The Bishops' Candlesticks - Test Questions

Question 1

Question:    Who are Marie and Persome?

Answer:    Marie is a young girl who comes to help in the housework. Persome is the Bishop's sister.

Question 2

Question:    Where had the Bishop gone? Why was he late for supper?

Answer:    The Bishop had gone to Marie's house to look up her mother as she was unwell.

Question 3

Question:    What had happened to the salt cellars?

Answer:    Mere Gringoire was an old lady who was unable to pay the house rent. The Bishop asked Marie to sell the salt cellar for him. He used the money to pay off the poor woman's house rent.

Question 4

Question:    What did the convict first ask for?

Answer:    He asked for some food.

Question 5

Question:    What does the convict tell him about his life before imprisonment?

Answer:    He had a cottage with vines growing. He had a wife but she was ill. They had a bad year and there was no food to eat. He had to steal some food for her.

Question 6

Question:    What treatment did the convict receive in prison?

Answer:    The convict received inhuman treatment. They whipped him, fed him with unhealthy food, made him sleep on cold hard boards.

Question 7

Question:    What effect did such inhuman treatment have on the convict?

Answer:    The convict felt hurt and afraid. Soon they broke down his spirit. He became just a number and forgot his earlier life. He even lost the ability to pray, for he says, he lost his soul.

Question 8

Question:    What happened to him after his escape from jail?

Answer:    The wardens were looking for him. He had nowhere to go, no food to eat. He even had to steal the clothes that he was wearing.

Question 9

Question:    How does the Bishop and Persome react when they learn that the candlesticks are stolen?

Answer:    Persome reacts violently. She shouts and is very upset. The Bishop is also upset but he blames himself for exposing the convict to the temptation.

Question 10

Question:    What does the Bishop tell the sergeant?

Answer:    The sergeant sees the convict moving stealthily and arrests him. He brings the convict along with the stolen candlesticks to the Bishop's house. But the Bishop tells him that the convict is his friend and the silver candlesticks were a gift from him.

Question 11

Question:    What significant role did the Bishop's Candlesticks play?

Answer:    The candle sticks were a dying gift from the Bishop's mother. They reminded him of her. But when the convict received them as a gift, they become symbols of hope and life. The convict would now believe in the goodness of life and lead a steady life