sprang on his black charger, dashed over the drawbridge, and the clattering of his horse's hoofs was lost in the whistling of the night blast."

This wouldn't be the last time a mention of Von Starkenfaust riding a black horse. After it's discovered that the baron's daughter is missing, two of the baron's servants admit to having heard horse's hooves the night before the discovery. Both believe that she was carried away on the back of the black charger, carried off to Count Von Altenburg's tomb.

Irving appears to use black horses to represent the supernatural whether or not the riders are considered such themselves. We see this happen again in "The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon, Gent." in the more famous story "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow". The Headless Horseman, when it finally appears, is described as "a horseman of large dimensions, and mounted on a black horse of powerful frame." While it is hinted that Brom Bones pretended to be the Headless Horseman to frighten off Ichabod Crane, Irving also leaves it to the reader to decide if the Headless Horseman was a ghost. If it was Brom Bones, then we can surmise that the black steed was most likely Daredevil, Brom's favorite horse who he rode to Van Tassel's party that night. And black horses associated with the supernatural in Irving's works don't end with "The Sketch Book" either. "Tales of a Traveller" features the short story "The Devil and Tom Walker." At the end of Tom Walker's life, when he yells at someone that the devil should take them if he had ever made a farthing out of them, the devil appears with a black horse. It is upon this horse that he carries Tom Walker off.

Answer: A maiden from a story

Irving never names the baron's daughter or her aunts. The only female named in the story never even appeared beyond a mention. Baron Von Landshort told the tale of the fair Leonora at the feast for the man who he believed to be his soon to be son-in-law Count Von Altenburg. In reality the young man he thought was Count Von Altenburg was really Herman Von Starkenfaust who does become his son-in-law.

In the story Leonora is carried off by a goblin horseman. Up to the telling of the story, Von Starkenfaust had been having difficulty figuring out how he could leave the castle without having to reveal who he really was, given that those at the feast would be hostile towards him as his family was in a feud with theirs. The story gave him the means to make his departure... allowing all to believe he was his friend's ghost.

Irving seems to use the term goblin interchangeably with ghost while in some stories simultaneously demonstrating that goblins and ghosts are not always the same entities. Looking at "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" (The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon, Gent."), "The Adventure of Sam, the Black Fisherman Commonly Denominated Mud Sam" ("Tales of a Traveller"), and "Dolph Heyliger" ("Bracebridge Hall, or The Humorist, a Meledy"), we see mention of ghosts and goblins being two different creatures. And yet we see Irving refer to the Headless Horseman as both a ghost and a goblin. As Von Starkenfaust is believed to be a goblin and is also referred to as the titular Spectre Bridegroom, it is likely that Irving is using goblin and ghost interchangeably here as well.

Answer: To see the baron's daughter

Baron Von Landshort's daughter was famed far and wide for her beauty. Before his death Count Von Altenburg had regaled Herman Von Starkenfaust with tales of his bride's beauty. Despite the fact that the count himself had never seen the baron's daughter.

It is likely that Von Starkenfaust had heard of her beauty even without his friend telling him about it because Irving describes her as a far-famed beauty. And Von Starkenfaust is described as an admirer of women.

Answer: True

When Herman Von Starkenfaust, still believed to be Count Von Altenburg, is leaving Baron Von Landshort's castle, the baron tries to stop him. Von Starkenfaust tells him that he must lay his head in another chamber. When pushed, he says that he has business at Wurtzburg cathedral that only Count Von Altenburg can attend to. Baron Von Landshort tells him that he and his daughter are to be married at the cathedral the following day. It is at this point that Von Starkenfaust reveals that Count Von Altenburg is dead and is to be buried at the cathedral at midnight.

Wurtzburg cathedral is probably supposed to be Würzburg Cathedral, a medieval cathedral which began construction in 1040 under Bishop Bruno of Würzburgis. Following his death five years after construction was begun, the cathedral was completed under his successor it 1075, Though the structure largely survived the 1945 firebombing of the city, damage sustained caused much of the structure to collapse in 1946. This led to the most reconstruction of the cathedral which was completed in 1967. However, because of this the cathedral is not as it would have been in Irving's time.

Answer: aunts

Irving tells us that two nights after the fateful feast the baron's daughter retired to her chambers accompanied by one of her aunts. This particular aunt is said to be one of the best tellers of ghost stories and had been telling a particularly long one which she falls asleep in the middle of. The baron's daughter, laying in her bed, happened to be looking out the window at a small garden when at the stroke of midnight she heard music coming from the garden. Stepping to the window she beheld Herman Von Starkenfaust, who was beginning what would become a week's courtship of the young maiden.

Unfortunately, the aunt was awoken, and her screams of terror frightened of Von Starkenfaust. At this point Von Starkenfaust was still believed to be the ghost of Count Von Altenburg, though the two women reacted very differently to the idea. The aunt refused to sleep in her niece's chambers ever again for fear of the Spectre Bridegroom. The Baron's daughter, for the first time in her life, declared that she would go against the wishes of either of her aunts who had schooled and raised her by choosing to sleep in no other room. If she could not have her bridegroom, then she could at least find solace in the visits of his ghost. But she did extract a promise from the aunt not to reveal the presence of the believed spirit least she have that taken from her as well.

Irving notes it was a miracle the aunt kept the secret for a whole week. He writes that she loved to tell stories of those things considered marvelous and that it is a source of great pride to tell a particularly delightful ghost story. And long after the events of the story are supposed to have taken place, it is still told of the miracle that the aunt kept the secret for as long as a week. How much longer she may have kept the secret is unclear, however, as the events transpired to reveal the story of the visits of Von Starkenfaust, aka the Spectre Bridegroom, after only a week.

Answer: False

"The goblin! the goblin! she's carried away by the goblin!"

Again there are times when Irving seems to use goblin and ghost interchangeably and times when he establishes them as two different entities. Ever since Herman Von Starkenfaust introduced the idea that he was his friend's ghost, Irving referred to him either as a spectre or as a goblin. This may stem from English, Scottish, and Irish folklore in which goblin became a blanket term for all evil spirits.

Answer: We don't know

We don't know. After learning his daughter was missing, the baron dispatched men to search the Odenwald to find her. He himself was preparing to leave the castle when his daughter and Herman Von Starkenfaust arrived there recently wed. It is at this time that the young Von Starkenfaust is finally able to relay the full tale of how his friend had died and he himself had come to masquerade as Count Von Altenburg's ghost both to escape the castle and then to court the baron's daughter in secret.

Given that Wurtzburg cathedral is mentioned both as where Count Von Altenburg is buried and where the original wedding was to take place, that seems the most likely location for the young couple to have been married. But Irving never mentions where the ceremony took place, only that the young Von Starkenfaust "had wooed-had won-had borne away in triumph-and, in a word, had wedded the fair."

Despite being from a house that the baron feuded with, we are told that the baron did come to forgive both him and his daughter for what they had done in secret. It no doubt helped that Von Starkenfaust, as it turned out, was wealthy.