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The Scarlet Pimpernel

By Baroness Emmuska Magdalena Rosalia Maria Josefa Barbara Orczy, 1865-1947

A Study Guide by Cathy Decker

©Cathy Decker, 1998
Last Update 2/25/01

Important Links

The Project Gutenberg Etext of The Scarlet Pimpernel

Sequels to The Scarlet Pimpernel

Prequels to The Scarlet Pimpernel

Unified Collections of Detective Tales

Questions on The Scarlet Pimpernel

*Please note that I never bothered to write answers to these questions. This is the total written info I have on this novel, so please do not write asking for an answer sheet! I'm sorry if that is upsetting, but cheer up because you learn more by answering the questions on your own!

Chapter 1

What is the author's opinion of the old ways of the French nobility? (1-2)
What is the author's opinion of the bloody techniques of the new French government?
What characteristics does Bibot have?
How is Bibot representative of the French people?

Chapter 2

What characteristics does Mr. Jellyband possess?
How is Jellyband representative of the British people?
What attitudes do Mr. Jellyband and Mr. Hempseed hold towards the French revolution?
What do they each want England to do about the French?

Chapters 3-4

What reason do Lord Anthony and Sir Andrew give for risking their lives in the league of the Scarlet Pimpernel? (29-30)
What aspects of these chapters suggest that they have deeper reasons for doing so? (29-32)

Chapter 5

How does Lady Blakeney handle the Comtesse's insult?
What does this suggest about her?

Chapter 6-7

Why did Sir Percy and Marguerite marry?
What is their marriage like?
Why does the Vicomte offer to fight a duel?
What is the meaning of the last paragraph of Chapter 6?
What does the title of Chapter 7 mean?
What is Armand's secret? (56)
What is Marguerite's? (55-6)

Chapter 8

What is the cause of Sir Percy and Marguerite's estrangement? (59- 61)
How does Marguerite feel about the deaths of the St. Cyr family?
How does Marguerite feel about the Scarlet Pimpernel? (67-8) Why does she refuse to help Chauvelin at the inn?

Chapter 9

What is the significance of the French seizure of the papers of Sir Andrew and Lord Tony?

Chapter 10

What choice does Chauvelin force Marguerite to make?
How does this relate to her experience with the St. Cyr family?
Why doesn't Marguerite ask her husband for help? (88-89)

Chapter 11

How is the Comtesse forced to acknowledge Lady Blakeney?
What is the female opinion of the Scarlet Pimpernel according to Lady Blakeney?
What is the male opinion of the Scarlet Pimpernel according to Sir Percy?

Chapter 12

Why does Marguerite spy on Sir Andrew?
What does Marguerite's success as a spy reveal about her?

Chapter 13

What makes Marguerite inclined to help Chauvelin?
What makes Marguerite not want to help Chauvelin?

Chapter 14

Why does Marguerite decide to help Chauvelin?
What does Chauvelin learn of the Scarlet Pimpernel?

Chapter 15

What does Chauvelin tell Marguerite?
How are we to interpret this?

Chapter 16

How has Marguerite's choice changed her? (125-6)
How has Marguerite's opinion of Sir Percy changed? (125)
Why didn't Marguerite explain the St. Cyr incident to Sir Percy previously?
Why does she explain it now?
What does Sir Percy think of his wife?
Why does Sir Percy hid his feelings for his wife?

Chapter 17

What aspects of this chapter suggest to us Marguerite is not the cleverest woman in Europe?

Chapter 18

What does Marguerite finally figure out?


Chapter 19

What are the consequences of Marguerite's decision to help Chauvelin?
What does Marguerite resolve to do?

Chapter 20

How does Marguerite now feel about Sir Percy?
Why does she want to go to France?

Chapter 21

What do the Jellybands think of Lady Blakeney's behavior?

Chapter 22

What changes does Marguerite note about the French people? (178)

Chapter 23

Why must the Scarlet Pimpernel not leave France at once?


Chapter 24

How is Chauvelin's plan for capturing the Scarlet Pimpernel similar to the techniques used by Bibot in chapter one?

Chapter 25

Which man comes off better in the confrontation between the Scarlet Pimpernel and Sir Percy?

Chapter 26

What is Chauvelin's attitude to the old Jewish man?
Why is the old Jewish man mad at Reuben Goldstein?
What does Chauvelin plan to do that night with the Scarlet Pimpernel after he catches him?

Chapter 27

What do we learn of Chauvelin's character in this chapter?

Chapter 28

What is Marguerite's plan now?

Chapter 29

What new choice does Chauvelin ask Marguerite to make?

Chapter 30

What choice does Marguerite make?
How had the Republican army's principles hindered them?
Why is Benjamin, the old Jewish man, beaten?

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