V. S. Pritchett

V. S. Pritchett Study questions

The Voice

Mr. Beluncle

Mr. Beluncle MCQs

V. S. Pritchett MCQs

1. V. S. Pritchett was primarily known for his work as a:

A. Playwright
B. Short story writer and critic
C. Poet
D. Novelist

B. Short story writer and critic
Pritchett is highly regarded for his mastery of the short story genre and his insightful literary criticism.

2. Pritchett was a prominent literary figure from which country?

A. United States
B. Canada
C. United Kingdom
D. Australia

C. United Kingdom
He was a celebrated English writer and critic.

3. What genres did Pritchett excel in besides short stories?

A. Science fiction
B. Fantasy
C. Literary criticism
D. Historical fiction

C. Literary criticism
His critical essays are considered classics of 20th-century English prose.

4. Pritchett’s writing is known for its:

A. Complex, experimental style
B. Sharp wit and insightful observations
C. Use of mythical elements
D. Focus on futuristic themes

B. Sharp wit and insightful observations
His prose is celebrated for its intelligence, humor, and keen observation of human behavior.

5. One of Pritchett’s most celebrated skills was his ability to:

A. Create intricate plot devices
B. Develop vivid, realistic characters
C. Incorporate advanced scientific concepts
D. Write in multiple languages

B. Develop vivid, realistic characters
He was particularly adept at quickly sketching memorable, idiosyncratic characters in his short fiction.

6. V. S. Pritchett’s career included a significant role as:

A. A film director
B. A political activist
C. A literary critic
D. An opera singer

C. A literary critic
His criticism was influential, particularly in The New Statesman and The New Yorker.

7. Pritchett’s literary contributions were recognized with which major award?

A. The Nobel Prize in Literature
B. The Booker Prize
C. The Pulitzer Prize
D. The National Book Award

B. The Booker Prize
He received the Booker Prize for his lifetime achievement.

8. A notable aspect of Pritchett’s short stories is their:

A. Emphasis on romance
B. Exploration of ordinary lives and moments
C. Depiction of large-scale battles
D. Advanced technical language

B. Exploration of ordinary lives and moments
He elevated everyday English experience and social comedy into high art.

9. Pritchett’s reviews and critiques were often published in:

A. Sports magazines
B. Prominent literary journals
C. Science journals
D. Financial newsletters

B. Prominent literary journals
He was a prolific critic for publications like The New Statesman and The New Yorker.

10. V. S. Pritchett’s narrative style is often praised for its:

A. Minimalist approach
B. Lively and engaging prose
C. Strict adherence to classical forms
D. Emphasis on allegorical content

B. Lively and engaging prose
His writing is known for its energetic pace and direct appeal to the reader.

11. Pritchett’s work reflects his deep interest in:

A. Space exploration
B. Technological innovations
C. Human psychology
D. Medieval history

C. Human psychology
His focus was often on the inner workings, motives, and eccentricities of his characters.

12. Throughout his career, Pritchett was also well-known for his:

A. Mathematical theories
B. Travel writing
C. Culinary skills
D. Architectural designs

B. Travel writing
His early career included significant output as a travel writer, especially concerning Spain.

13. How did Pritchett’s personal experiences influence his writing?

A. His background in science
B. His time as a soldier
C. His extensive travels
D. His political career

C. His extensive travels
His early time working and traveling throughout Europe strongly influenced the settings and characters in his work.

14. Pritchett was particularly adept at writing:

A. Epic poetry
B. Engaging and humorous essays
C. Legal textbooks
D. Software manuals

B. Engaging and humorous essays
His prose style blended wit, humor, and profound observation, especially in his critical works.

15. V. S. Pritchett’s stories often focus on:

A. Cosmic conflicts
B. The subtleties of social interactions
C. High fantasy realms
D. Deep-sea adventures

B. The subtleties of social interactions
His narratives excel at capturing the quiet drama found in everyday human relationships.

16. Pritchett’s contribution to literature was in:

A. Redefining the horror genre
B. Bringing attention to the details of everyday life
C. Developing interactive digital novels
D. Pioneering the use of virtual reality in storytelling

B. Bringing attention to the details of everyday life
He is revered for his realistic and deeply humane portrayal of common experience.

