The questions in this journal assignment cover readings in Chapters 15–31 of The Scarlet Pimpernel. You will need to turn in this assignment after you complete the lessons covering these sections. Your answers should be a minimum of 5 complete sentences and include examples from the text.
Total score: ____ of 50 points
(Score for Question 1: ___ of 15 points)
Contrast Lady Blakeney in the early chapters of this novel with Lady Blakeney as she is described at the conclusion of Chapter 19, as she sets off from Richmond. Explain how her character has changed and how the reader’s perception of her character has changed. Use examples from the text when appropriate.
Answer:
Much like we see Sir Percy change from being a bit of a dandy to an early form of James Bond (or at least Bruce Wayne), we also see Lady Blakeney go from being a bit of a ditz into being a woman of steely courage. She realizes in Chapter 19 that the little girl before her, little Suzanne, is in danger from the machinations of Chauvelin, and she realizes that she must take action to try and save her. This growing resolution turns her into a hero as well.
(Score for Question 2: ___ of 15 points)
Compare and contrast the English commoners, as represented by Mr. Jellyband, with the French commoners, as represented by Monsieur Brogard. Which does Orczy favor? Use examples from the text to support your answer.
Answer:
It is fairly clear that Orczy favors the English commoners over their French counterparts. While “Jellyband” might seem like a silly name, the key difference between the commoners in the two countries, as presented in the novel, is that the British commoners exude kindness and courtesy. The French commoners exude coldness and even menace. Jellyband is kind to his guests, showing them the utmost in respect. Brogard, on the other hand, is exceedingly rude in his interactions with other characters in the book.
(Score for Question 3: ___ of 10 points)
As Chapter 28 ends, Lady Blakeney is a captive of Chauvelin and she has failed to warn her friends of the danger which is closing in on them. Make a prediction about how the novel will end. Be sure to describe whether the Scarlet Pimpernel and Lady Blakeney will escape and to include your idea of how the plot will play out.
Answer:
Despite the dreadful situation in which Lady Blakeney finds herself, I am confident that the Scarlet Pimpernel will be able to save her from Chauvelin’s clutches. I believe that he will be able to sneak into Chauvelin’s lair, probably under the cover of night, and liberate her after he eludes Chauvelin’s guards. The fact that the Pimpernel has been able to carry out so many other nefarious rescues makes me confident that he will be able to pull off this one as well. While we often find semi-dystopian negative endings in more modern literature, happy endings were simply not a part of literature back then (perhaps with the single exception of Frankenstein).
(Score for Question 4: ___ of 10 points)
Near the conclusion of The Scarlet Pimpernel, Baroness Orczy provides the following descriptions of Sir Percy Blakeney carrying his wife toward the boat that will take them to safety:
All his fatigue was forgotten; his shoulders must have been very sore, for the soldiers had hit hard, but the man’s muscles seemed made of steel, and his energy was almost supernatural. It was a weary tramp, half a league along the stony side of the cliffs, but never for a moment did his courage give way or his muscles yield to fatigue.
How is this depiction of Sir Percy Blakeney different from the depiction of Sir Percy earlier in the novel? How does this depiction of Sir Percy make readers view him?
Answer:
Earlier in the novel, Sir Percy was described as a bit of a dandy, who paid lots of attention to his looks and to his clothes; the word “intrepid” might have been given on a list of antonyms to his mien. However, now he is all resolute; under the skin of that effeminate noble is a determined hero. This is similar to what, in later generations, would become a decided contrast between the personas of Peter Parker and his alter ego, Superman; Clark Kent and Superman; Bruce Wayne and Batman. This portrayal near the ending shows the reader the inner courage that has girded the Pimpernel the whole way.
