The Turn of the Screw Trivia Quiz Questions and Answers

What year did the original novel, “The Turn of the Screw,” get published?

1998
1898
1888
1908

Correct Answer: 1898

Correct Answer Explanation: The original novel “The Turn of the Screw” by Henry James was published in 1898.

The governess is a young woman from a rural setting. What county was she from?

Sussex
Essex
Kent
Hampshire

Correct Answer: Hampshire

Correct Answer Explanation: She is described as a “fluttered, anxious girl out of a Hampshire vicarage”

What is the name of the governess’s employer?

Charles
Douglas
Henry
The Uncle

Correct Answer: The Uncle

Correct Answer Explanation: The identity of the Uncle remains a mystery for most of the story, but he is a handsome and charming bachelor.

Where is the country estate called “Bly” located?

Essex
Kent
Sussex
Hampshire

Correct Answer: Essex

Correct Answer Explanation: The estate “Bly” is located in Essex.

What is the name of the governess’s former governess who is a ghost?

Mrs. Grose
Miss Jessel
Mrs. Jessel
Miss Grose

Correct Answer: Miss Jessel

Correct Answer Explanation: The governess encounters the ghost of Miss Jessel, a former governess who died under mysterious circumstances.

The uncle’s former valet is also a ghost. What is his name?

Peter Quint
Henry Quint
Charles Quint
Douglas Quint

Correct Answer: Peter Quint

Correct Answer Explanation: The governess is haunted by the ghost of Peter Quint, the uncle’s former valet, who also died mysteriously.

How old is the governess when she takes the position at Bly?

Correct Answer: 20

Correct Answer Explanation: The governess is described as being 20 years old when she is first hired to the position.

The governess is initially unaware of the ghosts’ presence. What is the name of the housekeeper who informs her of the previous governess’s death?

Mrs. Grose
Miss Jessel
Mrs. Jessel
Miss Grose

Correct Answer: Mrs. Grose

Correct Answer Explanation: Mrs. Grose is the housekeeper at Bly and she informs the governess of the former governess’s death.

How much older than the governess is the uncle?

Correct Answer: 10

Correct Answer Explanation: The uncle is ten years older than the governess.

Where does the uncle go to work for an extended period?

Europe
India
America
Africa

Correct Answer: India

Correct Answer Explanation: The uncle leaves to work in India and the governess is left to care for the children.

How many encounters does the governess have with Quint?

Correct Answer: 11

Correct Answer Explanation: The governess experiences eleven encounters with Quint during her time at Bly.

What is the name of the school Miles attends?

The Preparatory
The Village School
The Academy
The Bly School

Correct Answer: The Preparatory

Correct Answer Explanation: Miles is sent to a boarding school called the Preparatory.

What does the governess initially believe is the cause of Miles’s dismissal from school?

Low grades
Aggressive behavior
Stealing
Lying

Correct Answer: Aggressive behavior

Correct Answer Explanation: The governess initially believes that Miles was dismissed for being aggressive, but it is later revealed that his behavior is more sinister.

What is the main reason that the governess wants to protect Miles and Flora?

To earn a promotion
To receive a bonus
To please the uncle
To shield them from evil

Correct Answer: To shield them from evil

Correct Answer Explanation: The governess is consumed with the desire to protect the children from the ghosts, even at the expense of her own sanity.

The story ends with the governess’s belief that she has saved Miles. What happens to Miles in the end?

He is taken back to The Preparatory
He is reunited with his uncle
He gets sick
He dies

Correct Answer: He dies

Correct Answer Explanation: The story ends with Miles’s death. The governess believes that she has saved him, but her sanity is questioned throughout the story, and the reader is left to wonder if her beliefs are true.

What does the governess find in Flora’s room that further fuels her anxieties?

A picture of Quint
A letter from Quint
A toy doll
A letter from Miss Jessel

Correct Answer: A toy doll

Correct Answer Explanation: The governess finds a doll in Flora’s room that she believes is a representation of Miss Jessel.

