
Northanger Abbey MCQs
1. What is Catherine Morland’s father’s profession?
A. Doctor
B. Lawyer
C. Clergyman
D. Soldier
2. How many children did Mrs. Morland have in total?
A. Seven
B. Six
C. Ten
D. Three
3. What activity did Catherine prefer to dolls and other “heroic enjoyments” at age ten?
A. Drawing
B. Cricket
C. Reading
D. Music
4. Between fifteen and seventeen, what activity put Catherine into “training for a heroine”?
A. Learning French
B. Reading novels
C. Practicing music
D. Horse riding
5. Who invited Catherine to accompany them to Bath?
A. Mrs. Morland
B. Mr. Tilney
C. Mr. and Mrs. Allen
D. Her sister Sally
6. What subject was Mrs. Allen most intensely focused on and passionate about?
A. Books
B. Dress
C. Card games
D. Family history
7. Why was Catherine unable to dance at her very first ball in the Upper Rooms?
A. She disliked the music
B. She had no partner
C. Her dress was torn
D. She was too tired
8. What is Henry Tilney’s profession, as confirmed by Mr. Allen’s inquiry?
A. Lawyer
B. Soldier
C. Clergyman
D. Banker
9. Henry Tilney teased Catherine about meticulously recording her life in Bath in what format?
A. Letters to Sally
B. A public diary
C. A journal
D. Secret confessions
10. What main flaw did Henry Tilney initially find in the usual style of ladies’ letter-writing?
A. Lack of wit
B. Deficiency of subject
C. Too emotional
D. Excessive politeness
11. Mrs. Thorpe recognized Mrs. Allen as whom from her past?
A. A relative
B. A schoolfellow
C. A childhood neighbour
D. A London friend
12. Isabella bonded with Catherine by discussing her relationship with which family member?
A. Mr. Tilney
B. Mr. Allen
C. James Morland
D. Mr. Thorpe
13. What type of vehicle did John Thorpe brag about purchasing cheaply and driving fast?
A. A Phaeton
B. A Post-chaise
C. A Curricle
D. A Gig
14. Which novel did John Thorpe dismiss as “unnatural stuff” and “horrid nonsense”?
A. The Monk
B. Udolpho
C. Cecilia or Camilla
D. Tom Jones
15. What Gothic novel was Catherine reading intensely, delighted by the “black veil” mystery?
A. The Italian
B. The Monk
C. Northanger Abbey
D. Udolpho
16. Whom did Catherine initially feel obliged to dance with at the second major ball?
A. Henry Tilney
B. James Morland
C. John Thorpe
D. Mr. Allen
17. Who was the handsome, commanding gentleman watching Catherine who was Henry Tilney’s father?
A. Mr. Allen
B. General Tilney
C. Captain Tilney
D. Mr. Morland
18. What common social event did Henry Tilney compare to the duties and expectations of marriage?
A. A country walk
B. Keeping a journal
C. A country-dance
D. Shopping in Bath
19. Which engagement did Catherine break to go on an unauthorized drive with the Thorpes to Clifton?
A. Dancing with Henry
B. Visiting the Pump-room
C. Walking with Miss Tilney
D. Dining with the Allens
20. How did John Thorpe convince Catherine that the Tilneys were unable to keep their walking engagement?
A. He said they were ill
B. He invented a trip to Wick Rocks
C. He claimed he saw them leave Bath
D. He showed her a letter
21. Where did the Thorpes and James Morland attempt to drive, only to turn back due to lateness?
A. Bristol
B. Salisbury
C. Fullerton
D. Northanger
22. After their aborted journey, what did Catherine conclude about John Thorpe’s character?
A. He was agreeable
B. He was too quiet
C. He was very funny
D. He was disagreeable
23. What moral impropriety did Mr. Allen worry about regarding young people’s outings?
A. Gambling
B. Talking too loudly
C. Driving young ladies in open carriages
D. Staying out too late
24. What object did Miss Tilney say was hanging in her bedroom, which the General had initially disliked?
A. A landscape
B. A picture of Henry
C. Her mother’s portrait
D. A famous painting
25. What dark fate did Catherine suspect had befallen Mrs. Tilney, based on the General’s strange conduct?
A. That he poisoned her
B. That he imprisoned her
C. That he neglected her
D. That he was indifferent to her
26. What religious structure did Catherine hope Northanger Abbey had previously been?
A. A fortress
B. A royal palace
C. A rich university
D. A richly endowed convent
27. What detail disappointed Catherine about the Abbey’s windows, despite their Gothic form?
A. The pointed arch
B. The size of the glass panes
C. The lack of curtains
D. The heavy stone-work
28. What did Catherine find inside the large, suspiciously placed cedar chest in her bedroom?
A. A dagger
B. A skeleton
C. A cotton counterpane
D. Diamonds
29. Henry Tilney told Catherine she would find what document in the ebony cabinet after the storm?
A. Ancient maps
B. Matilda’s memoirs
C. Monetary deeds
D. Old sermons
30. What documents did Catherine actually discover inside the central cavity of the black cabinet?
A. Nothing
B. A farrier’s bill
C. A love letter
D. A secret spring
31. Henry explained that his mother died of a bilious fever and received every possible attention from whom?
