1. Who is the protagonist of Mrs. Dalloway?
a) Sally Seton
b) Peter Walsh
c) Clarissa Dalloway
d) Septimus Warren Smith
Answer: c) Clarissa Dalloway
Explanation: Clarissa Dalloway is the central character of the novel. The story follows her thoughts and experiences over the course of a single day as she prepares for a dinner party in London. Through her internal reflections, the reader gains insight into her past decisions, particularly her choice to marry Richard Dalloway instead of Peter Walsh. The novel explores themes of memory, time, social expectations, and existential contemplation, making Clarissa’s perspective crucial to understanding the novel’s depth.
2. What is the significance of Big Ben in the novel?
a) It symbolizes the British monarchy
b) It represents the passing of time
c) It marks the beginning of Clarissa’s party
d) It serves as a reminder of Peter Walsh’s return
Answer: b) It represents the passing of time
Explanation: Big Ben serves as a constant reminder of time’s passage throughout the novel. Every toll of the clock reinforces the transitory nature of life and mortality, a key theme in Mrs. Dalloway. The chimes are heard by multiple characters, including Clarissa and Septimus, symbolizing the unrelenting march of time that connects all human beings. Woolf uses Big Ben to structure the novel, emphasizing how time influences thoughts, memories, and actions, reinforcing the fleeting moments of existence.
3. What was the original title of Mrs. Dalloway?
a) The Party
b) The Hours
c) The Clarissa Chronicles
d) A Day in London
Answer: b) The Hours
Explanation: Virginia Woolf initially titled the novel The Hours to highlight its focus on the passage of time and the structure of the story, which unfolds within a single day. This working title reflects Woolf’s modernist experimentation with time, memory, and consciousness. Eventually, she changed the title to Mrs. Dalloway to center the narrative more explicitly on the protagonist, Clarissa Dalloway. The original title was later revived when Michael Cunningham wrote The Hours (1998), a novel inspired by Woolf’s Mrs. Dalloway.
4. Who is Septimus Warren Smith?
a) A psychiatrist treating Clarissa
b) A former lover of Clarissa
c) A World War I veteran suffering from shell shock
d) Clarissa’s husband
Answer: c) A World War I veteran suffering from shell shock
Explanation: Septimus Warren Smith is a former soldier who served in World War I and now suffers from severe post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), referred to as “shell shock” in the novel. His character contrasts sharply with Clarissa Dalloway’s; while she navigates upper-class London society, Septimus struggles with his war trauma, hallucinations, and suicidal thoughts. His experiences reflect Woolf’s critique of how society and the medical establishment mistreat those with mental health issues, drawing from her own experiences with psychiatric care.
5. What mental condition does Septimus suffer from?
a) Bipolar disorder
b) Schizophrenia
c) Shell shock (PTSD)
d) Depression
Answer: c) Shell shock (PTSD)
Explanation: Septimus experiences extreme psychological distress as a result of his experiences in World War I. He suffers from hallucinations, paranoia, and an overwhelming sense of detachment from reality. His symptoms align with what is now recognized as PTSD, a condition that was poorly understood in Woolf’s time. His inability to find support or understanding from medical professionals, such as Dr. Holmes and Sir William Bradshaw, highlights Woolf’s critique of early 20th-century psychiatric treatments.
6. What event is Clarissa preparing for throughout the novel?
a) A wedding
b) A funeral
c) A dinner party
d) A political rally
Answer: c) A dinner party
Explanation: The entire novel is structured around Clarissa’s preparations for an evening party at her home. The event serves as a backdrop for her reflections on the past, her relationships, and her role in society. The party itself symbolizes her way of bringing people together, yet she also questions whether her life has any deeper meaning beyond these social gatherings. The party acts as a climactic moment where different storylines—Clarissa’s, Peter Walsh’s, and Septimus Warren Smith’s—indirectly converge.
