55 Questions
Who is the protagonist of Vanity Fair?
Becky Sharp
What is Amelia Sedley's background in Vanity Fair?
Middle-class daughter
Who is on the brink of proposing to Becky before being scared off by George?
Jos
Why does Miss Crawley threaten to disinherit Rawdon?
For marrying a governess
What does George's father do to break off his engagement to Amelia in Vanity Fair?
Goes bankrupt
Who buys back Amelia's piano from an auction in Vanity Fair?
William Dobbin
Why does Sir Pitt Crawley make a surprise visit to propose in Vanity Fair?
To propose to Becky
What job does Becky Sharp take up after finishing school in Vanity Fair?
Governess in the country
How does George react when Jos is on the brink of proposing to Becky in Vanity Fair?
He scares Jos off
What misconception does Amelia have about the piano bought back by William Dobbin in Vanity Fair?
She believes it is a gift from George
What event leads to George being disowned by his family?
Dobbin helping George and Amelia elope
How does Becky manipulate situations to her advantage in London?
By fostering good relationships with Pitt and Lady Jane
What action of Becky's leads to Rawdon getting a job on a distant island?
Assaulting Lord Steyne
Why does Becky's reputation force her to leave England?
She was considered a social outcast due to her actions
What motivates Amelia to allow Georgy to be raised by his grandfather?
Financial hardship faced by the family
Why does Dobbin go to Brussels to meet Jos at his hotel room?
To confront Jos about his relationship with Becky
How does Becky attempt to manipulate Amelia's feelings towards Dobbin?
By showing Amelia the note George had slipped her before battle
What prompts Amelia to finally consider Dobbin as a romantic partner?
Becky revealing George's note to Amelia
How does Dobbin react when he realizes Amelia's unwavering devotion to her deceased husband?
He decides to move away and cut ties with Amelia.
What ultimately leads to Dobbin and Amelia getting married?
Amelia discovering a letter from George.
What social class does Becky Sharp belong to in Vanity Fair?
Lower class
In Vanity Fair, what is the main conflict for Becky Sharp?
Fighting against societal norms and class divisions
What is the backdrop against which Vanity Fair unfolds?
A frame of a puppet show
Who does Amelia Sedley have an ill-fated relationship with in Vanity Fair?
George Osborne
What motivates Becky Sharp in Vanity Fair to strive for higher social status?
Her ambition and awareness of class divisions
Why does George's father break off his engagement to Amelia in Vanity Fair?
Due to her father's bankruptcy
Who reaches out to Dobbin after learning about George's affair with Becky?
Amelia
Where do Amelia and Dobbin settle down after getting married?
Outside London
How does Jos meet his end in the story?
Dies in a mysterious illness
What role does Becky take up when she returns to England?
Churchgoing, charitable lady
What signifies the end of Becky's and Amelia's stories in the novel?
A charity fair encounter
Why does the narrator put his puppets back in the box without further explanation?
To show the end of the play
Why does the narrator leave unanswered questions at the end of the story?
To emphasize ambiguity
How did neither Becky nor Amelia end up having the life they expected?
Due to their own actions
What is the inciting incident that sets the larger plot in motion for Amelia and Becky in Vanity Fair?
Becky's arrival at the Sedley household
What leads to Becky's disinheritance by Miss Crawley in Vanity Fair?
Her secret marriage to Rawdon Crawley
What is the climax of Becky's storyline in Vanity Fair?
Being caught in an intimate dinner with Lord Steyne
What causes Amelia to lose guardianship of her son Georgy in Vanity Fair?
Giving up guardianship to Mr. Osborne
Why does Dobbin reject Amelia after Mr. Osborne's death in Vanity Fair?
He realizes he wasted his life pining after her
What realization does Dobbin come to during an argument with Amelia in Vanity Fair?
Amelia is not worthy of George
What drives the narrative in Vanity Fair, according to the text?
The pursuit of happiness and love
Which character in Vanity Fair is characterized by their ambition to attain social standing and money?
Becky
What do the truly virtuous characters in Vanity Fair aspire to achieve?
Happiness and love
In Vanity Fair, what often prevents meaningful relationships among characters?
Shared ambitions
What is the central theme that largely influences female protagonists in Vanity Fair?
Marriage and love
What is the primary trait that defines Becky's pursuit of her goals in Vanity Fair?
Manipulation
What motivates characters in Vanity Fair to pursue love?
Vanity and selfishness
What quality do happy marriages lack in Vanity Fair?
Genuine affection
What motivates characters to chase social status and material possessions in Vanity Fair?
Vanity
What term does the narrator use to refer to many male characters in Vanity Fair?
"Gentleman"
What is one of the key questions Thackeray explores in Vanity Fair regarding character traits?
What it means to be a "gentleman" or a "lady"
Which character exemplifies trading love for money in Vanity Fair?
Rawdon
What quality is lacking in most characters in the world of Vanity Fair according to the text?
"Humility"
"In the world of early 1800s England, what qualifies a man to be considered a gentleman?"
"Noble birth"
"What is a key theme that runs through the whole novel Vanity Fair regarding character motivations?"
"Vanity"
Study Notes
Characters in Vanity Fair
- Becky Sharp is the protagonist of Vanity Fair.
- Amelia Sedley comes from a wealthy family and is naive and innocent.
- Becky Sharp belongs to the lower social class.
Relationships in Vanity Fair
- George Osborne is on the brink of proposing to Becky before being scared off by George.
- George's father breaks off his engagement to Amelia after discovering her family's financial troubles.
- Amelia has an ill-fated relationship with George Osborne.
- Dobbin and Amelia get married after Amelia's husband George passes away.
Plot Events in Vanity Fair
- Miss Crawley threatens to disinherit Rawdon due to his wasteful spending.
- George is disowned by his family after his scandalous affair with Becky is discovered.
- Becky's reputation forces her to leave England.
- Becky takes a job as a governess after finishing school.
- Dobbin buys back Amelia's piano from an auction.
- Jos meets his end in the story by dying of a broken heart.
Themes in Vanity Fair
- The central theme that largely influences female protagonists is the pursuit of social standing and wealth.
- Characters are motivated to pursue love, social status, and material possessions due to their ambitions and desires.
- Happy marriages lack love and emotional connection in Vanity Fair.
- Ambition is the primary trait that defines Becky's pursuit of her goals.
- The novel explores the theme of character traits, with many characters lacking virtues and morals.
- The narrator refers to many male characters as "puppets".
Character Traits in Vanity Fair
- Becky Sharp is characterized by her ambition to attain social standing and money.
- Dobbin comes to realize that true love requires selflessness and sacrifice during an argument with Amelia.
- Many characters in Vanity Fair lack virtues and morals, leading to superficial relationships.
- The truly virtuous characters in Vanity Fair aspire to achieve emotional connection and love.
Social Commentary in Vanity Fair
- The novel Vanity Fair unfolds against the backdrop of the Napoleonic Wars.
- In the world of early 1800s England, a man is considered a gentleman if he has wealth, title, and social status.
- The text explores the theme of social class and the consequences of chasing social status and material possessions.
Test your knowledge on the opening of Vanity Fair, where the main characters Becky Sharp and Amelia Sedley are introduced. Explore their backgrounds and the relationships they have with other characters like George, William Dobbin, and Jos.
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