Chapter II. Tom's early life. Practice Quiz — The Prince and the Pauper
by Mark Twain — tap or click to flip
Practice Quiz: Chapter II. Tom's early life.
Where does Tom Canty live?
In Offal Court, a foul little alley off Pudding Lane, near London Bridge in London.
What is the approximate population of London as described in Chapter 2?
About one hundred thousand inhabitants, though some estimates suggest double that number.
What floor does the Canty family occupy in their house?
The third floor, in a single room.
Who are Bet and Nan?
Tom Canty's fifteen-year-old twin sisters. They are good-hearted but uneducated, unclean, and clothed in rags.
What is John Canty's occupation?
He is a thief. His mother (Tom's grandmother) is a beggar.
Who is Father Andrew?
A good old priest whom the King turned out of his home, who secretly teaches Tom to read, write, and learn a little Latin.
Why do Bet and Nan refuse Father Andrew's offer to teach them?
They are afraid of the jeers of their friends, who could not have endured such a "queer accomplishment" in girls.
What does Tom's mother secretly do for him at night?
She slips him any miserable scrap or crust of food she has saved by going hungry herself, risking a beating from her husband if caught.
What is Tom's one consuming desire?
To see a real prince with his own eyes. This desire grows until it becomes the one passion of his life.
What happens when Tom tells his Offal Court comrades about wanting to see a prince?
They jeer and scoff at him so unmercifully that he keeps his dream to himself after that.
How does Tom's reading and dreaming affect his behavior?
His speech and manners become "curiously ceremonious and courtly," earning the admiration and awe of his peers and even adults.
What does Tom organize among his friends?
A mock royal court where he plays the prince and his comrades serve as guards, chamberlains, equerries, lords, ladies, and the royal family.
What role does irony play in the narration of Chapter 2?
Twain repeatedly states Tom "was not unhappy" and his life "went along well enough" while describing severe poverty, abuse, and hunger, creating darkly comic understatement.
How does the chapter foreshadow events later in the novel?
Tom's courtly manners, his mock royal court, and his desire to see a real prince all prepare the reader for the identity switch with Prince Edward.
What is the significance of the name "Offal Court"?
"Offal" means waste or refuse (especially from butchered animals), symbolizing the degradation and social neglect of the place and its residents.
What does the word "mendicancy" mean as used in the chapter?
The practice of begging. Tom begs only enough to survive because "the laws against mendicancy were stringent, and the penalties heavy."
What historical event does Tom witness at Smithfield?
He sees Anne Askew and three men burned at the stake, and hears an ex-Bishop preach a sermon to them.
What theme does the contrast between Tom's dreams and his waking life illustrate?
The theme of class inequality and the gap between wealth and poverty. Tom's dreams of royal splendor make his actual squalor feel "a thousandfold" worse.
How does Chapter 2 introduce the theme of appearance versus inner worth?
Tom's ragged clothing conceals a mind and bearing that command respect from both children and adults, showing that outward appearance does not reflect true character.
What is the effect of Father Andrew's education on Tom?
It transforms Tom internally: he laments his shabby clothing, wishes to be clean, develops courtly manners, and becomes a respected figure -- but it also makes him acutely aware of his poverty.
What does Tom dream about on the cold January night at the end of the chapter?
He dreams of being a princeling, moving among great lords and ladies "in a blaze of light, breathing perfumes, drinking in delicious music."
What happens when Tom wakes the next morning?
His dream intensifies "the sordidness of his surroundings a thousandfold," bringing bitterness, heartbreak, and tears.
What does the juxtaposition of Tudor architecture details and Offal Court squalor achieve?
It creates a vivid contrast between the picturesque surface of London and the misery hidden within, reinforcing the theme that appearances are deceiving.