7. Who is Richard Dalloway?
a) Clarissa’s former fiancé
b) Clarissa’s husband
c) A psychiatrist
d) A war veteran
Answer: b) Clarissa’s husband
Explanation: Richard Dalloway is a conventional, practical politician who represents stability and security in Clarissa’s life. She chose to marry him instead of Peter Walsh because he offered a reliable, structured life, whereas Peter was too passionate and unpredictable. However, Richard struggles to express his emotions, exemplified by his inability to tell Clarissa he loves her even when he brings her flowers. His character contrasts with Peter Walsh’s romantic idealism, reinforcing the novel’s theme of lost opportunities and life choices.
8. Why does Septimus Warren Smith commit suicide?
a) He is overwhelmed by his war trauma
b) He wants to escape his wife’s control
c) He is rejected by Clarissa
d) He is forced to fight another war
Answer: a) He is overwhelmed by his war trauma
Explanation: Septimus’ suicide is one of the most significant events in the novel. Unable to cope with his worsening mental state and fearing institutionalization by Dr. Holmes and Sir William Bradshaw, he chooses to end his life by jumping out of a window. His death serves as a tragic critique of the medical establishment and society’s failure to support veterans with psychological wounds. His suicide also profoundly impacts Clarissa, who sees it as an act of defiance against societal oppression, making her reflect on her own life choices.
9. What is the relationship between Peter Walsh and Clarissa Dalloway?
a) They are siblings
b) They were once romantically involved
c) He is her psychiatrist
d) He is her political rival
Answer: b) They were once romantically involved
Explanation: Peter Walsh was deeply in love with Clarissa during their youth and even proposed to her, but she rejected him, fearing his unpredictability and lack of stability. Despite their past, he still harbors strong emotions for her, and his visit to London stirs old feelings. Peter is critical of Clarissa’s choices, seeing her as someone who settled for a life of superficial social engagements rather than passion. His presence in the novel reintroduces tension, forcing Clarissa to reexamine the decisions that shaped her life.
10. Who is Lucrezia (Rezia) Smith?
a) Clarissa’s sister
b) Septimus’ wife
c) Clarissa’s maid
d) A socialite attending Clarissa’s party
Answer: b) Septimus’ wife
Explanation: Lucrezia “Rezia” Smith is the young Italian wife of Septimus Warren Smith. She is deeply devoted to him but struggles with his worsening mental condition. As an outsider in England, she feels isolated and powerless, frustrated by her inability to help her husband and ignored by the doctors who dismiss her concerns. Her character represents the loneliness of caregiving and the societal failure to address mental illness with compassion and understanding.
11. What is the primary literary technique used in Mrs. Dalloway?
a) First-person narration
b) Epistolary storytelling
c) Stream of consciousness
d) Flashback-based narration
Answer: c) Stream of consciousness
Explanation: Virginia Woolf employs the stream-of-consciousness technique, a hallmark of modernist literature, to delve into the inner thoughts and emotions of her characters. This technique allows the novel to move fluidly between past and present, revealing Clarissa’s memories, regrets, and existential contemplations. Through this method, Woolf captures the fleeting nature of thoughts, creating an intimate, immersive experience for the reader. The novel follows multiple characters’ perspectives, often shifting seamlessly between them without traditional chapter breaks.
12. Which author influenced Virginia Woolf’s Mrs. Dalloway?
a) James Joyce
b) Charles Dickens
c) Emily Brontë
d) Thomas Hardy
Answer: a) James Joyce
Explanation: Woolf was influenced by James Joyce’s Ulysses, which also explores a single day in the lives of its characters using stream-of-consciousness narration. While Woolf criticized Ulysses for being overly detailed and crude, she adapted some of its narrative techniques, refining them into a more structured, poetic style in Mrs. Dalloway. Both novels experiment with time, consciousness, and fragmented storytelling, key elements of modernist literature.
13. Where does Mrs. Dalloway take place?
a) Paris
b) New York
c) London
d) Berlin
Answer: c) London
Explanation: The novel is set in post-World War I London, a city recovering from the trauma of war. The bustling city streets, the sound of Big Ben, and locations like Regent’s Park and Westminster serve as a backdrop to Clarissa’s and Septimus’ internal struggles. The setting reflects the contrast between social refinement and the underlying emotional and psychological wounds suffered by individuals like Septimus, a war veteran.
