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Dickens Villains and Bad-guys Trivia Quiz

Charles Dickens wrote stories with many memorable characters, not all of which you'd like to call a friend. Can you identify the villain or story they come from?

A multiple-choice quiz by Spontini. Estimated time: 5 mins.

Author
Spontini

Time
5 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
379,010

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
15

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
10 / 15

Plays
636

Awards
Top 20% Quiz

Last 3 plays: yyoung (11/15), Guest 2 (12/15), Guest 200 (15/15).

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 15

1. Josiah Bounderby was a mill owner and fraud who makes out he grew up in the streets after being abandoned by his mother in which novel? Hint

Hard Luck

A Tale of Two Cities

Hard Times

Our Mutual Friend

NEXT>

Question 2 of 15

2. This metallic sounding bad guy was "an attorney of no good repute" who helped Daniel Quilp steal 'The Old Curiosity Shop' from Nelly Trent's grandfather. Which of these is he? Hint

Barnaby Rudge

Oliver Twist

Sampson Brass

Nicholas Nickleby

NEXT>

Question 3 of 15

3. Sergeant Buzfuz was an unscrupulous barrister who bullied witnesses into testifying against an eponymous character resulting in him being falsely imprisoned. Which novel is this? Hint

Mrs. Lirriper's Legacy

The Picnic Papers

The Pickwick Papers

A Christmas Carol

NEXT>

Question 4 of 15

4. Which bad guy attempts to kill his father (another ne'er do well) to get his inheritance, and cruelly beats his wife Mercy Pecksniff? Hint

Nicholas Nickleby

Martin Chuzzlewit

Jonas Chuzzlewit

Barnaby Rudge

NEXT>

Question 5 of 15

5. Compeyson is a conman who pretends to be in love with Miss Havisham, but in reality extorts money and title to her father's brewing business from her. Which novel would this be? Hint

Great Expectations

David Copperfield

Little Dorrit

Dombey and Son

NEXT>

Question 6 of 15

6. This one should be easy. He was leader of a a gang of child pickpockets. Who was he? Hint

Fagin

Bill Sikes

Mr Bumble

Daniel Quilp

NEXT>

Question 7 of 15

7. In 'Nicholas Nickleby', which money-lender schemes to force Walter Bray to give his daughter's hand in marriage to him in exchange for cancelling his debts? Hint

Arthur Gride

Seth Pecksniff

Edward Murdstone

Josiah Tulkinghorn

NEXT>

Question 8 of 15

8. Which 'umble' character plots to ruin his employer, Mr Wickfield, in 'David Copperfield'? Hint

Edward Murdstone

Arthur Havisham

Uriah Heep

Edwin Drood

NEXT>

Question 9 of 15

9. Edward Leeford (known as Monks), in league with the leader of a criminal gang, tries to corrupt his half-brother so that he will inherit all their father's property. Which novel is this? Hint

Nicholas Nickelby

Oliver Twist

Martin Chuzzlewit

Edwin Drood

NEXT>

Question 10 of 15

10. A scheming lawyer in the novel 'Bleak House' loves to manipulate people based on his knowledge of the secrets they have told to him in his professional capacity. Who is he? Hint

Sydney Carton

Josiah Tulkinghorn

Mortimer Lightwood

Sampson Brass

NEXT>

Question 11 of 15

11. Who is the Beadle in 'Oliver Twist'? He and his wife mistreat the children in their care. Hint

Mr Merdle

Mr Chivery

Mr Bumble

Mr M'Choakumchild

NEXT>

Question 12 of 15

12. Alfred and Sophronia Lammle are a pair made for each other. They marry, each believing the other has money, only to find that is far from true. Which novel? Hint

A Tale of Two Cities

Dombey and Son

Our Mutual Friend

Little Dorrit

NEXT>

Question 13 of 15

13. Mr Merdle is an unscrupulous banker who ruins many, including Arthur Clennam. In what book does he appear? Hint

Little Dorrit

Barnaby Rudge

The Pickwick Papers

David Copperfield

NEXT>

Question 14 of 15

14. This evil money lender drives George Rouncewell into bankruptcy in 'Bleak House'. He is a man who enjoys inflicting emotional distress on others. Who is he? Hint

Josiah Tulkinghorn

Mr Spottletoe

Ebenezer Scrooge

Joshua Smallweed

NEXT>

Question 15 of 15

15. This man was head of Dotheboys School for boys in 'Nicholas Nickleby'. He treats them very badly, beating them, neglecting them, and allowing no holidays or trips home. Who is he? Hint

Charley Bates

Wackford Squeers

Creakle

Bradley Headstone

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Most Recent Scores

Apr 11 2024 : yyoung: 11/15
Apr 08 2024 : Guest 2: 12/15
Apr 03 2024 : Guest 200: 15/15
Mar 28 2024 : Guest 171: 12/15
Mar 07 2024 : Guest 107: 13/15
Feb 29 2024 : Guest 64: 11/15
Feb 19 2024 : Guest 151: 10/15

Score Distribution

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Josiah Bounderby was a mill owner and fraud who makes out he grew up in the streets after being abandoned by his mother in which novel?

Answer: Hard Times

The truth is he was not abandoned. He in fact left his poor mother. His story is exposed as a sham when he is found by his mother, Mrs Pegler.

2. This metallic sounding bad guy was "an attorney of no good repute" who helped Daniel Quilp steal 'The Old Curiosity Shop' from Nelly Trent's grandfather. Which of these is he?

