Daniel Deronda MCQs and Summary

Summary:

Daniel Deronda is a novel by George Eliot (Mary Ann Evans), published in 1876. It is Eliot’s final novel and is unique for its dual narrative structure, intertwining English aristocratic society and Jewish culture.

The novel follows two parallel stories:

1. Gwendolen Harleth’s Story – Gwendolen is a beautiful and self-centered young woman who marries the cruel and domineering Henleigh Grandcourt for financial security. However, she finds herself trapped in an unhappy marriage and later regrets her choices.
2. Daniel Deronda’s Story – Daniel, raised as an English gentleman, discovers his Jewish heritage and embraces his true identity. He falls in love with Mordecai’s sister, Mirah Lapidoth, and ultimately decides to dedicate his life to the Jewish cause, leaving England for Palestine.

The novel explores identity, morality, women’s roles, self-discovery, and Jewish nationalism (Zionism). Eliot’s portrayal of Jewish culture was groundbreaking in Victorian literature.

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MCQs:

1. Who wrote Daniel Deronda?
   A) Charles Dickens
   B) George Eliot
   C) Thomas Hardy
   D) Charlotte Brontë
   Answer: B) George Eliot
2. When was Daniel Deronda published?
   A) 1859
   B) 1865
   C) 1876
   D) 1881
   Answer: C) 1876
3. What is the name of the female protagonist in Daniel Deronda?
   A) Dorothea Brooke
   B) Gwendolen Harleth
   C) Hetty Sorrel
   D) Maggie Tulliver
   Answer: B) Gwendolen Harleth

   

4. Who does Gwendolen Harleth marry?
   A) Daniel Deronda
   B) Mordecai
   C) Henleigh Grandcourt
   D) Ezra Cohen
   Answer: C) Henleigh Grandcourt
5. What is Daniel Deronda’s true heritage?
   A) He is of noble English descent
   B) He is of Jewish descent
   C) He is part-Italian
   D) He is an orphan with unknown ancestry
   Answer: B) He is of Jewish descent
6. Who is Mirah Lapidoth?
   A) Gwendolen’s sister
   B) Daniel’s cousin
   C) A Jewish woman rescued by Daniel
   D) Grandcourt’s wife
   Answer: C) A Jewish woman rescued by Daniel
7. What is Mordecai’s vision for Daniel Deronda?
   A) To become a politician
   B) To embrace his Jewish identity and help his people
   C) To inherit an English estate
   D) To marry Gwendolen
   Answer: B) To embrace his Jewish identity and help his people
8. Where does Daniel Deronda go at the end of the novel?
   A) America
   B) Palestine
   C) France
   D) India
   Answer: B) Palestine
9. Which theme is NOT central to Daniel Deronda?
   A) Jewish identity and nationalism
   B) Self-discovery
   C) The supernatural
   D) Women’s independence
   Answer: C) The supernatural
10. What happens to Henleigh Grandcourt?
    A) He is murdered
    B) He drowns in an accident
    C) He divorces Gwendolen
    D) He moves to America
    Answer: B) He drowns in an accident