14. Who is Sally Seton in relation to Clarissa?
a) Her sister
b) Her childhood friend and former romantic interest
c) A political rival
d) Her cousin
Answer: b) Her childhood friend and former romantic interest
Explanation: Sally Seton was Clarissa’s closest friend and a romantic interest during her youth at Bourton. Sally was bold, free-spirited, and politically radical—qualities that fascinated Clarissa. One of the most defining moments of Clarissa’s life was when Sally kissed her, an event she remembers with great affection and longing. However, as they grew older, their lives took different paths, with Sally marrying and having children, while Clarissa conformed to the expectations of her social class.
15. Why does Peter Walsh return to London?
a) To attend Clarissa’s party
b) To see his children
c) To handle a legal matter concerning a woman he loves
d) To receive treatment for an illness
Answer: c) To handle a legal matter concerning a woman he loves
Explanation: Peter Walsh returns from India to seek legal assistance for Daisy, a much younger married woman with whom he is in love. He hopes to secure a divorce for her so they can be together. However, his return also stirs unresolved emotions about Clarissa, his former love. Peter’s visit reignites his longing and forces Clarissa to reassess her past choices, particularly her decision to marry Richard instead of him.
16. What theme does Mrs. Dalloway explore through Septimus’ storyline?
a) The impact of war on mental health
b) The rise of the feminist movement
c) The struggle for political power
d) The beauty of London’s high society
Answer: a) The impact of war on mental health
Explanation: Through Septimus Warren Smith, Woolf examines the devastating psychological effects of World War I. Septimus, a former soldier, suffers from shell shock (PTSD), experiencing hallucinations, paranoia, and emotional numbness. His inability to reintegrate into society, along with the indifference of the medical establishment, ultimately leads him to suicide. Woolf, who struggled with mental illness herself, critiques the inadequate treatment of psychiatric disorders in early 20th-century England.
17. What object does Richard Dalloway bring home for Clarissa?
a) A necklace
b) A bouquet of flowers
c) A book
d) A letter
Answer: b) A bouquet of flowers
Explanation: Richard Dalloway buys flowers for Clarissa after lunch with Lady Bruton, intending to express his love. However, he finds himself unable to say the words “I love you”, revealing his emotional restraint. This moment highlights the distance in their marriage, where love is implied rather than expressed. The flowers symbolize unspoken emotions and the small, conventional gestures that define their relationship.
18. Who is Sir William Bradshaw?
a) A politician
b) A psychiatrist
c) A war veteran
d) Clarissa’s uncle
Answer: b) A psychiatrist
Explanation: Sir William Bradshaw is a highly respected psychiatrist who treats patients like Septimus with an authoritarian, repressive approach. He believes in “proportion” and “conversion”, advocating institutionalization for those who do not conform to social norms. His character represents the failures of the medical system, particularly its tendency to silence and isolate individuals suffering from mental illness rather than offering genuine help.
19. How does Clarissa react to the news of Septimus’ suicide?
a) She feels a deep connection to him
b) She is indifferent
c) She is outraged at his cowardice
d) She feels guilty for not helping him
Answer: a) She feels a deep connection to him
Explanation: When Clarissa learns about Septimus’ suicide, she does not see it as an act of weakness but rather as an assertion of individual freedom. She identifies with his rejection of societal pressures and reflects on the purity of his choice to end his life on his own terms. This moment leads her to question her own compromises and decisions, reinforcing the novel’s themes of life, death, and autonomy.
20. What is the final scene of the novel?
a) Clarissa rejecting Peter Walsh again
b) Peter Walsh experiencing an intense emotional moment as he watches Clarissa
c) Septimus coming back to life
d) Richard Dalloway leaving the party early
Answer: b) Peter Walsh experiencing an intense emotional moment as he watches Clarissa
Explanation: The novel ends with Peter Walsh at Clarissa’s party, overwhelmed with emotion as he sees her re-enter the room. His fear and excitement suggest that he is still deeply affected by her presence, and possibly still in love with her. The novel’s open-ended conclusion leaves his emotions unresolved, mirroring the novel’s theme of lingering past relationships and the complexity of human emotions.