17. Pritchett’s ability to capture the essence of his characters was often compared to his contemporaries, such as:

A. Science fiction writers
B. Other great realists of his time
C. Playwrights of the Elizabethan era
D. Classical Greek poets

B. Other great realists of his time
Critics often place him alongside masters of realism like Chekhov and Maupassant for his short stories.

18. In the realm of literary criticism, Pritchett was known for his:

A. Harsh critiques of emerging writers
B. Insightful and balanced assessments
C. Focus solely on classic literature
D. Neglect of non-Western literature

B. Insightful and balanced assessments
His critical writing was noted for its fairness, clarity, and deep understanding of an author’s unique world.

19. Pritchett’s legacy in the world of letters includes:

A. Founding a major publishing house
B. Influencing generations of writers and critics
C. Establishing a new literary style
D. Creating an annual literary festival

B. Influencing generations of writers and critics
His consistent output of high-quality fiction and criticism secured his long-term influence.

20. Pritchett’s style is particularly noted for its:

A. Complexity and opacity
B. Clarity and conversational tone
C. Use of archaic language
D. Emphasis on poetic meter

B. Clarity and conversational tone
His writing is praised for its accessibility and warmth, making complex characters immediately engaging.

21. Pritchett’s stories are valuable for their:

A. Depictions of intergalactic warfare
B. Portraits of British life
C. Predictions about future societies
D. Descriptions of ancient civilizations

B. Portraits of British life
His fiction often provides detailed, humorous, and insightful views of 20th-century English society.

22. In discussing Pritchett’s work, critics often note his:

A. Overuse of technical jargon
B. Mastery of the short story form
C. Unusual plot structures
D. Focus on supernatural themes

B. Mastery of the short story form
His control of narrative scope and character in the short story is widely considered world-class.

23. V. S. Pritchett’s work often provides:

A. A distraction from everyday life
B. Insights into the complexities of human nature
C. An escape into fantastical worlds
D. Advanced lessons in physics

B. Insights into the complexities of human nature
His skill lay in uncovering the moral and psychological nuances of his characters.

24. A defining characteristic of Pritchett’s writing is his:

A. Strict formality
B. Keen observation of character
C. Focus on lyrical beauty
D. Use of experimental formats

B. Keen observation of character
His ability to capture dialogue, mannerisms, and internal thought sets his characterization apart.

25. V. S. Pritchett’s contribution to the arts is recognized through:

A. His sculptures and paintings
B. His lasting impact on literary and critical studies
C. His innovative theatrical productions
D. His compositions in classical music

B. His lasting impact on literary and critical studies
His decades of output as a writer and critic ensured his long-term influence in English literary circles.

Mr. Beluncle MCQs

1. Where is Boystone located?

A. Far from London
B. London’s outskirts
C. By the railway
D. In Kent

B. London’s outskirts.
The town is located only 25 minutes from the centre of London, making it a suburb.

2. Where did the Beluncles first live before Boystone?

A. High Street
B. Perse Hill
C. London fume
D. Doncaster

B. Perse Hill.
Mr. Beluncle moved the family from the smoke and general “fume” of Perse Hill to Boystone.

3. How old was Henry when the family moved to Boystone?

A. Ten years
B. Nineteen
C. Fourteen
D. Six years

C. Fourteen.
Mr. Beluncle moved the family to the better air of Boystone when Henry was fourteen years old.

4. How is Mr. O’Malley’s head described in the classroom?

A. Dying hair
B. Like an otter’s
C. Very bald
D. A fox’s

B. Like an otter’s.
The sarcastic teacher O’Malley was a man of fifty with a head described exactly like an otter’s.

5. What did the boys ask the headmaster’s enquiry?

A. Age and fees
B. Job and religion
C. Lives and jobs
D. Vanity and faith

B. Job and religion.
O’Malley asked each boy his intended occupation after leaving school and his religious denomination.

