Chapter V. Tom as a patrician. Practice Quiz — The Prince and the Pauper
by Mark Twain — tap or click to flip
Practice Quiz: Chapter V. Tom as a patrician.
What does Tom Canty do when he is first left alone in the prince's cabinet?
He admires himself in the great mirror, draws the prince's sword, bows and kisses the blade, plays with a jewelled dagger, and tries out the sumptuous chairs — imagining how impressed the Offal Court children would be.
Why does Tom become frightened after being alone for half an hour?
He realizes the prince has been gone a long time and fears that someone will discover him in royal clothes without the prince there to explain, possibly leading to his execution.
What happens when Tom opens the door to the antechamber?
Six gentlemen-servants and two young pages spring to their feet and bow low before him, causing Tom to retreat in fear that they will mock him and report him.
Who is the first named visitor to come to Tom in the prince's rooms?
Lady Jane Grey, described as a sweet young girl richly clad, who bounds toward him but stops when she senses something is wrong.
How does Tom respond when Lady Jane Grey addresses him as "my lord"?
He falls to his knees and begs for mercy, confessing that he is "only poor Tom Canty of Offal Court" and pleading to be allowed to see the prince so he can get his rags back and leave unhurt.
What rumor spreads through the palace after Tom's confession?
"The prince hath gone mad, the prince hath gone mad!" — whispered from menial to menial and lord to lady through every corridor and saloon.
What royal proclamation is issued about the rumor of the prince's madness?
A proclamation "In the name of the King" commands that no one listen to, discuss, or spread the rumor, upon pain of death.
Describe the physical appearance of Henry VIII as presented in Chapter 5.
He is a very large and very fat man with a wide, pulpy face and stern expression. His large head and whiskers are grey. His clothing is rich but old and slightly frayed. One swollen leg rests on a pillow wrapped in bandages.
How does Henry VIII initially address Tom when they meet?
Gently and lovingly, calling him "my lord Edward, my prince" and asking if he has been trying to play a jest on "the good King thy father, who loveth thee."
What is Tom's reaction when he realizes he is speaking to the King?
His face blanches and he drops instantly to his knees, exclaiming "Thou the king? Then am I undone indeed!"
What two languages does Henry VIII use to test Tom's mental state?
Latin and French. Tom answers haltingly in Latin (which encourages the King), but he cannot speak French at all, which causes the King to nearly faint.
What does Henry VIII conclude is the cause of the prince's supposed madness?
Over-study and too much confinement. He orders the prince's books and teachers removed, and commands that Tom be entertained with sports and wholesome amusements.
What does Henry VIII declare about the prince's succession despite the apparent madness?
"Mad or sane, still shall he reign!" He commands that Tom be installed in his princely dignity the very next morning and threatens the gallows for anyone who speaks of the distemper.
Who is Lord Hertford, and what role does he play in Chapter 5?
Lord Hertford is the prince's uncle. Henry VIII orders him to make arrangements for Tom's formal installation as Prince of Wales, and Hertford responds: "The King's will is law."
Why does the issue of the Duke of Norfolk come up in Chapter 5?
A noble points out that the Hereditary Great Marshal of England (Norfolk) is attainted and imprisoned in the Tower, making the installation ceremony procedurally problematic. Henry furiously demands Norfolk's execution be ordered before sunrise.
How does Tom show compassion regarding the Duke of Norfolk?
Tom asks the King "is it not I that speed him hence?" and expresses grief that his installation would hasten an innocent man's death — showing a moral sensitivity absent in the court.
What is dramatic irony, and how does Twain use it in Chapter 5?
Dramatic irony occurs when the audience knows something the characters do not. In Chapter 5, readers know Tom is telling the truth about being a pauper, but every character interprets his honest words as symptoms of madness.
How does the motif of clothing as identity function in Chapter 5?
Because Tom wears the prince's garments, everyone judges him by his appearance rather than his words. His truthful confession is dismissed as madness because royal clothing is seen as irrefutable proof of royal identity.
What does the "gilded cage" image represent in this chapter?
It represents the idea that privilege can be its own form of imprisonment. Tom is surrounded by luxury but is terrified, friendless, and unable to leave — the palace is as much a prison as Offal Court.
What is the significance of the chapter's final image — the severed head of the Duke of Norfolk?
It symbolizes the mortal danger lurking beneath the court's splendor. Tom's haunting vision of the duke's head underscores that the royal world he has entered is one where lives are casually ended by royal decree.
What does Tom mean when he says he wishes to return to "the kennel where I was born"?
He is referring to his family's home in Offal Court — a miserable slum dwelling — but one that harbors his mother and sisters and therefore feels like home compared to the terrifying palace.
How does Twain satirize absolute monarchy in Chapter 5?
Henry VIII simultaneously shows paternal tenderness and threatens death for anyone who speaks of his son's condition. His word alone can condemn a duke, install a prince, silence the court, and override legal procedure — illustrating the dangerous caprice of unchecked power.
What is the meaning of the word "patrician" in the chapter title "Tom as a Patrician"?
A patrician is a person of high social rank or noble birth. The title is ironic because Tom is the opposite — a pauper from the slums who has been thrust into the role of a nobleman against his will.