Elizabeth Gaskell - Life and Works Quiz

Answer: Unitarian minister

Gaskell's husband was a Unitarian minister, which may account for the values and (discrete) Biblical references to be found in her works. More importantly, as a minister's wife, she was led to help and interact with most classes of society. This viewpoint - rather unique at the time, especially for a woman - enabled her to write convincingly about the poor workers as well as the factory owners.

Answer: Manchester

"Mary Barton" (published 1848) takes place in Manchester, where Gaskell lived when her husband was the minister of the Unitarian chapel on Cross Street. "Mary Barton" brought instant success to her writer, who was encouraged to write further about the social question.

Some critics thought the workers' view was too exclusively represented, leaving no room for the concerns and struggles of factory owners. As a result, she tried to present a more balanced view in "North and South".

Answer: south

Margaret grew up at her aunt's house in London, as a companion to her cousin Edith. After her cousin's mariage to an officer, she went to live with her parents in a peaceful southern village called Helstone. Sortly afterwards, her father gave up his job as a minister (for conscience's sake), and moved to Manchester to become a private tutor.

This is the beginning of the culture shock which is at the core of the book, and justifies its title.

Answer: dressmaker's assistant

Ruth is apprenticed to a dressmaker - this profession was typically a "dangerous" one. Indeed, the young apprentices were likely to be led astray, not least because they came to be in contact with the aristocracy. This is indeed what happens to Ruth, whose virtue is corrupted by the treacherous Mr Bellingham.

Answer: it told of a young girl who shockingly became an unmarried mother

Gaskell wanted to take up the cause of women led astray, on which she had already brushed in "Mary Barton", through the character of Esther. The latter, who was a prostitute, was hardly a suitable topic for a writer, especially female, at the time. Gaskell, in order to advocate her cause better, chose a virtuous young girl whose unfortunate circumstances led her to vice.

After a week or so in Wales with her seducer, Ruth spends the rest of her life patiently expiating her fault. It is an impressive example of how different society's outlook on morals was at the time.

Despite (or partly because of) the discrepancies in judgement with current society's, this is a deeply entertaining and enriching book.

Answer: Cynthia Kirkpatrick

Cynthia Fitzpatrick, the fickle and shallow co-heroine, was (conveniently) dispatched to France by her mother Hyacinth Clare Fitzpatrick (later) Gibson. It is amusing to note that in many Victorian novels, closeness to France - for women - was usually a blemish on their virtue. For instance, Thackeray's character Becky Sharpe (in "Vanity Fair") is half French and therefore partly evil... and, throughout his novel, French novels crop up as a symptom of low morals... that is for women. Men's virtue was apparently beyond corruption by such influences.

Answer: "Cranford"

"Cranford" was published serially by Charles Dickens in his Magazine "Household Words". He loved it as much as he had disliked Gaskell's novel "North and South" (also requested for and published in "Household Words"). Gaskell's social satire in "Cranford" is very entertaining, and well worthy of Jane Austen (a bit in the Miss Bates vein).

Answer: Charlotte Bronte

At the request of Charlotte Bronte's father, Gaskell wrote her biography, "Life of Charlotte Bronte" (published 1857). Gaskell determined both to tell the truth and honour her friend. It was well received and, for the first time, Gaskell's name appeared on the front page of one of her books.

Answer: Philip Hepburn the cautious merchant

In this heart-rending story of love, passion and betrayal, Sylvia slowly reconciles herself to the idea of marrying her cousin Philip. It is only later that she discovers how manipulated she has been. Played on a poignant background of contemporary human and political issues, it really is a rare and memorable read.

Answer: she dropped dead while having tea with friends

She literally dropped dead during a tea party, at the premature age of 55. Hers was a quick and painless death. There is no telling what other delightful works she might have written had she reached a greater age, but her novels remain with us to give us an insight into all the social classes of Victorian Britain and into her own wonderful universe.