6. What occupation did Anderson and Alton both claim they would pursue?

A. Salesman
B. Clerk
C. Manager
D. Teacher

B. Clerk.
Both Anderson and Alton stated that they intended to become clerks after leaving Boystone School.

7. What was absent during the Beluncle family’s period of warmth and happiness?

A. Mrs Beluncle
B. Seaside holiday
C. The Deity
D. Money problems

C. The Deity.
The period of warmth and happiness occurred just before the Deity returned and changed sex.

8. Which book reintroduced God to Mr. Beluncle as “Mind”?

A. The Key
B. Christ: Salesman
C. Productive Prayer
D. The Bible

C. Productive Prayer.
God returned when Mr. Beluncle found a book called Productive Prayer in a red cover.

9. What did Mind replace in the Beluncle family’s theological discussions?

A. Happiness
B. Electric light
C. Gas
D. God

D. God.
The simple change from God to Mind was likened to the change from gas light to electric light.

10. How did Mind affect Mr. Beluncle’s social standing, according to Henry?

A. Isolated him
B. Gave him wealth
C. Led him to higher circles
D. Made him a Unitarian

C. Led him to higher circles.
Mind appeared to move in higher social circles, as implied by references to aristocracy Mr. Beluncle mentioned.

11. What action typically followed Mr. Beluncle’s change in faith before the “Mind” phase?

A. Family row
B. Singing a song
C. The furniture van
D. Selling things

C. The furniture van.
In the old days, whenever Mr. Beluncle found a new faith, the furniture van would arrive at once.

12. The disastrous removal episode was known in the family by what location name?

A. Perse Hill
B. The basement
C. The High Street
D. Doncaster

C. The High Street.
The family referred to the move to a basement flat in a reeking street as “what happened at the High Street”.

13. What ailment did Mrs. Beluncle suffer from during the disastrous High Street period?

A. Indigestion
B. Long bad toothache
C. Sprained arm
D. Sleeplessness

B. Long bad toothache.
Mrs. Beluncle sat holding pepper and vinegar to her cheek due to a long and bad attack of toothache.

14. Who told Mr. Beluncle about “Mind” at the Northern Hotel?

A. Mrs Beluncle
B. A man
C. The Deity
D. Henry

B. A man.
Mr. Beluncle gently told his wife about a man at the Northern Hotel in Doncaster who introduced him to Mind.

15. What did Henry claim was his religion when questioned by O’Malley?

A. Church of England
B. The Truth
C. Mrs Parkinson
D. Unitarian

C. Mrs Parkinson.
Henry plunged into playing the “Beluncle trick” and named Mrs Parkinson as his religious follower.

16. What term did O’Malley use to describe Henry for belonging to Mrs. Parkinson’s group?

A. A lùnatic
B. A fake
C. A fool
D. A snob

D. A snob.
O’Malley concluded that Henry was a superior person, a snob, and a fake, based on his answer.

17. What caused the uproar that momentarily silenced Mr. O’Malley?

A. Calling him a liar
B. Hitting a boy
C. Calling him Irish
D. Describing his walk

C. Calling him Irish.
Henkel shouted that his religion was as good as “being an Irish Roman Catholic,” which enraged O’Malley.

18. What did O’Malley describe as lacking desire for movement or breath?

A. The clock
B. The silence
C. Human vanity
D. A book

B. The silence.
O’Malley terrorized the boys by daring them not to move, speak, or even breathe, twisting the screw of silence.

19. What physical feature of Mr. Beluncle moved together like love birds?

A. His thick lips
B. His soft hands
C. His brown eyes
D. His grey hair

C. His brown eyes.
Mr. Beluncle’s brown eyes looked up, moving together “like a pair of love birds”.

20. What comparison was made between Mr. Beluncle’s hair and ethnicity?

A. Scottish
B. Negro
C. Irish
D. English

B. Negro.
Mr. Beluncle was described as having grey hair kinked “as if there were negro in him”.

21. Where did Henry work in his father’s factory?

A. The showroom
B. The general offices
C. The shipping room
D. The factory floor

B. The general offices.
Henry worked in the general offices at a long, high, old-fashioned mahogany desk.

22. What item was Henry using to clean his nails while idling at his desk?

A. A pen knife
B. His season ticket
C. A stock book
D. A pen

B. His season ticket.
Henry was cleaning his nails using the edge of his season ticket, leading to his father’s disapproval.

