Estimated Reading Time: 18 min
Tess of the D’Urbervilles MCQs
1. In what year was Thomas Hardy’s novel Tess of the D’Urbervilles first published?
A. 1885
B. 1891
C. 1897
D. 1901
2. What is the novel’s famous and controversial subtitle?
A. A Pure Woman Faithfully Presented
B. The Maiden No More
C. A Story of Wessex
D. The Life and Death of Tess
3. The novel is famously set in Hardy’s semi-fictional version of Dorset, which he calls by what name?
A. Mercia
B. South-umbria
C. Wessex
D. Glamorganshire
4. What was John Durbeyfield’s occupation?
A. Miller
B. Parson
C. Haggler
D. Dairyman
5. Who informed Jack Durbeyfield of his noble lineage?
A. A middle-aged man
B. Parson Tringham
C. The Lord of Estremavilla
D. Angel Clare
6. What two old family items did Durbeyfield mention having at home?
A. A gold brooch and a shield
B. A wooden cradle and a gun
C. A silver spoon and a graven seal
D. A velvet jacket and a hat
7. What advice did Parson Tringham give Durbeyfield about his new lineage?
A. To go to London immediately
B. To do nothing, except chasten himself
C. To reclaim his manors
D. To visit the local historian
8. What event was the brass band playing for in the village?
A. A market-day celebration
B. The parson’s arrival
C. The women’s club-walking
D. A knighting ceremony
9. How did Tess initially react to her father riding home in the carriage?
A. She laughed joyously
B. She was proud of his status
C. She felt a slow heat rise at his foolishness
D. She joined him in the carriage
10. What was the name of the youngest brother who joined the dance?
A. Felix
B. Cuthbert
C. Jack
D. Angel
11. What two languages or dialects did Tess speak?
A. Latin and English
B. English and French
C. Dialect and ordinary English
D. Victorian and Jacobean
12. Where did Durbeyfield go to “get up his strength”?
A. The Pure Drop
B. The Vicarage
C. Rolliver’s
D. Shaston market
13. Why did Mrs. Durbeyfield send Tess to claim kin?
A. To find work for her father.
B. The Fortune-Teller said it would lead to marriage with a gentleman.
C. They needed help with the washing.
D. Angel Clare had suggested it.
14. What philosophical statement did Tess make to Abraham about the earth?
A. It is a splendid star.
B. It is a star where God is.
C. It is a blighted one.
D. It is far away from Nettlecombe-Tout.
15. What caused the accident that killed the horse, Prince?
A. Tess’s lack of skill in managing the horse.
B. The rickety waggon collapsed.
C. The morning mail-cart drove into their unlighted waggon.
D. The horse stumbled on the high ground.
16. How did Tess feel immediately after the death of Prince?
A. Guilty, like a murderess.
B. Relieved she had an excuse to go home.
C. Determined to find Alec d’Urberville.
D. Indifferent to the event.
17. What was the name of the young man Tess met who called himself “Mr. d’Urberville”?
A. Angel
B. Alec
C. John
D. Fred
18. What job did Mrs. d’Urberville offer Tess?
A. Helping with general house duties.
B. Tending a little fowl-farm.
C. Being a lady’s companion.
D. Teaching the younger children.
19. What did Mrs. Durbeyfield believe was Tess’s “trump card”?
A. Her d’Urberville blood.
B. Her education.
C. Her face.
D. Her knowledge of fowl-farming.
20. What was the nickname of the dark virago, Car Darch?
A. Queen of Hearts
B. Queen of Diamonds
C. Queen of Spades
D. Queen of Clubs
21. What comment was made by Car Darch’s mother as Tess rode away?
A. “She’ll be married by morning!”
B. “Out of the frying-pan into the fire!”
C. “That’s her trump card!”
D. “Poor simple maid!”
22. What location, “the oldest wood in England,” did Alec take Tess to?
A. Marlott Vale
B. Kingsbere
C. The Chase
D. Stourcastle
23. What theological text greeted Tess on her way home from Trantridge?
A. THY, DAMNATION, SLUMBERETH, NOT.
B. THOU, SHALT, NOT, COMMIT—
C. COME, OUT, FROM, AMONG, THEM.
D. THE, WAGES, OF, SIN.
24. Tess accused her mother of failing to warn her, suggesting ladies learned of “these tricks” from where?
A. From scripture
B. From novels
C. From other women
D. From history books
25. What name did Tess choose for her baby during the impromptu baptism?
A. Angel
B. Durbey
C. Sorrow
D. Prince
26. Where was Sorrow the Undesired buried?
A. In the D’Urberville vault.
B. In a shabby corner with unbaptized infants.
C. Under the church porch.
D. Near Prince’s grave.
27. Where did Tess find work as a skilled milkmaid for the summer?
A. Marlott
B. Trantridge
C. A dairy-house far to the southward (Talbothays)
D. Shaston
28. Why did Angel Clare avoid being a parson like his brothers?
A. He felt the University was only for ordination.
B. He refused to enter the Church due to its tenets.
C. He disliked St. John.
D. He preferred farming.
29. What musical instrument did Angel Clare play?
A. Fiddle
B. Piano
C. Harp
D. Lute
30. What traditional belief explains why butter won’t come in the churn?
A. The milk is too cold.
B. Somebody in the house is in love.
C. The churn is damaged.
D. The cow is sick.
31. Who were the three dairymaids, besides Tess, in love with Angel Clare?
A. Car Darch, Nancy, Deborah Fyander
