The Ruined Maid MCQs and Summary

Summary:

Thomas Hardy’s The Ruined Maid is a satirical poem that explores Victorian attitudes toward morality, class, and social status. The poem is written as a dialogue between two women who meet in town. One of them, Amelia, has become “ruined,” implying that she has engaged in a morally questionable lifestyle, likely as a mistress or prostitute. Despite her “ruined” status, she appears well-dressed, financially comfortable, and confident, contrasting with her old rural friend, who remains poor and struggles to survive. The poem critiques the hypocrisy of society, where “ruin” is condemned but also leads to material success. Hardy uses irony and contrast to highlight the rigid and unjust moral standards of the time.

MCQs:

1. Who is the poet of The Ruined Maid?
   a) William Blake
   b) Robert Browning
   c) Thomas Hardy
   d) Alfred Tennyson
   Answer: c) Thomas Hardy
2. What is the main theme of the poem?
   a) The beauty of nature
   b) The advantages of rural life
   c) The hypocrisy of societal morality and class differences
   d) The power of love and romance
   Answer: c) The hypocrisy of societal morality and class differences
3. Who are the two speakers in the poem?
   a) Two noblewomen
   b) A rich merchant and a poor farmer
   c) A country girl and a “ruined” woman
   d) A mother and her daughter
   Answer: c) A country girl and a “ruined” woman

   

4. What does the term “ruined” imply in the poem?
   a) Financial bankruptcy
   b) Engaging in an immoral lifestyle, likely as a mistress
   c) Physical destruction of property
   d) A loss of family inheritance
   Answer: b) Engaging in an immoral lifestyle, likely as a mistress
5. How does Amelia, the “ruined” maid, appear compared to her old friend?
   a) Poor and miserable
   b) Wealthy, elegant, and confident
   c) Sick and weak
   d) Angry and resentful
   Answer: b) Wealthy, elegant, and confident
6. What is ironic about the “ruined” maid’s situation?
   a) She regrets leaving the countryside
   b) She is shunned by society but has a better life than before
   c) She secretly wishes to return to her rural life
   d) She has lost all her wealth and happiness
   Answer: b) She is shunned by society but has a better life than before
7. Which literary device is most evident in the poem?
   a) Metaphor
   b) Irony
   c) Hyperbole
   d) Alliteration
   Answer: b) Irony
8. What does Amelia’s transformation suggest about Victorian society?
   a) It rewards women for moral purity above all else
   b) Social mobility is easy for all women
   c) Women who follow traditional morality remain poor and struggling
   d) Wealth and beauty come only from hard work
   Answer: c) Women who follow traditional morality remain poor and struggling
9. What is the rhyme scheme of The Ruined Maid?
   a) ABAB
   b) AABB
   c) ABCB
   d) AAAB
   Answer: b) AABB
10. What is the overall tone of the poem?
    a) Joyful and romantic
    b) Mocking and ironic
    c) Fearful and tragic
    d) Nostalgic and sorrowful
    Answer: b) Mocking and ironic