23. What did Mr. Beluncle base his career and business connections upon?

A. Hard work
B. Humorousness
C. Lying
D. Kindness

B. Humorousness.
He had built up his career, business, and trade connections primarily by relying on humorousness.

24. What was Mrs. Truslove’s foreign affectation?

A. A soft voice
B. A nervous tic
C. A shrug
D. Touching her cheek

C. A shrug.
She had picked up a foreign gesture, a shrug of one shoulder, from an Italian she worked for.

25. What animal did Mr. Beluncle wish Mrs. Truslove would keep instead of a canary?

A. Cat
B. Dog
C. Parrot
D. Goldfish

B. Dog.
Mr. Beluncle often asked why she kept a canary instead of a dog, specifically suggesting an Aberdeen.

26. What was the name of the house Mr. Beluncle wanted to purchase in Sissing?

A. Lyndhurst
B. Uplands
C. Marbella
D. Boy-stone Hall

C. Marbella.
Marbella was the name of the expensive house Mr. Beluncle visited in the suburban town of Sissing.

27. According to Mrs. Truslove, what was the business approaching?

A. Retirement
B. Profitability
C. Bankruptcy
D. Reorganization

C. Bankruptcy.
Mrs. Truslove stated plainly to Mr. Beluncle that he was “on the point of bankruptcy”.

28. What was Mrs. Truslove’s profession before she was married?

A. Accountant
B. Secretary
C. Partner’s widow
D. Clerk

B. Secretary.
Mrs. Truslove (Miss Dykes) had been Mr. Beluncle’s secretary before marrying his partner, Mr. Truslove.

29. How much money did Mrs. Truslove state Mr. Beluncle owed her?

A. £900
B. £3,000
C. £9,000
D. £1,000

B. £3,000.
Mrs. Truslove listed his debts, stating that he owed her specifically three thousand pounds.

30. What profession did Mr. Beluncle claim God was performing when setting things up?

A. A great planner
B. A great seller
C. A genius
D. A salesman

A. A great planner.
Thinking about expansion, Mr. Beluncle mused that God was the great planner, aligning with modern business.

31. Who did Henry believe gave Mrs. Truslove advice to break with Mr. Beluncle?

A. Mr. Chilly
B. Mrs Parkinson
C. Mr. Cummings
D. Lady Roads

C. Mr. Cummings.
Mrs. Truslove took business advice from Mr. Cummings, a successful former employee who had quarreled with Beluncle.

32. What item did George find at Marbella that confirmed his father’s recent presence?

A. A house key
B. A business card
C. A woman’s glove
D. A cigar butt

C. A woman’s glove.
George found a glove, which Henry realized belonged to Mrs. Truslove, who had visited the house with their father.

33. What was Mr. Phibbs’s ideological position regarding Mr. Beluncle?

A. A passenger
B. A small capitalist
C. A heretic
D. A manager

B. A small capitalist.
Mr. Phibbs viewed Mr. Beluncle primarily as a small capitalist with ideological dangers.

34. What metaphor did Mr. Phibbs use concerning love and the railways?

A. Signals
B. Carriages
C. Rails
D. Points

D. Points.
Mr. Phibbs warned Henry that in love, people are generally “switched,” just as trains are moved by points.

35. What was Mary Phibbs’s job?

A. Typist
B. Station clerk
C. Library worker
D. Teacher

C. Library worker.
Mary Phibbs worked in the chemist’s library, referring to her manager as Mr. Turner.

36. Which book did Henry lend Mary that she claimed to have finished immediately?

A. More’s Utopia
B. The Ring and the Book
C. Milton
D. Tennyson

B. The Ring and the Book.
Mary claimed to have finished Browning’s The Ring and the Book after only two days.

37. What was George Beluncle’s specific goal to attract his father’s attention?

A. To excel at school
B. To become the scoundrel
C. To get a high-paying job
D. To move out

B. To become the scoundrel.
George resolved to be the scoundrel, hoping that bad behaviour would finally attract his father’s notice.

