The Patrician MCQs & Summary

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

Summary:

The Patrician is a novel by John Galsworthy, first published in 1911. It explores the themes of duty, honor, class distinction, and personal conflict within the rigid structure of British aristocracy. The novel revolves around Lord Miltoun, a nobleman who is torn between his public obligations and personal desires.

Lord Miltoun is an idealistic politician and heir to an aristocratic family, expected to uphold tradition. However, his love for a widow, Audrey Noel, threatens his position in society. His strict moral code and sense of duty conflict with his personal happiness, leading to inner turmoil. Meanwhile, his younger sister, Barbara, symbolizes the changing attitudes of the younger generation, as she embraces modern ideas of love and independence.

Through Miltoun’s struggles, Galsworthy critiques the outdated values of the aristocracy and highlights the tension between personal freedom and societal expectations. The novel ultimately portrays the fading influence of the upper class in a changing world.

MCQs:

1. Who is the protagonist of The Patrician?
   A) Soames Forsyte
   B) Lord Miltoun
   C) Michael Mont
   D) Jolyon Forsyte
   Answer: B) Lord Miltoun
2. What is the central theme of The Patrician?
   A) The hypocrisy of religious institutions
   B) The conflict between personal happiness and duty
   C) The struggles of a working-class family
   D) The effects of war on society
   Answer: B) The conflict between personal happiness and duty
3. Who is Audrey Noel in the novel?
   A) A wealthy heiress
   B) A widow and love interest of Lord Miltoun
   C) A journalist investigating political corruption
   D) Miltoun’s sister
   Answer: B) A widow and love interest of Lord Miltoun

   

4. What role does Barbara, Miltoun’s sister, play in the novel?
   A) She represents the younger generation’s desire for change
   B) She tries to convince Miltoun to marry Audrey
   C) She opposes political reform
   D) She is a symbol of aristocratic pride
   Answer: A) She represents the younger generation’s desire for change
5. Why is Miltoun’s love for Audrey Noel controversial?
   A) She is already married
   B) She belongs to a rival political family
   C) She is a widow, which is frowned upon by society
   D) She is from a different country
   Answer: C) She is a widow, which is frowned upon by society
6. What does The Patrician critique?
   A) The corruption of the British monarchy
   B) The rigidity of the British aristocracy
   C) The rise of industrialization
   D) The decline of religious values
   Answer: B) The rigidity of the British aristocracy
7. What ultimately happens to Miltoun in the novel?
   A) He defies society and marries Audrey
   B) He sacrifices his love to fulfill his duty
   C) He moves to America to escape aristocratic pressure
   D) He leaves politics and becomes a writer
   Answer: B) He sacrifices his love to fulfill his duty
8. What does Barbara’s character represent?
   A) The decline of aristocratic power
   B) The importance of tradition
   C) The emerging modern, independent woman
   D) The loyalty of family bonds
   Answer: C) The emerging modern, independent woman
9. How does Galsworthy portray the aristocracy in The Patrician?
   A) As noble and respectable
   B) As dynamic and adaptable
   C) As rigid and resistant to change
   D) As superior to the lower classes
   Answer: C) As rigid and resistant to change
10. What is the overall tone of The Patrician?
    A) Optimistic and celebratory
    B) Satirical and humorous
    C) Tragic and reflective
    D) Romantic and adventurous
    Answer: C) Tragic and reflective