Chapter VIII. The question of the Seal. Practice Quiz — The Prince and the Pauper
by Mark Twain — tap or click to flip
Practice Quiz: Chapter VIII. The question of the Seal.
What time does King Henry VIII wake up at the beginning of Chapter 8?
About five o'clock.
What does King Henry VIII mutter about after waking from his nap?
He mutters about troublous dreams that warn him his end is near, confirmed by his failing pulses.
Who does Henry VIII resolve must die before he himself dies?
The Duke of Norfolk.
What is the Lord Chancellor waiting to discuss with the King?
The peers of the realm have confirmed the Duke of Norfolk's doom and await the King's further pleasure — specifically, the royal warrant for Norfolk's execution.
What happens when King Henry tries to rise from his bed to seal the warrant personally?
His voice fails, an ashen pallor sweeps his cheeks, and his attendants ease him back onto his pillows and administer restoratives.
What does the King put "in commission" after he cannot rise?
The Great Seal — he orders the Lord Chancellor to choose lords to compose a commission that will use the Seal on his behalf.
Why can't the Lord Chancellor proceed with sealing the warrant?
The King took the Great Seal from the Chancellor two days earlier and now cannot remember where he put it.
Who reminds the King that the Great Seal was given to the Prince of Wales?
Lord Hertford.
Why does Tom Canty fail to produce the Great Seal when asked?
Because he is not actually the Prince of Wales — he is a pauper who switched places with Prince Edward and never received the Seal.
How does the court explain Tom's inability to remember the Seal?
They attribute it to the prince's mental "affliction" — the illness they believe has caused his memory loss and strange behavior.
How does King Henry react when told the prince cannot remember the Seal?
He responds with genuine sadness and compassion, saying his heart goes out in loving compassion and wishing he could bear the prince's burden on his own shoulders.
What does the King threaten the Lord Chancellor with when he lingers asking about the Seal?
He threatens that the Chancellor's mitre "shall have holiday the morrow for lack of a head to grace withal" — essentially threatening beheading.
What alternative seal does the King order the Chancellor to use?
The small seal that the King was accustomed to taking with him abroad, kept in his treasury.
What is the Great Seal a symbol of in the novel?
It symbolizes legitimate royal authority and power. Its disappearance mirrors the fact that the true prince — and thus legitimate power — has left the palace.
What type of dramatic irony is at work in Chapter 8?
The reader knows Tom Canty is an impostor who never received the Seal, while the court characters believe the prince is simply too ill to remember.
What does Henry VIII's determination to execute Norfolk reveal about his character?
It reveals his vindictive nature — even on his deathbed, he channels his remaining energy into vengeance rather than reconciliation or reflection.
What is the historical basis for the Duke of Norfolk's execution in the novel?
Historically, Thomas Howard, Duke of Norfolk, was condemned for treason in January 1547. Henry VIII died the night before the scheduled execution, so Norfolk was ultimately spared.
What literary device does Twain use by having characters speak in archaic English?
Archaic diction — words like "sith," "sooth," and "withal" create period authenticity while subtly satirizing the formality of royal speech.
What theme is illustrated by the fact that the King's spoken command is insufficient without the Great Seal?
The theme of power and its symbols — even the most powerful man in England requires a physical object to validate his authority.
How does the identity-swap plot deepen in Chapter 8?
Tom's inability to produce the Seal creates a palace crisis, but the court's assumption that the prince is ill protects the disguise — no one suspects an impostor.
What is the final outcome of the commission authorized by the King?
The commission gives royal assent using the small seal and appoints the next morning for the beheading of the Duke of Norfolk.