38. What was George doing in the garden that Mr. Beluncle found insulting?

A. Smoking a pipe
B. Watching neighbours
C. Digging a hole
D. Talking to Leslie

B. Watching neighbours.
Mr. Beluncle came out and used George’s hole in the fence to peep at the couple next door.

39. What did Mrs. Vogg pretend about her marital status?

A. She was divorced
B. She was wealthy
C. She was never married
D. She was a housekeeper

C. She was never married.
Mrs. Vogg had not been married to the elder Vogg; she was his mistress and former housekeeper.

40. What kind of business did Mr. Beluncle run (or start) according to the company name Bulux?

A. Dyeing and cleaning
B. Furniture
C. Textiles
D. Stationery

B. Furniture.
Mr. Beluncle’s factory produced furniture, with items like wardrobes, armchairs, and chairs mentioned.

41. What item did Mr. Beluncle remove from his buttonhole after noticing an insect?

A. A flower
B. A pin
C. A handkerchief
D. A piece of cotton

A. A flower.
Mr. Beluncle’s face shriveled with disgust after noticing greenfly on the red rose Ethel had picked.

42. How did Mrs. Beluncle feel about the continued family arguments and feuds?

A. She was bored
B. She was terrified
C. She was resigned
D. She was satisfied

D. She was satisfied.
Ethel often used arguments to break the boredom of their lives, finding “pleasure in the old quarrel”.

43. What did Mr. Beluncle liken himself to, physically and metaphorically, regarding possessions?

A. A car
B. A businessman
C. A gentleman
D. A ship

A. A car.
He thought of himself as a car, feeling his clothes, shoes, and house were additions to himself.

44. Who was Beluncle’s sister who visited the factory while intoxicated?

A. Ethel
B. Lady Roads
C. Connie
D. Linda

C. Connie.
Miss Beluncle, who arrived drunk at the office seeking money, was referred to as Constance or Connie.

45. What action did Henry Beluncle take to make himself look more mature after dining with Mr. Chilly?

A. Bought a suit
B. Receded his hairline
C. Started drinking
D. Shaved his chin

B. Receded his hairline.
Henry used his pocket knife to saw off hair at the parting, wishing his hair were receding like Mr. Chilly’s.

46. What method did Lady Roads claim Miss Wix used to attract patients?

A. Hypnotism
B. Money
C. Witchcraft
D. Prayer

C. Witchcraft.
Miss Wix’s followers believed Lady Roads worked “through sex” and practiced witchcraft, or wicked magic.

47. What did the sight of the miracle cause Mrs. Truslove to fear?

A. Her sister’s recovery
B. Her own life being destroyed
C. Mr Beluncle’s sanity
D. Going to prison

B. Her own life being destroyed.
Mrs. Truslove felt the miracle might “destroy my life,” as she realized she was left with nothing.

48. What did Mr. Beluncle realize was the fatal deficiency of Bulux Ltd. that required rectification?

A. No factory
B. No business partners
C. No Board Room
D. No profit

C. No Board Room.
Mr. Beluncle decided the company needed a Board Room in its West End showroom to signify expansion.

49. What physical object did Mrs. Johnson feel was emptied when Miss Dykes began walking?

A. The house
B. The church hall
C. Her body
D. The garden

C. Her body.
Mrs. Johnson felt profound loss, noting that seeing the empty wheelchair “emptied her body”.

50. What illness ultimately caused Miss Dykes’s death?

A. Tuberculosis
B. Paralysis
C. Heart failure
D. Nervous shock

A. Tuberculosis.
The telegram sent by Mrs. Truslove stated that Judy (Miss Dykes) died of Tuberculosis.

Brief Overview

Mr. Beluncle is a novel by V. S. Pritchett, published in 1950. The work is a satirical character study that follows the life of a nárcissistic and self-indulgent furniture salesman. It examines the humorous and often dark consequences of his overblown personality and constant fantasies.

The novel centers on Mr. Beluncle, a stout, proud man who lives near London with his wife, Ethel, and three sons. Mr. Beluncle runs a furniture business, but he constantly dreams about becoming rich. He spends too much money and always wants to buy large, fancy houses. He follows a strange, fundamentalist religion called the Purification.

Ethel constantly fights with him about his poor handling of money. His oldest son, Henry, works for him but hates his father’s many lies. Henry is secretly in love with a girl named Mary Phibbs. Henry wants freedom and plans to go abroad to escape his suffocating family life.

Mr. Beluncle’s business partner, Mrs. Truslove, manages the firm’s finances. She warns Mr. Beluncle that his business is close to failing because of his excessive spending. The novel also shows dark family secrets: Mr. Beluncle’s alcoholic sister, Constance, claims he stole her inheritance.

Mrs. Truslove’s sister, Miss Dykes, is crippléd and devoted to the Purification. A man named Vogg, who hates the religion, attacks Miss Dykes. She suddenly stands up and walks, which people immediately call a miracle. Miss Dykes later dies. Mr. Beluncle decides to sell his bankrupt business and retire.