10 questions on plot, characters, and themes. Free to take, so you can see exactly what to review before class.
1. Why does Thomas Gradgrind arrange a marriage between his daughter Louisa and Josiah Bounderby?
2. What causes Louisa to collapse at her father's door?
3. Who is actually responsible for stealing money from Bounderby's bank?
4. What happens to Stephen Blackpool by the end of the novel?
5. Why does Stephen Blackpool refuse to join the workers' union?
6. What does Sissy Jupe represent in contrast to the Gradgrind children?
7. What is revealed about Josiah Bounderby's claim to be a self-made man?
8. How does Gradgrind's philosophy of facts and logic affect his children?
9. What does James Harthouse's pursuit of Louisa reveal about his character?
10. What does the novel suggest about the relationship between utilitarianism and human suffering?
0 of 10 answered
How this guide is built
This guide is built from the original text to help you get oriented fast. It is designed for recall, paper planning, and getting unstuck, but it is still a paraphrased guide, not a substitute for the reading itself. Double-check anything important before you turn in formal work.
