Maid in Waiting MCQs & Summary

By: Prof. Dr. Fazal Rehman Shamil | Last updated: February 22, 2025

Summary:

Maid in Waiting is the first novel in the End of the Chapter trilogy, continuing the legacy of The Forsyte Saga. The story revolves around Dinny Cherrell, a strong-willed and intelligent young woman from an aristocratic but financially struggling family.

The main conflict arises when her brother, Hubert Cherrell, is accused of murdering a South American official while working abroad. Determined to prove his innocence, Dinny faces societal and legal challenges while also grappling with her own emotions, particularly her growing feelings for Wilfred Desert, a poet with a troubled past.

The novel explores themes of justice, honor, family duty, and personal independence. It presents a society transitioning between tradition and modernity, reflecting deep insights into the changing social landscape of early 20th-century England.

MCQs:

1. Who is the protagonist of the novel?
   A) Soames Forsyte
   B) Fleur Mont
   C) Dinny Cherrell
   D) Irene Forsyte
   Answer: C) Dinny Cherrell
2. What is the central conflict in the story?
   A) A financial crisis in the Forsyte family
   B) Dinny’s struggle to clear her brother’s name
   C) A political revolution in England
   D) A love triangle involving Dinny
   Answer: B) Dinny’s struggle to clear her brother’s name
3. Who is accused of murder in the novel?
   A) Soames Forsyte
   B) Wilfred Desert
   C) Hubert Cherrell
   D) Michael Mont
   Answer: C) Hubert Cherrell

   

4. What theme is strongly reflected in the novel?
   A) The decline of the aristocracy
   B) The power of industrialization
   C) The conflict between old values and new ideas
   D) The dangers of war
   Answer: C) The conflict between old values and new ideas
5. Who is Wilfred Desert?
   A) Dinny’s brother
   B) A poet with a troubled past
   C) A political leader
   D) A businessman
   Answer: B) A poet with a troubled past
6. How does Dinny Cherrell view her family’s traditions?
   A) She rejects them completely
   B) She struggles to balance tradition with personal freedom
   C) She blindly follows them
   D) She is indifferent to them
   Answer: B) She struggles to balance tradition with personal freedom
7. What type of novel is it?
   A) A fantasy novel
   B) A historical romance
   C) A psychological and social novel
   D) A detective mystery
   Answer: C) A psychological and social novel
8. What does the novel symbolize in the context of The Forsyte Saga?
   A) The beginning of a new era for the Forsyte family
   B) The downfall of the British Empire
   C) The impact of war on society
   D) The exploration of justice and morality
   Answer: D) The exploration of justice and morality
9. Where does part of the novel take place?
   A) France
   B) South America
   C) Scotland
   D) India
   Answer: C) Scotland
10. What literary style is used in the novel?
    A) Satirical and exaggerated
    B) Realistic with psychological depth
    C) Romantic and poetic
    D) Dramatic and suspenseful
    Answer: B) Realistic with psychological depth