Answer: Sampson Brass

After helping Quilp try to frame Kit Nubbles, his treachery is exposed with the help of his clerk and housemaid.

3. Sergeant Buzfuz was an unscrupulous barrister who bullied witnesses into testifying against an eponymous character resulting in him being falsely imprisoned. Which novel is this?

Answer: The Pickwick Papers

Sergeant Buzfuz, with the help of some circumstantial evidence and clever questions, causes Samuel Pickwick to lose a suit for Breach of Promise brought by his landlady, Mrs Bardell. Ordered to pay damages, he refuses and is later cast into the debtors prison. The story, of course, finishes well for Pickwick and his servant Sam Weller, who has fallen in love with a housemaid.

4. Which bad guy attempts to kill his father (another ne'er do well) to get his inheritance, and cruelly beats his wife Mercy Pecksniff?

Answer: Jonas Chuzzlewit

Jonas's father, Anthony, is also a greedy businessman who has bred his own qualities into his son. Jonas not only attempts to kill him, but actually does murder Montague Tigg, another con man and swindler. Martin Chuzzlewit is the hero of the story of the same name, and fares rather better than Jonas.

5. Compeyson is a conman who pretends to be in love with Miss Havisham, but in reality extorts money and title to her father's brewing business from her. Which novel would this be?

Answer: Great Expectations

Compeyson's partner in crime, Abel Magwitch, is transported to Australia where he makes a fortune sheep ranching. He uses his fortune to help Philip Pirrip ('Pip'), the only person to have shown him kindness.

6. This one should be easy. He was leader of a a gang of child pickpockets. Who was he?

Answer: Fagin

Fagin was a character in 'Oliver Twist'. It is thought that he was actually based on a real-life character, Ikey Soloman (1758-1850), a successful Jewish fence, (receiver of stolen property), who was transported to Australia for his crimes in 1830. He died naturally in 1850. In the story of Oliver Twist, Fagin also died naturally when a rope snapped his neck at Newgate prison.

7. In 'Nicholas Nickleby', which money-lender schemes to force Walter Bray to give his daughter's hand in marriage to him in exchange for cancelling his debts?

Answer: Arthur Gride

Walter Bray is a selfish man who is willing to sacrifice the happiness of his daughter Madeline but, on the morning of her wedding to Arthur Gride, he suddenly dies and she is able to cancel this unwanted marriage.

8. Which 'umble' character plots to ruin his employer, Mr Wickfield, in 'David Copperfield'?

Answer: Uriah Heep

Uriah takes advantage of Mr Wickfield's liking for wine to work his way into a partnership with him and plots to take over completely.

9. Edward Leeford (known as Monks), in league with the leader of a criminal gang, tries to corrupt his half-brother so that he will inherit all their father's property. Which novel is this?

Answer: Oliver Twist

Edwin Leeford fathers an illegitimate child, half-brother to Edward Leeford, and leaves his fortune to the child if he has not 'stained' his name during his minority by any act of dishonour etc, in which case it shall all go to Edward. The young lad in question is Oliver Twist, and Edward sees him one day at Fagin's hideout and pays the old villain to make Oliver into a criminal.

10. A scheming lawyer in the novel 'Bleak House' loves to manipulate people based on his knowledge of the secrets they have told to him in his professional capacity. Who is he?

Answer: Josiah Tulkinghorn

Tulkinghorn is murdered and the plot becomes a Dickensian murder mystery in the latter stages of the story.

11. Who is the Beadle in 'Oliver Twist'? He and his wife mistreat the children in their care.

Answer: Mr Bumble

It is Mrs Bumble who is the real problem in this pair. She dominates Mr Bumble. When told that he bears responsibility for his wife's actions, Bumble says "If the law supposes that - the law is a ass", one of Dickens' most memorable quotes.

12. Alfred and Sophronia Lammle are a pair made for each other. They marry, each believing the other has money, only to find that is far from true. Which novel?

Answer: Our Mutual Friend

They scheme to wheedle their way into the Boffin fortune but when their plans go awry, they are forced to leave England to escape their debts.

13. Mr Merdle is an unscrupulous banker who ruins many, including Arthur Clennam. In what book does he appear?

Answer: Little Dorrit

Merdle is also responsible for the ruin of the Dorrit family in a banking scam.

14. This evil money lender drives George Rouncewell into bankruptcy in 'Bleak House'. He is a man who enjoys inflicting emotional distress on others. Who is he?

Answer: Joshua Smallweed

Josiah Tulkinghorn is also a character in 'Bleak House'. Scrooge, one of Dickens' most famous characters, appears in 'A Christmas Carol' and Mr Spottletoe appears in 'Martin Chuzzlewit'.

15. This man was head of Dotheboys School for boys in 'Nicholas Nickleby'. He treats them very badly, beating them, neglecting them, and allowing no holidays or trips home. Who is he?

Answer: Wackford Squeers

Nicholas Nickleby becomes his assistant master, and he is horrified by Squeers' treatment of the boys. He gives Squeers a taste of his own medicine with a sound thrashing. Squeers is eventually brought to justice for his actions and transported.

Charley Bates, often referred to as Master Bates, is from 'Oliver Twist'. Stop those little sniggers immediately! This is Victorian England! Creakle is the headmaster of Salem House Academy in 'David Copperfield'. Bradley Headstone is a teacher in 'Our Mutual Friend' who becomes obsessed with Lizzie Hexham, much to her annoyance.

Source: Author Spontini

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor looney_tunes before going online.
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