Chapter XVII. Foo-foo the First. Practice Quiz — The Prince and the Pauper
by Mark Twain — tap or click to flip
Practice Quiz: Chapter XVII. Foo-foo the First.
Where does Miles Hendon search for Edward at the beginning of Chapter 17?
He searches through Southwark, tracking Edward partway but eventually losing all trace of him. He stays the night at the Tabard Inn before deciding to head toward Hendon Hall.
How is Edward tricked into going to the barn?
A youth named Hugo tells Edward that Miles Hendon has been wounded and lies in a nearby wood. Edward follows urgently, only to discover it is a trap set by John Canty.
Why has John Canty changed his name to John Hobbs?
Because he has killed a priest and must flee London to escape prosecution. He adopts the alias "John Hobbs" and insists Edward use the name "Jack."
What disguise does John Canty wear when following Edward?
He wears a sling on his left arm, a large green patch over his left eye, and uses an oaken staff while limping slightly.
What does Edward do when he first realizes Canty has trapped him?
He seizes a billet of wood and prepares to charge at Hugo. He insists he is the King and demands that Canty find his servant Hendon.
What happened to the Canty family (mother and sisters)?
They did not arrive at the appointed meeting place. Their whereabouts are unknown. Edward — thinking as the prince — says his mother is dead and his sisters are in the palace.
How does Edward spend the afternoon in the barn before the gang arrives?
He withdraws to the far end of the barn, lies in straw, grieves for his father Henry VIII, recalls loving memories of him, and eventually falls asleep.
How does the chapter contrast the public image of Henry VIII with Edward's private memory?
To the world, Henry VIII was a feared ogre "whose hand dealt scourgings and death." To Edward, the name brought only "sensations of pleasure" and a countenance of "gentleness and affection."
Who is the Ruffler, and what is his role?
The Ruffler is the chief of the gang of thieves and vagrants. He maintains order, protects Edward from Canty's violence, and commands the loyalty of the roughly 25-member band.
How many members does the gang have, according to the Ruffler?
"Five and twenty sturdy budges, bulks, files, clapperdogeons and maunders, counting the dells and doxies and other morts." Most are present; the rest are wandering eastward.
What is the "Bien Darkman" song that the gang sings?
It is a rollicking cant-language ballad (taken from "The English Rogue," 1665) sung by the blind men and Dot-and-go-One. The cant language was used by thieves to avoid being understood by outsiders.
What reveals that some of the beggars are faking their disabilities?
One of the "blind" men casts aside patches sheltering his "excellent eyes" and removes a placard describing his fake calamity. "Dot-and-go-One" removes his timber leg and stands on healthy limbs.
What happened to Black Bess's mother, according to the gang's conversation?
Her skill in palmistry and fortune-telling earned her a reputation as a witch, and "the law roasted her to death at a slow fire" — burned alive while cursing the gaping crowd.
What punishments did Yokel endure under English vagrancy laws?
He was whipped through three towns, had both ears cut off, was branded with a red "S" on his cheek and sold as a slave. His wife died from the lashings, his children starved, and his mother was burned as a witch.
What was Yokel's original occupation before he became a vagrant?
He was a prosperous farmer with a loving wife and children. He lost his farm when it was seized and converted to sheep ranges (enclosure).
What does Edward declare after hearing Yokel's story?
He cries out, "Thou shalt not! — and this day the end of that law is come!" He steps forward and announces, "I am Edward, King of England."
How does the gang react when Edward declares himself King?
They burst into laughter — partly derisive, partly delighted at what they consider an excellent joke. They ask "Who is it? What is it? Who art thou, manikin?"
What nickname does the tinker give Edward?
"Foo-foo the First, King of the Mooncalves!" The title catches on immediately, and the whole gang roars it in approval.
What objects are used in Edward's mock coronation?
A tin basin for a crown, a tattered blanket for a robe, a barrel for a throne, and the tinker's soldering-iron for a scepter.
How does the Ruffler protect Edward from John Canty?
When Canty threatens Edward for promising to betray him, the Ruffler knocks Canty down with his fist and warns he will hang Canty himself if he shows such disrespect again.
What does the Ruffler tell Edward about using his royal title?
He says Edward may "be King, if it please thy mad humour" but warns him that claiming the title is treason. He adds that despite being bad men, none of them is "so base as to be traitor to his King."
What is the dramatic irony of the gang's shout "Long live Edward, King of England!"?
They shout it mockingly, believing Edward is a delusional child. The reader knows he truly is the King, making their ironic cheer accidentally sincere — and the loudest authentic royal salute Edward has received outside the palace.
What is the significance of the "tinker's hit" at the end of the chapter?
The tinker pretends to kiss the King's foot, is kicked away, then begs for a rag to cover the "sacred" spot on his face, planning to charge a hundred shillings per viewing. His comedy earns the envy of the whole gang.
What are Edward's final thoughts at the end of Chapter 17?
"Had I offered them a deep wrong they could not be more cruel — yet have I proffered nought but to do them a kindness — and it is thus they use me for it!" He weeps tears of shame and indignation.
How does Miles Hendon reason about where Edward would go?
Hendon reasons that Edward would avoid London (to escape recapture) and would head toward Hendon Hall, since it is the only place Edward might expect to find his sole friend and protector.