What is the name of the location in the house where the governess first sees Quint?

The dining room
The library
The tower
The schoolroom

Correct Answer: The tower

Correct Answer Explanation: The governess has her first encounter with Quint on the tower.

What is the governess’s first impression of Miles?

He is mischievous
He is sweet
He is troubled
He is shy

Correct Answer: He is sweet

Correct Answer Explanation: The governess is initially charmed by Miles.

What is the governess’s reaction when Mrs. Grose confirms the identity of the ghosts?

Relief
Anger
Fear
Disbelief

Correct Answer: Fear

Correct Answer Explanation: When Mrs. Grose confirms that the governess has been seeing the ghosts of the former governess and valet, the governess is filled with fear.

What does the governess see that makes her believe that Flora is in contact with Miss Jessel?

Flora talking to a doll
Flora watching the lake
Flora sleeping in the garden
Flora drawing in her room

Correct Answer: Flora watching the lake

Correct Answer Explanation: Flora is seen watching the lake, where the governess had seen Miss Jessel earlier.

How does the governess interpret Miles’s knowledge about Quint’s dismissal from school?

Miles was being bullied
Miles was trying to be clever
Miles was protecting Quint
Miles was possessed

Correct Answer: Miles was protecting Quint

Correct Answer Explanation: The governess believes that Miles is protecting Quint, and that his dismissal was orchestrated by the ghosts.

What action does the governess take to try to save Miles from the ghosts’ influence?

She takes him to the village to find a doctor
She confines him to the schoolroom
She writes a letter to the uncle
She sends him back to the Preparatory

Correct Answer: She confines him to the schoolroom

Correct Answer Explanation: The governess believes that confining Miles to the schoolroom will protect him from the ghosts.

What is the name of the setting where the governess believes she confronts Quint and saves Miles?

The dining room
The library
The tower
The schoolroom

Correct Answer: The schoolroom

Correct Answer Explanation: The governess believes that she confronts Quint in the schoolroom and saves Miles.

What does Miles say that leads the governess to believe he is possessed by Quint?

He refers to the governess as a monster
He asks to see the ghosts
He begs the governess to leave him alone
He calls her by a different name

Correct Answer: He calls her by a different name

Correct Answer Explanation: Miles calls the governess a different name, which she believes is an indication of Quint’s possession.

What does the governess find in Miles’s pocket that further strengthens her belief in his possession?

A letter from Quint
A picture of Miss Jessel
A locket with Quint’s hair
A piece of chalk

Correct Answer: A piece of chalk

Correct Answer Explanation: The governess finds a piece of chalk in Miles’s pocket, which she believes is a sign of Quint’s presence.

What does the governess do in the story that suggests she might be losing her sanity?

She refuses to speak to the children
She begins to see ghosts everywhere
She screams at Mrs. Grose
She writes a letter to the uncle seeking help

Correct Answer: She begins to see ghosts everywhere

Correct Answer Explanation: The governess becomes increasingly paranoid and sees ghosts everywhere she looks.

What does the governess do to protect Miles when she believes he is being haunted by Quint?

She sends him to the village to find a doctor
She confines him to the schoolroom
She writes a letter to the uncle
She sends him back to the Preparatory

Correct Answer: She confines him to the schoolroom

Correct Answer Explanation: The governess believes that by confining Miles to the schoolroom, she will protect him from the ghosts.

What type of illness does the governess believe that Flora is suffering from?

A cold
The flu
Malaria
The ghosts

Correct Answer: The ghosts

Correct Answer Explanation: The governess believes that Flora is suffering from an illness caused by the ghosts.

What is the name of the town near the estate “Bly”?

Essex
Hampshire
The Village
Bly

Correct Answer: The Village

Correct Answer Explanation: The governess drives to the village to see Miles and to send messages to the uncle.

What is the name of the former governess who died while working for the uncle?

Miss Jessel
Mrs. Jessel
Miss Grose
Mrs. Grose

Correct Answer: Miss Jessel

Correct Answer Explanation: The governess is haunted by the ghost of the former governess, Miss Jessel.

