Chapter XI. At Guildhall. Practice Quiz — The Prince and the Pauper
by Mark Twain — tap or click to flip
Practice Quiz: Chapter XI. At Guildhall.
Where does Tom Canty travel by royal barge in Chapter 11?
Tom travels down the Thames to Guildhall in the ancient city of London, disembarking at the Dowgate and proceeding through Cheapside, the Old Jewry, and Basinghall Street.
Who accompanies Tom Canty on the royal barge?
Princess Elizabeth and Lady Jane Grey sit at his side as his companions.
Who receives Tom at Guildhall and how?
The Lord Mayor and the Fathers of the City, wearing gold chains and scarlet robes of state, receive Tom with full ceremony and conduct him to a canopy of state.
What are Gog and Magog in the context of Chapter 11?
They are giant statues described as the "ancient guardians of the city" that overlook the Guildhall banquet from their lofty vantage-ground.
What is a "loving-cup" as used in the banquet scene?
A large ceremonial drinking vessel passed among guests. Tom drinks from a golden loving-cup first with Princess Elizabeth, then Lady Jane Grey, then the general assemblage.
Describe the costumed pageant at the Guildhall banquet.
Nobles entered dressed in Turkish, Russian, and Prussian fashions — with long robes, scimitars, furred hats, hatchets, pheasant-feathered hats, and about a hundred torchbearers costumed as Moors with blackened faces.
What happens to Prince Edward outside Guildhall?
Edward arrives at the gates proclaiming his true identity as the Prince of Wales, but the crowd mocks, taunts, and physically attacks him.
How does Edward respond to the mob's taunts?
He stands his ground defiantly, declaring "I tell ye again, you pack of unmannerly curs, I am the Prince of Wales!" even as tears of mortification spring to his eyes.
Who is Miles Hendon and how is he described?
A tall, muscular stranger compared to Don Caesar de Bazan. He wears faded but once-rich clothing with tarnished gold-lace, a broken plume, and carries a long rapier in a rusty sheath. He is described as "a ruffler of the camp."
How does Miles Hendon defend Prince Edward?
He draws his long sword, strikes down the first attacker with the flat of it, then backs against a wall fighting off the mob until royal horsemen arrive and scatter the crowd.
What ironic taunt does the crowd hurl at Miles Hendon?
"'Tis another prince in disguise!" — ironic because Edward truly is a prince in disguise, though the mob means it as mockery.
What news does the royal messenger deliver at Guildhall?
"The King is dead!" — announcing the death of Henry VIII.
What is Tom Canty's first decree as king?
He orders the Earl of Hertford to the Tower of London to spare the Duke of Norfolk from execution, declaring "the king's law be law of mercy, from this day, and never more be law of blood!"
How does the crowd respond to Tom's decree of mercy?
They shout "The reign of blood is ended! Long live Edward, King of England!" showing their relief and approval.
What question does Tom ask the Earl of Hertford before issuing his first decree?
Tom asks whether, if he uttered a command "the which none but a king might hold privilege and prerogative to utter," it would be obeyed with none to say him nay.
How does Chapter 11 demonstrate the theme of appearance versus reality?
Inside Guildhall, a pauper in royal clothes is honored as king; outside, the real prince in rags is beaten and mocked. Identity is determined entirely by outward appearance, not true character.
What is the significance of Tom's mercy decree as a thematic statement?
It introduces the theme of justice and mercy, showing that Tom's innate compassion — shaped by poverty, not privilege — makes him a more humane ruler than Henry VIII, whose reign is called "the reign of blood."
What literary device does Twain use by cutting between the banquet inside and the mob scene outside?
Parallel structure (or cross-cutting), which heightens dramatic irony — the reader sees both the false prince being celebrated and the true prince being abused simultaneously.
Why does Twain include the historical chronicle quotation in the banquet scene?
The inserted chronicle lends historical authenticity and period flavor while also satirizing aristocratic excess through its elaborate, quaint descriptions of courtly costumes.
What does the phrase "the reign of blood is ended" refer to?
It refers to the end of Henry VIII's rule, which was marked by numerous executions including those of political rivals, religious dissenters, and even his own wives.
Quote: "Though thou be prince or no prince, 'tis all one, thou be'st a gallant lad, and not friendless neither!" Who says this?
Miles Hendon says this to Prince Edward, pledging his friendship and protection regardless of the boy's claimed royal status.
Quote: "Then shall the king's law be law of mercy, from this day, and never more be law of blood!" What is the significance?
Tom Canty speaks these words as his first royal decree, establishing that his reign will prioritize mercy over punishment — contrasting with Henry VIII's brutal rule.