The Return of the Native Characters Quiz

Study Notes

Characters

Diggory Venn: A reddleman (red dye seller) who is deeply in love with Thomasin Yeobright, he consistently acts to protect her.
Thomasin Yeobright: A young woman who is initially engaged to Damon Wildeve, but eventually marries Diggory Venn.
Damon Wildeve: A wealthy and charming man who is infatuated with Eustacia Vye, and uses Thomasin to make Eustacia jealous.
Eustacia Vye: An alluring and ambitious woman who dreams of escaping the heath and desires a life of refinement and glamour.
Clym Yeobright: Thomasin's cousin, he is initially drawn to Eustacia's beauty and ambition, but is ultimately disillusioned by her.
Mrs. Yeobright: Clym’s mother, and Thomasin's guardian, she is a strong-willed and traditional woman who disapproves of the match between Clym and Eustacia.

Plot Summary

The novel opens with the delayed marriage between Thomasin and Wildeve, where Wildeve sabotaged the marriage certificate to try to win Eustacia, who is already in love with Clym.
Clym and Eustacia eventually marry, despite the disapproval of Mrs. Yeobright.
Clym and Eustacia’s marriage becomes strained as Eustacia pushes for a life outside of the heath, while Clym is committed to his home and a local school.
Wildeve inherits money and renews pursuit of Eustacia, leading to the tragic death of Mrs. Yeobright due to heartbreak, snakebite, and Eustacia’s decision to hide their interaction.
Clym learns about his mother’s death and Eustacia's affair with Wildeve, causing a rift between them .
Eustacia and Wildeve plan to escape together, but in a stormy night, both drown while trying to flee the heath.
Diggory Venn saves Clym from drowning, and he becomes a preacher, while Thomasin marries Diggory Venn.

Key Themes

Love and Passion: The complex and often destructive nature of love, explored through multiple relationships, particularly the ill-fated romance between Clym and Eustacia.
Fate and Chance: The role of chance encounters and unforeseen events in shaping characters’ lives and ultimate destinies, and how it influences their individual stories.
Social Class and Ambition: The limitations of social class and ambition are highlighted through the story, specifically tied to Eustacia’s desire to leave the heath and achieve a better life.
Nature and Civilization: The conflicting forces of nature and civilization, particularly the influence of the heath on the characters' lives and choices.
Redemption and Forgiveness: The possibilities of redemption through forgiveness explored through Diggory Venn's unwavering love and Thomasin’s eventual acceptance of him.

Description

Test your knowledge of the characters from Thomas Hardy's 'The Return of the Native.' This quiz will cover key character traits, relationships, and motivations of the main figures in the story. See how well you understand the dynamics between Diggory Venn, Thomasin Yeobright, and Eustacia Vye.