Return to Lesson

Keep the Aspidistra Flying Quiz

Turn off ads with a Pro Membership!

Summoning Knowledge...

About This Challenge

Immerse yourself in the world of literature with our quiz game inspired by George Orwell’s novel ‘Keep the Aspidistra Flying’. Test your knowledge and race against the clock to answer as many multiple-choice questions as you can!

  • Game Details: a quiz game with multiple-choice questions to test your knowledge.
  • Race against the clock to answer as many questions as you can.
  • Use spells wisely to help you along the way.
Need a Hint? View the Facts
  • - The novel was published in 1936 under Orwell's real name, Eric Blair.
  • - The story is set in London during the 1930s.
  • - The protagonist, Gordon Comstock, is a struggling poet who despises the materialistic society he lives in.
  • - Gordon works in a bookshop but dreams of becoming a successful writer.
  • - He quits his job and takes on a low-paying position in a bookstore to escape the trappings of commercialism.
  • - Gordon's girlfriend, Rosemary, works as a typist and is more concerned with financial stability than artistic pursuits.
  • - The aspidistra plant represents the values of bourgeois society that Gordon resents.
  • - The novel explores themes of class struggle, poverty, and the conflict between art and commerce.
  • - Gordon is constantly torn between his desire for artistic freedom and the pressures of conforming to societal expectations.
  • - He frequently clashes with his family, who cannot understand his rejection of material comfort.
  • - Gordon's best friend, Ravelston, is a wealthy socialist who supports his artistic endeavors.
  • - The novel satirizes the advertising industry and consumer culture, which Orwell viewed as soul-sucking and dehumanizing.
  • - As Gordon's financial situation worsens, he becomes increasingly bitter and resentful of those who seem to have sold out.
  • - He joins a group of bohemian artists who reject societal norms but finds that they are just as hypocritical and insincere as the rest of society.
  • - Gordon's dreams of literary success are shattered when he is rejected by publishers and magazines.
  • - He eventually succumbs to the pressures of society and takes a better-paying job, abandoning his artistic aspirations.
  • - The novel ends on a somewhat ambiguous note, with Gordon realizing the futility of his rebellion and accepting his place in society.
  • - Keep the Aspidistra Flying is often considered a semi-autobiographical work, drawing on Orwell's own experiences as a struggling writer.
  • - The book received mixed reviews upon its release, with some critics praising its social commentary and others finding it too bleak.
  • - Despite initial commercial failure, the novel has gained recognition over the years as a significant work in Orwell's literary canon.

Need a Refresher?

Return to the Main Lesson
Scroll to Top