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Bartleby the Scrivener Quiz
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Bartleby the Scrivener Quiz

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Questions and Answers

What is Bartleby's job in the law office?

  • Client
  • Office Boy
  • Scrivener (correct)
  • Lawyer
  • What phrase does Bartleby commonly use when refusing work?

  • That's not my job.
  • I will not do it.
  • I would prefer not to. (correct)
  • I am too busy.
  • Who is the narrator of the story?

  • An unnamed lawyer (correct)
  • Bartleby
  • Nippers
  • Turkey
  • What happens to Bartleby at the end of the story?

    <p>He is arrested and dies.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which character is known for becoming ineffective due to drinking?

    <p>Turkey</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What happens to the lawyer as he witnesses Bartleby's behavior?

    <p>He becomes increasingly frustrated with Bartleby's refusals.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How do Turkey and Nippers contribute to the office dynamic?

    <p>Turkey's productivity decreases significantly with time, while Nippers is often irritable.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is Bartleby's ultimate fate in the story?

    <p>He dies in prison from starvation.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What character trait best describes Bartleby during his employment?

    <p>Diligent at first, later passive and non-compliant.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What motivates the lawyer to move his office?

    <p>To avoid further confrontation with Bartleby.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    Plot Summary

    • Setting: A law office on Wall Street, New York City, in the 1850s.
    • Narrator: The unnamed lawyer who runs the law office.
    • Introduction of Bartleby: Bartleby is hired as a scrivener (copyist). Initially hardworking and efficient.
    • Change in Behavior: Bartleby starts to decline work requests, responding with "I would prefer not to."
    • Escalation: His refusals increase; he stops doing any work altogether.
    • Isolation: Bartleby becomes increasingly isolated, refusing to leave the office even after being fired.
    • Final Outcome: The narrator moves offices but Bartleby remains. Eventually, he is arrested for vagrancy and imprisoned.
    • Bartleby's Death: He dies in prison, refusing food and showing indifference to life.

    Characters

    • Bartleby: The main character; a scrivener who prefers to abstain from work and social interaction.
    • The Narrator: A lawyer and the owner of the law office; attempts to understand Bartleby's behavior.
    • Turkey: An older scrivener who works in the mornings but becomes ineffective in the afternoons due to drinking.
    • Nippers: A scrivener who is young and restless, often struggles to work in the mornings.
    • Ginger Nut: A young office boy who runs errands and provides snacks for the scriveners.
    • The Lawyer's Clients: Various unnamed characters who interact with the narrator but do not play significant roles.

    Setting and Plot Overview

    • Set in a law office on Wall Street, New York City during the 1850s, highlighting the atmosphere of the legal profession.
    • The unnamed lawyer serves as the narrator, providing personal insights and perspectives.
    • Bartleby, hired as a scrivener, initially displays diligence and high efficiency in copying documents.
    • A notable shift occurs as Bartleby begins to decline work requests with the phrase "I would prefer not to."
    • His refusals escalate, ultimately leading him to cease all work and activities within the law office.
    • Bartleby's isolation deepens, as he refuses to vacate the office even after being dismissed by the narrator.
    • The narrator relocates the office but Bartleby remains behind, highlighting his detachment from the world.
    • Bartleby is eventually arrested for vagrancy and faces imprisonment.
    • He dies in prison, demonstrating indifference to life by refusing food.

    Character Profiles

    • Bartleby: Central figure; embodies themes of isolation and passive resistance, opting for inactivity over societal engagement.
    • The Narrator: A law office owner who grapples with understanding Bartleby's peculiar behavior and his own moral responsibilities.
    • Turkey: An older scrivener who performs well in the mornings but becomes inefficient by afternoon due to his drinking habits.
    • Nippers: A young, restless scrivener who struggles with productivity in the morning hours, contrasting with Turkey's work pattern.
    • Ginger Nut: A young office boy responsible for errands and providing refreshments, depicting the supporting structure of the office.
    • Lawyer's Clients: Various unnamed clients that illustrate the nature of the law office's business interactions, though their direct impact is minimal.

    Plot Summary

    • The story is set in a law office located on Wall Street, New York City, during the mid-19th century.
    • The narrator is an unnamed lawyer who owns and operates a small legal practice.
    • Bartleby is hired by the lawyer as a scrivener due to his initial impressive demeanor and productivity.
    • Initially, Bartleby is a diligent worker, but he soon starts to decline tasks by stating, "I would prefer not to."
    • As Bartleby's refusal escalates, he eventually ceases all work and begins to live in the office, raising concerns.
    • Attempts to confront Bartleby reveal his unyielding nature as he continues to refuse all requests.
    • To evade confrontation, the lawyer relocates his office, but Bartleby remains in the former space.
    • Bartleby is arrested for vagrancy; the lawyer visits him in prison where Bartleby is unresponsive.
    • Bartleby ultimately dies of starvation, highlighting a tragic end to his passive resistance.

    Characters

    • Bartleby: A scrivener who transitions from diligent work to complete passivity, exhibiting profound withdrawal from societal engagement.
    • Narrator (Lawyer): The unnamed lawyer who struggles to comprehend Bartleby's behavior and attempts to help him, reflecting a duality of empathy and frustration.
    • Turkey: An older scrivener productive in the mornings but becomes ineffective in the afternoons due to alcohol consumption, illustrating the pitfalls of personal excess.
    • Nippers: A younger scrivener whose work is hindered by indigestion, experiencing irritability in the morning, showcasing the struggles of daily life.
    • Ginger Nut: A young office boy who performs errands and provides snacks for the scriveners, representing the dynamics of office hierarchy and the burdens of labor.

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    Description

    Test your understanding of Herman Melville's 'Bartleby the Scrivener'. This quiz covers the plot summary, character analysis, and themes of the story set in a 1850s Wall Street law office. Dive deep into Bartleby's peculiar behavior and the narrator's response to it.

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