05.08.11 — Middlemarch — the Acrostic



Sunday, May 8, 2011

ACROSTIC, Puzzle by Emily Cox and Henry Rathvon, edited by Will Shortz

This Sunday’s acrostic draws a quotation from Middlemarch by George Eliot.

The story is about Dorothea, a young, idealist woman, born to a good family with a modest fortune of her own. She is a prime catch on the wife market--money, family name, good looks. The subsequent relationship of marriage to society is never more well drawn, but the internal suffering of people trapped in loveless marriage is written with sympathy and cunning insight. The insight into human nature, such as jealousy, disappointment, recrimination, loss of trust and a feeling of desperation are themes that anyone who has ever been in a relationship will recognize as truth.  Joanna Daneman, Amazon.com

The quotation: YOUTH IS THE SEASON OF HOPE… ONLY IN THE SENSE THAT OUR ELEDERS ARE HOPEFUL ABOUT US; FOR NO AGE IS SO APT… TO THINK ITS EMOTIONS, PARTINGS, AND RESOLVES ARE THE LAST OF THEIR KIND. EACH CRISIS SEEMS FINAL,… BECAUSE IT IS NEW.

The complete quotation: If youth is the season of hope, it is often so only in the sense that our elders are hopeful about us; for no age is so apt as youth to think its emotions, partings, and resolves are the last of their kind. Each crisis seems final, simply because it is new.

The author’s name and the title of the work: GEORGE ELIOT MIDDLEMARCH

A. Big Ten squad from Minnesota, informally, GOPHERS
B. Glow from the dark side of the moon, EARTHSHINE
C. “I am firm, you are OBSTINATE; he is a pig-headed fool” (Bertrand Russell)
D. Backdrop for Bert and pals in “Mary Poppins”, ROOFTOPS
E. Region of Israel where Nazareth is found, GALILEE
F. Polyphemus moth marking, EYESPOT
G. One of the three Graces personifying joy, EUPHROSYNE
H. Develop doubts (2 wds.), LOSE FAITH
I. Refusing t be ignored, INSISTENT
J. Aristotle born in Smyrna, ONASSIS
K. Someone being shown the ropes, TRAINEE
L. Jury-rigged, serving as a band-aid, MAKESHIFT
M. Irish princess wedded to King Mark, in legend, ISEULT
N. Anticipated time of delivery (2 wds.), DUE DATE
O. Constituency for a member of the House, DISTRICT
P. Institution found in every state but Alaska (2 wds.), LAW SCHOOL
Q. Unrestrained in heartfelt expression, EFFUSIVE
R. March 21 honoree in most Arab lands, MOTHER
S. City noted for its long-haired rabbits and goats, ANKARA
T. Blushing Knockout, for one, ROSEBUSH
U. It may be plosive or fricative, CONSONANT
V. Shockingly bad or reprehensible, HEINOUS

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Puzzle available on the internet at


2 comments:

Dave Miller said...

Wow. Someone else out there does the acrostic. I am able to get almost every one, including those slightly easier in the WSJ. This time was unusually difficult, and I cheated on one word, Ankara. I only used An--ra, because I wasn't sure if they wanted Ankara or Angora. Still, that did it for me.

sillygoose said...

Hey, thanks for this. I was stuck and going nuts. :-)