B. Marian, Izz Huett, Retty Priddle
C. Christianner, Beck Knibbs, Frances
D. Elizabeth, ’Liza-Lu, Hope
32. When Angel carried Tess across the flooded road, what classical analogy did he use?
A. Three Fates to get one Muse
B. Three Leahs to get one Rachel
C. Three Nymphs to get one Goddess
D. Three Graces to get one Venus
33. What was the name of the woman Angel’s parents hoped he would marry?
A. Izz Huett
B. Mercy Chant
C. Retty Priddle
D. Joan Durbeyfield
34. When Angel first proposed, what was Tess’s inevitable answer?
A. Yes, soon.
B. I cannot be your wife.
C. I must consult my mother.
D. I am already engaged.
35. How did Tess prepare to confess her past on her wedding eve?
A. She spoke to Angel’s mother.
B. She wrote a narrative and slipped it under his door.
C. She sent a telegram to Alec.
D. She spoke to the other dairymaids.
36. What superstition did the old carriage remind Tess of?
A. The d’Urberville Coach, a bad omen.
B. The carriage of King Charles II.
C. The White Lady of the Chase.
D. The coachman being dead drunk.
37. What ill-omen occurred as Angel and Tess departed the dairy?
A. The carriage wheel broke.
B. Marian fell down.
C. The white cock crowed.
D. They forgot the luggage.
38. When Angel walked in his sleep, where did he carry and lay Tess?
A. On the riverbank.
B. In the empty stone coffin of an abbot.
C. On the cold stone bridge.
D. Back in her bed.
39. What decree did Angel give Tess regarding contact?
A. She could write only if ill; she must not come to him.
B. They were to communicate only through his father.
C. They were divorced and must never speak again.
D. They would meet again in six months in London.
40. What country did Angel Clare travel to for a new start?
A. Australia
B. Canada
C. Texas
D. Brazil
41. Whom did Angel encounter who confessed her love and willingness to go to Brazil?
A. Marian
B. Mercy Chant
C. Izz Huett
D. ‘Liza-Lu
42. What did Tess do to mar her appearance after being harassed?
A. She cut her hair short.
B. She put on an old gown and nipped her eyebrows off.
C. She wore a veil constantly.
D. She refused to wash her face.
43. What was Tess’s job at Flintcomb-Ash?
A. Haymaking
B. Swede-grubbing/trimming
C. Milking
D. Reed-drawing
44. How had Alec d’Urberville altered his appearance when he returned?
A. He wore a mask.
B. He wore a clerical costume and cut off his whiskers.
C. He wore rough farm clothes.
D. He grew a thick beard.
45. What physical action did Tess perform, striking Alec on the mouth?
A. She hit him with a bill-hook.
B. She slapped him with her leather glove.
C. She kicked him.
D. She pushed him off the rick.
46. What news brought ’Liza-Lu to Tess at Flintcomb-Ash?
A. Her mother was dying.
B. Their house was sold.
C. Their father, Sir John, was dead.
D. Angel Clare had returned.
47. Where did the Durbeyfield family set up a temporary camp in Kingsbere?
A. At the local inn.
B. In the d’Urberville Aisle of the church.
C. On the uplands of Egdon Heath.
D. In the ruined manor-house.
48. Where did Angel Clare finally track Tess down after returning from Brazil?
A. Marlott.
B. A stylish lodging-house called The Herons.
C. Flintcomb-Ash.
D. Kingsbere.
49. Where did Tess and Angel spend five days in “absolute seclusion”?
A. In a barn on the Plain.
B. In an empty mansion in the New Forest.
C. On a boat heading to London.
D. In the Vicarage.
50. Upon what massive stone structure did Tess fall asleep before her capture?
A. The Kingsbere vault.
B. Melchester Cathedral.
C. Stonehenge.
D. Bulbarrow.
Brief Overview
Tess of the d’Urbervilles is a tragic novel by Thomas Hardy. It was first published in 1891. The novel is set in rural England and is a profound indictment of social injustice and the moral double standards imposed on women in Victorian society.
The story begins when the poor Jack Durbeyfield learns his family is descended from the ancient, noble d’Urberville line. His daughter, Tess, is sent to the wealthy relatives for help. She meets Alec d’Urberville, a harsh man who seduces her. Tess becomes pregnant, and her baby, named Sorrow, tragically dies soon after birth.
Tess attempts to start a new life as a dairymaid. She meets Angel Clare, a kind gentleman who is studying farming. Tess and Angel fall deeply in love. Tess hides her troubled past with Alec. After they marry, Tess confesses her history. Angel is shocked and cruel; he immediately leaves her and travels to Brazil.
Tess faces harsh fieldwork and poverty. Alec, who briefly became a preacher, finds her and tries to win her back. When Tess’s father dies, Alec uses the family’s intense financial need to force Tess to live with him. Angel returns, filled with regret and love. He finds Tess living with Alec, who had tricked her into believing Angel would never come back.
Tess kills Alec in despair. Angel protects her, and they flee, hiding for a short time. They are found asleep by the authorities at Stonehenge. Tess is arrested. The novel concludes with Angel walking away with Tess’s young sister, Liza-Lu, who is implied to be his new companion.