What is the name of the male ghost who died while working for the uncle?

Peter Quint
Henry Quint
Charles Quint
Douglas Quint

Correct Answer: Peter Quint

Correct Answer Explanation: The governess is also haunted by the ghost of Peter Quint, the uncle’s former valet.

What is the governess’s biggest fear about the children?

That they will be kidnapped
That they will run away
That they will be possessed by the ghosts
That they will become sick

Correct Answer: That they will be possessed by the ghosts

Correct Answer Explanation: The governess is consumed with the fear that the children will be possessed by the ghosts.

What is the main conflict in the story?

The governess’s struggle to control the children
The governess’s fight against her own sanity
The governess’s attempts to communicate with the ghosts
The governess’s desire to save the children from the ghosts

Correct Answer: The governess’s desire to save the children from the ghosts

Correct Answer Explanation: The governess is determined to protect the children from the ghosts, even if it means losing her own sanity.

What does the governess see at the lake that makes her believe in the presence of Miss Jessel?

A reflection in the water
A woman walking on the water
A figure standing on the shore
A boat floating on the lake

Correct Answer: A figure standing on the shore

Correct Answer Explanation: The governess sees a figure standing on the shore of the lake, which she believes is Miss Jessel.

How does the governess’s perception of reality change as she becomes more consumed by her fears?

She starts to see things that aren’t there
She starts to hallucinate
She becomes more paranoid
All of the above

Correct Answer: All of the above

Correct Answer Explanation: As her fears grow, the governess’s perception of reality becomes increasingly distorted.

What is the primary source of information about the ghosts for the governess?

Her own experiences
Mrs. Grose’s stories
The children’s behavior
All of the above

Correct Answer: All of the above

Correct Answer Explanation: The governess relies on her own experiences, Mrs. Grose’s stories, and the children’s behavior to learn about the ghosts.

What is the name of the governess’s employer?

Charles
Douglas
Henry
The Uncle

Correct Answer: The Uncle

Correct Answer Explanation: The Uncle’s name is never revealed in the story, but he is a handsome and charming bachelor who is the children’s guardian.

What is the name of the character who dies at the end of the story?

The governess
Mrs. Grose
Miles
Flora

Correct Answer: Miles

Correct Answer Explanation: Miles dies at the end of the story, leaving the reader to question the governess’s sanity and the reality of the ghosts.

What is the name of the character who tells the story to a group of friends at the beginning of the novel?

Charles
Douglas
Henry
The Uncle

Correct Answer: Douglas

Correct Answer Explanation: Douglas is the character who tells the story to a group of friends at the beginning of the novel.

What is the name of the character who is hired to care for the children?

The governess
Mrs. Grose
Miss Jessel
The Uncle

Correct Answer: The governess

Correct Answer Explanation: The governess is hired to care for the children at Bly.

What is the name of the character who works as the housekeeper?

Miss Jessel
Mrs. Grose
The governess
Flora

Correct Answer: Mrs. Grose

Correct Answer Explanation: Mrs. Grose is the housekeeper at Bly.

What is the name of the character who is the uncle’s former valet?

Peter Quint
Henry Quint
Charles Quint
Douglas Quint

Correct Answer: Peter Quint

Correct Answer Explanation: Peter Quint is the uncle’s former valet and he is the ghost who haunts the governess.

What is the name of the character who is the uncle’s former governess?

Miss Jessel
Mrs. Grose
The governess
Flora

Correct Answer: Miss Jessel

Correct Answer Explanation: Miss Jessel is the uncle’s former governess who also haunts the governess in the story.

What is the name of the character who is the younger child?

Miles
Flora
The governess
Mrs. Grose

Correct Answer: Flora

Correct Answer Explanation: Flora is the younger child who is cared for by the governess.

What is the name of the character who is the older child?

Miles
Flora
The governess
Mrs. Grose

Correct Answer: Miles

Correct Answer Explanation: Miles is the older child who is cared for by the governess.

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