Chapter X. The Prince in the toils. Practice Quiz — The Prince and the Pauper
by Mark Twain — tap or click to flip
Practice Quiz: Chapter X. The Prince in the toils.
Who tries to defend Prince Edward from John Canty in the street, and what happens to him?
Father Andrew springs forward to block Canty's cudgel blow. Canty strikes him on the head, and Father Andrew collapses. He later dies from the injury.
What does Prince Edward declare when John Canty demands he state his name?
He declares, "I am Edward, Prince of Wales, and none other," refusing to abandon his true identity despite the danger.
How do Tom Canty's mother and sisters react when Edward insists he is the prince?
They are filled with distress and dismay, believing their "Tom" has gone mad from too much reading. They cry out, "Oh, poor Tom, poor lad!"
What habit does Mrs. Canty use as a test to determine if the boy is her real son?
Since a powder burst in Tom's face as a child, he always raises his hand before his eyes with the palm turned outward when startled from sleep — a unique gesture Mrs. Canty has observed "a hundred times."
How many times does Mrs. Canty perform her sleep test on Edward, and what is the result?
She performs the test three times. Each time Edward fails to make the habitual gesture, confirming her suspicion that he is not her son.
What forces the Canty family to flee their home in the middle of the night?
A messenger warns that the man Canty struck (Father Andrew) is dying. Canty fears being arrested for murder and orders the family to flee immediately.
How does Edward finally escape from John Canty?
During a celebration on the Thames, a waterman forces Canty to drink from a loving-cup. The ceremony requires both hands, so Canty must release Edward's wrist. Edward dives into the crowd and disappears.
What does Edward conclude about Tom Canty after escaping?
Edward concludes that Tom Canty has deliberately taken advantage of the situation and become a usurper. He resolves to go to the Guildhall to denounce Tom and reclaim his identity.
Describe Mrs. Canty's character as revealed in Chapter 10.
She is compassionate, protective, and intelligent. She shields Edward from beatings with her own body, saves food for him, and devises a clever test to verify his identity. Her love overrides the evidence of her own test.
How does John Canty treat Edward in this chapter?
Canty is violent and cruel. He mocks Edward's royal claims for entertainment, beats him when he refuses to report begging earnings, and drags him through the streets by the wrist.
What role does the grandmother ("the hag") play in Chapter 10?
The grandmother is an equally cruel figure who eagerly assists Canty in beating Edward. She represents the cycle of violence and cruelty within the Canty household.
How do Nan and Bet show compassion toward Edward?
After the beatings, the sisters creep to where Edward lies and tenderly cover him with straw and rags to protect him from the cold, risking punishment for showing sympathy.
What is the central theme illustrated by the parallel treatment of Tom and Edward?
The theme of social class determining treatment: Tom (in royal clothes) is treated gently as a "mad prince," while Edward (in rags) is beaten as a "mad pauper" — showing that class, not character, dictates how people are treated.
How does Chapter 10 develop the theme of identity versus appearance?
Edward's true identity is invisible because his clothes mark him as a pauper. The Canty family cannot conceive that a boy in rags could be royalty, treating such a claim as madness — showing how appearances override reality in a class-based society.
What is ironic about the loving-cup ceremony in Chapter 10?
The loving-cup ceremony is a toast to the Prince of Wales — but the revellers are unknowingly toasting a false prince. The ritual ironically frees the real prince by forcing Canty to release his grip.
What literary device does Twain use when readers know Edward is the real prince but the characters do not?
Dramatic irony. The readers' knowledge of Edward's true identity makes every dismissal of his claims and every beating more emotionally powerful than it would otherwise be.
How does Twain use foreshadowing with the death of Father Andrew?
Father Andrew's fatal injury foreshadows the Canty family's flight, which in turn creates the circumstances for Edward's escape. The violence has cascading consequences throughout the plot.
What parallel structure does Twain use between the court and Offal Court?
Twain mirrors Tom's experience at the royal court (coddled for his "madness") with Edward's experience in Offal Court (beaten for the same "madness"), using structural parallelism to highlight class injustice.
What contrast does the fireworks celebration create in Chapter 10?
The public joy of the celebration — bonfires, fireworks, singing — starkly contrasts with Edward's private suffering as a beaten, captive boy fleeing through the streets. Public spectacle masks individual misery.
What does "cudgel" mean in the context of this chapter?
A cudgel is a short, thick stick used as a weapon. John Canty uses his oaken cudgel to beat both Father Andrew and Prince Edward.
What is a "loving-cup" and what is its significance in this chapter?
A loving-cup is a large communal drinking vessel with two handles, passed according to ancient ceremony. Its ritual requirement of using both hands forces Canty to release Edward, enabling the prince's escape.
Edward says: "Thou shalt not suffer for me, madam. Let these swine do their will upon me alone." What does this reveal about his character?
It reveals Edward's innate nobility, courage, and sense of justice. Even while being beaten by people far more powerful than him in that moment, he tries to protect Mrs. Canty from harm on his behalf.
Mrs. Canty says: "But I cannot give him up — oh no, I cannot, I cannot — he must be my boy!" What does this quote reveal?
It reveals the depth of a mother's love overriding rational evidence. Despite three failed tests proving this is not her son, Mrs. Canty's heart refuses to accept the truth.