57 Questions
What is Moll Flanders' occupation for five years of her life?
Whore
Where does Moll Flanders end up living after marrying a rich gentleman?
Lancashire
Who marries a draper and then flees the country as a fugitive?
Moll Flanders
Why does Moll leave her half-brother husband in America?
She discovers he is her half-brother
With whom does Moll agree to marry if he can obtain a divorce?
The banker
What happens to the man who was Moll's lover but later renounces her?
Dies in a religious experience
Which of the following is NOT one of Moll's marital statuses throughout her life?
Fugitive from the law
Who is the first person that seduces Moll at an early age?
First lover
In which location does Moll receive education on manners and needlework as an infant?
Public charity
How many times does Moll Flanders marry in her lifetime?
Six times
What is Moll Flanders' ultimate fate in the novel?
She becomes a successful businesswoman
How does Moll Flanders end up in prison?
For theft
What genre did Defoe attempt to justify his novel as due to lack of precedent during the time of its writing?
Biography
What characterizes the language style used by Defoe in 'Moll Flanders'?
Journalistic and plain
What aspect of Moll Flanders' character is appreciated by readers despite her immoral actions?
Her charm and psychological depth
What is the reason given within the text for the lack of serious consequences to Moll Flanders' immoral actions?
Her material necessity
What alias does the protagonist 'Moll Flanders' adopt during her years as an expert thief?
Moll
Who is Moll Flanders' second husband that sinks them into poverty due to financial indiscretions?
The Draper
What relationship does Moll have with the Elder Brother in the wealthy family she stays with during her teenage years?
He is her lover
Who turns out to be Moll Flanders' half-brother after she marries him and moves to Virginia?
The Plantation Owner
In 'Moll Flanders', who takes care of Moll from age three through her teenage years?
The Nurse
'My Lancashire husband' is an alias used for which character in 'Moll Flanders'?
Jemy
'My Governess' in the novel 'Moll Flanders' plays what role for the protagonist?
Midwife and landlady
Which character in 'Moll Flanders' is deceived into marrying the protagonist under false pretenses of great wealth?
The Gentleman
When 'Moll Flanders' returns to America at the end of the novel, which character shows her overwhelming affection upon meeting?
Humphrey
What is Moll Flanders' ultimate fate in the novel?
She grows rich, lives honestly, and dies as a penitent
Who is Moll Flanders' first husband?
The younger brother of her first lover
What role does Moll Flanders' mother play in her life?
She is transported to America soon after Moll's birth
What motivates Moll to leave her half-brother husband in America?
The discovery of their familial relationship
What is the main reason Moll agrees to marry the banker in the novel?
For financial stability and the possibility of a divorce
Where does Moll grow up after being raised by a kind widow during her infancy?
England
What is the societal conflict highlighted in the text?
Conflict between mercantilist ethics and religious ethics
How does Defoe portray human relationships in the novel?
As expedients with abrupt endings and little residual emotion
How does Moll evolve as a character in the novel?
By becoming more sophisticated in navigating life and gradually embracing vice
What is the predominant theme regarding human existence in the novel?
Life is defined by materialistic concerns overshadowing spiritual matters
How does Moll view her own story from the vantage point of repentance?
As a life driven by material but not ethical consequences
What characterizes Defoe's vision of human existence in 'Moll Flanders'?
A world where human life is seen as a basic struggle for survival defined by materialistic concerns
What does Moll Flanders become skilled at after living in poverty for several years?
Thievery
How does Moll Flanders reunite with her Lancashire husband in prison?
By volunteering for the same prison work duty
What saves Moll Flanders and her Lancashire husband from death sentences?
Having their sentences reduced
What term best describes Defoe's attitude towards Moll Flanders' immoral actions?
Indifference
What is the primary emphasis of 'Moll Flanders' concerning its protagonist's life?
'Day-to-day exigencies'
How does Defoe justify the novel 'Moll Flanders' in terms of its genre?
'Rogue biography'
What is the main reason behind the lack of consequences to Moll Flanders' immoral actions within the novel?
'Material necessity'
How does Moll Flanders' attitude towards labor and crime differ from traditional Christian morality?
'Values perseverance and human labor'
'Moll Flanders,' despite her shortcomings, is appreciated by readers primarily for her ____________.
'Psychological nuance'
'Moll Flanders' showcases the conflict between absolute Christian morality and ________ ethics governing human survival.
'Economic'
What is one of the most striking and unusual features about Moll Flanders as a female protagonist?
Her self-sufficiency and defiance of conventional feminine roles
In 'Moll Flanders,' what is the effect of Moll's flexible moral code?
It allows her to accommodate morally dubious opportunities for survival
Which man in 'Moll Flanders' marries her under the deception that she possesses a great fortune?
The Draper
What event prompts the rich gentleman in 'Moll Flanders' to break off his affair with Moll?
His wife's madness
What role does 'My Lancashire husband' play in Moll Flanders' life?
Husband
Where does Moll Flanders display the most confidence and celebrity according to the text?
In her criminal activities within the lowest stratum of society
What happens to Moll's mother in 'Moll Flanders' soon after Moll's birth?
She is transported to the American colonies
Who is referred to as 'The Nurse' in 'Moll Flanders'?
A widow who takes care of Moll from age three through her teenage years
What is the ultimate fate of 'The Banker' in 'Moll Flanders'?
He dies after living happily with Moll for years
What significant quality allows Moll in 'Moll Flanders' to navigate situations even in morally dubious arenas?
Her flexible moral code designed for self-reliance
Study Notes
Moll Flanders' Life
- Moll Flanders is a thief for five years of her life.
- She lives in Newgate for a time.
- She ends up living in Virginia after marrying a rich gentleman.
Marriages and Relationships
- Moll marries a draper and flees the country as a fugitive.
- She marries her half-brother in Virginia, but leaves him due to his poverty and lack of wealth.
- She agrees to marry a banker if he can obtain a divorce.
- She is seduced by the Elder Brother in the wealthy family she stays with during her teenage years.
- She receives education on manners and needlework as an infant in Colchester.
Character Traits
- Moll Flanders is skilled at thievery after living in poverty for several years.
- She is appreciated by readers for her adaptability and resourcefulness.
- She has a flexible moral code, which affects her relationships and actions throughout the novel.
Novel Structure and Themes
- Defoe attempts to justify his novel as a 'private history' due to lack of precedent during the time of its writing.
- The language style used by Defoe is characterized by simplicity and clarity.
- The novel's primary emphasis is on Moll Flanders' life, highlighting the conflict between absolute Christian morality and survival ethics.
- The predominant theme regarding human existence in the novel is the struggle for survival and the complexity of human nature.
Prison and Redemption
- Moll Flanders ends up in prison, where she reunites with her Lancashire husband.
- They are saved from death sentences due to the charitable intervention of a rich woman.
- Defoe portrays Moll's attitude towards her past immoral actions with ambiguity, neither condemning nor justifying them.
- Moll views her own story from the vantage point of repentance, showcasing her growth as a character throughout the novel.
Test your knowledge on the plot of Moll Flanders, a novel that follows the life of the eponymous character through various highs and lows, capturing her experiences as a prostitute, wife, thief, felon, and ultimately a reformed individual. Get ready to explore the twists and turns of Moll's life!
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