A. Her doctor only
B. Frederick and himself
C. Mrs. Allen
D. General Tilney
32. What core lesson did Henry give Catherine when he rebuked her for suspecting his father of murder?
A. Remember the laws of England
B. Do not read novels
C. Always trust fathers
D. Respect the clergy
33. After her folly was exposed, Catherine resolved that in the future she would always act with what quality?
A. Extreme caution
B. Good sense
C. Total silence
D. Great skepticism
34. Why was Henry Tilney unable to be Eleanor’s constant companion at Northanger?
A. He disliked the Abbey
B. He had an establishment at Woodston
C. He was needed in London
D. He hated solitude
35. What did Henry Tilney realize he must go to Woodston early to do, despite his father’s minimizing statements?
A. To attend a meeting
B. To check on his curate
C. To prepare a proper dinner
D. To fix the house
36. What detail about Woodston Parsonage did Catherine praise, which General Tilney then agreed to preserve?
A. The view of Bath
B. The apple trees and cottage
C. The large drawing-room
D. The neat stone structure
37. Who was the “gentleman” Isabella mentioned in her letter to Catherine, whom she abhorred?
A. Henry Tilney
B. James Morland
C. John Thorpe
D. Captain Tilney
38. What did Henry suggest was Isabella’s true motivation in pursuing Captain Tilney?
A. Affection
B. Ambition
C. Friendship
D. Maternal duty
39. What important news did James Morland convey in his letter to Catherine from Oxford?
A. He was marrying Isabella
B. He was promoted
C. His engagement with Isabella was ended
D. He was ill
40. What permission did Henry have from his father when he proposed to Catherine at Fullerton?
A. He had full consent
B. He was ordered to propose
C. He had no permission
D. He had reluctant permission
41. What was Catherine’s actual, involuntary “offence” that caused General Tilney’s sudden rage and dismissal?
A. She had no fortune
B. She talked too much
C. She ruined his china
D. She slandered his wife
42. Who provided General Tilney with the initial inflated and false account of Catherine’s great wealth?
A. Mrs. Allen
B. James Morland
C. Eleanor Tilney
D. John Thorpe
43. Thorpe claimed Catherine was the “almost acknowledged future heiress” of whom?
A. General Tilney’s estate
B. Her father’s property
C. Mr. Allen’s estate
D. Her mother’s family
44. Why did John Thorpe retract his positive report about the Morlands to General Tilney?
A. Catherine’s rejection
B. James’s engagement
C. His own marriage
D. Henry’s anger
45. Why did General Tilney forbid Henry from accompanying him to Hereford-shire?
A. To punish Henry for his attachment
B. To promote the dismissal of Catherine
C. To make Henry work at Woodston
D. To prevent them from arguing
46. What was the only obstacle the Morland parents stipulated must be removed before approving the marriage?
A. Catherine’s age
B. Henry’s profession
C. General Tilney’s consent
D. Their own poverty
47. Despite the General’s objections, why did the Morland parents accept Henry’s proposal of marriage?
A. His pleasing manners
B. His military status
C. His existing wealth
D. His love for Catherine
48. What concern did Mrs. Morland have about Catherine as a future wife?
A. She was too proud
B. She was too sickly
C. She would be a heedless housekeeper
D. She lacked manners
49. What major event caused General Tilney’s sudden fit of good humor, leading him to forgive Henry?
A. His daughter Eleanor’s marriage
B. Henry gaining a large inheritance
C. His own recovery from gout
D. John Thorpe’s apology
50. Who did Eleanor Tilney marry, who was coincidentally linked to Catherine’s cabinet adventure?
A. Mr. Allen
B. The handsome Captain
C. The man who left the washing bills
D. A baronet
Brief Overview
Northanger Abbey is a novel by Jane Austen, published posthumously in 1817. It is a gothic parody about a naive heroine’s path to self-knowledge.
Catherine Morland is an ordinary young girl. She visits the city of Bath with her wealthy friends, Mr. and Mrs. Allen. There, Catherine meets the clever Henry Tilney and the superficial Thorpe siblings, Isabella and John.
Catherine’s brother, James, becomes engaged to the flirtatious Isabella. Catherine is later invited to stay at Northanger Abbey, Henry’s home.
Because Catherine loves scary novels, she imagines the abbey holds terrible secrets and suspects the General of murder. Henry gently shows her these fears are based on foolish book ideas.
The General had invited Catherine only because John Thorpe lied about her having much money. Upon learning she is poor, the General becomes furious and rudely sends Catherine home alone.
Henry follows her to Fullerton and proposes marriage, ignoring his father’s anger. After Henry’s sister, Eleanor, makes a rich marriage, the General finally allows Henry and Catherine to marry happily.
