Summary:
Adam Bede is a novel written by George Eliot (Mary Ann Evans) and published in 1859. The story is set in the rural English village of Hayslope in 1799 and follows the lives of four central characters: Adam Bede, Hetty Sorrel, Arthur Donnithorne, and Dinah Morris.
Adam Bede, a hardworking and moral carpenter, is in love with Hetty Sorrel, a beautiful but vain and immature dairymaid. However, Hetty is seduced by Arthur Donnithorne, the wealthy grandson of the local squire. When she becomes pregnant, Arthur abandons her, and Hetty, in despair, tries to abandon her newborn child, leading to the baby’s death.
She is arrested, sentenced to death for infanticide, but at the last moment, her sentence is commuted to transportation (exile to a penal colony) due to Arthur’s intervention. Meanwhile, Adam finds love and peace with Dinah Morris, a kind and devout Methodist preacher, and the novel ends with their marriage.
The novel explores moral integrity, social class, religion, justice, and redemption, showcasing George Eliot’s deep understanding of human emotions and rural life.
MCQs:
- Who is the author of Adam Bede?
A) Thomas Hardy
B) Charles Dickens
C) George Eliot
D) Charlotte Brontë
Answer: C) George Eliot - Where is the novel Adam Bede set?
A) London
B) Hayslope
C) St. Ogg’s
D) Bath
Answer: B) Hayslope - What is Adam Bede’s profession?
A) Farmer
B) Carpenter
C) Blacksmith
D) Doctor
Answer: B) Carpenter
Adam Bede - Who is Hetty Sorrel?
A) A preacher
B) A schoolteacher
C) A dairymaid
D) A seamstress
Answer: C) A dairymaid - Who seduces Hetty Sorrel?
A) Adam Bede
B) Seth Bede
C) Arthur Donnithorne
D) Mr. Irwine
Answer: C) Arthur Donnithorne - What crime does Hetty Sorrel commit?
A) Theft
B) Murder
C) Infanticide
D) Adultery
Answer: C) Infanticide - What is the final punishment given to Hetty Sorrel?
A) Hanging
B) Life imprisonment
C) Exile (transportation)
D) Flogging
Answer: C) Exile (transportation) - Who is Dinah Morris?
A) A dairymaid
B) A schoolteacher
C) A preacher
D) A landowner
Answer: C) A preacher - Whom does Adam Bede marry at the end of the novel?
A) Hetty Sorrel
B) Dinah Morris
C) Mrs. Poyser
D) No one
Answer: B) Dinah Morris - What is one of the main themes of Adam Bede?
A) Industrialization
B) The supernatural
C) Moral integrity and justice
D) The French Revolution
Answer: C) Moral integrity and justice
| Question | Answer |
| Novel Name | Adam Bede |
| Author | George Eliot (Mary Ann Evans) |
| Year Published | 1859 |
| Main Themes | Morality, justice, religion, social class, redemption |
| Literary Style | Realism |
| Setting | Hayslope, rural England |
| Main Characters | Adam Bede, Hetty Sorrel, Arthur Donnithorne, Dinah Morris, Seth Bede |
| Key Message | The consequences of moral weakness and the power of integrity and redemption |