Chapter 1 1-6
1. What startling news does Parson Tringham give Jack Durbeyfield?
2. What evidence is there that the news is harmful?
Chapter 2 7-14
1. What is our first impression of Tess Durbeyfield?
2. What hint is there that the visit by Angel is significant?
Chapter 3 15-21
1. What does the Rolliver's incident reveal about Jack and Joan Durbeyfield,?
2. Why do you think Tess is unfortunate?
3. Define the word 'shiftless.' To whom does it apply in this story?
Chapter 4 22-33
1. What evidence is there that Joan Durbeyfield is a dreamer like her husband?
2. What are the circumstances surrounding Tess's trip to Casterbridge and the death of Prince?
3. Why does Tess blame herself? Who is really to blame for Prince's death and why?
Chapter 5 34-43
1. Tess does not want to go to Mrs. D'Urberville in Trantridge to claim kin but she finally does decide to go. What makes her change her mind?
2. The people who call themselves D'Urbervilles are not really members of the family. How did they come to get the name?
3. Alex D'Urberville is described by some as overly familiar when he greets Tess. What does this characteristic suggest?
4. Is there any worrisome foreshadowing in this chapter?
Chapter 6 44-49
1. Why does Tess not want to go to Trantridge to tend fowls?
2. How does Tess's mother explain the job offer by Mrs. D'Urberville?
3. What does Tess hope to do with the money she will earn at the slopes if she does take the job?
Chapter 7 7-54
1. What does Joan think about how Tess should dress?
2. How is Jack's speech on the family honour ridiculous and how is Tess affected by it?
3. Why does Joan regard Tess's beauty as more important than the D'Urberville name?
Chapter 8 55-60
1. How does Alec get Tess to let him kiss her?
2. What unpleasant characteristics does Alec D'Urberville reveal?
3. How does Tess show she has more dignity of spirit than Alec has?
Chapter 9 61-66
1. Why is old Mrs. D'Urberville's blindness significant?
2. What does Mrs. D'Urberville seem to think of her son, Alec?
3. How does Alec manage to remove most of Tess's original shyness of him?
Chapter 10 67-76
1. What do the young people with whom Tess works do for 'action' on Saturday nights?
2. Why is the wild party in the barn a troublesome sign? Think of wild parties you have attended or heard about.
3. Who is Car Darch and why does she try to pick a fight with Tess?
4. How does Alec rescue Tess and what does Car Darch's mother think of the rescue?
Chapter 11 77-83
1. What is the symbolic significance of the fog and The Chase?
2. Look up the meaning of the word 'beholden' and explain how Alec has made Tess beholden to him.
3. The end of this chapter is the seduction, some people call it the rape of Tess by Alec. This is one of the incidents to which the original publishers objected--so did Hardy's readers. Is this incident offensive to us in any way? Why or why not
Phase the Second, Maiden No More; Chapters 12-15, pages 87-116
Chapter 12 87-95
1. What reason do we have for calling the encounter in the Chase a seduction rather than a rape?
2. Why does Tess say she refuses all assistance from Alec D'Urberville?
3. Is there any indication that Alec really does care about her?
4. Why does the text painter upset Tess?
5. Why is Joan upset with Tess?
6. Why is Tess upset with Joan?
Chapter 13 96-99
1. Why did the other girls from Marlott come to see Tess and what effect did it have on her?
2. Why did Tess enjoy going to church and why did she stop going?
3. Why do you suppose Tess kept out of sight and only went out after dark?
Chapter 14 100-113
1. Why does Tess decide to leave the house and join the field workers?
2. How does she feel about her baby?
3. When the baby takes sick and it is obvious it will die, what prevent it from being baptized?
4. Why does the vicar not officiate at the baby's funeral? In what way is he mistaken about what had happened at Durbeyfield's house the previous night?
5. How is the baby finally laid to rest?
Chapter 15 114-116
1. Why does Tess want to get away from Marlott?
2. How does Tess hear of the dairymaid job at Talbothays?
Phase the Third, The Rally; Chapters 16-24, pages 119-177
Chapter 16 119-124
1. What mood does the description of the Vale of Froom suggest?
2. Does there seem to be hope in this chapter that Tess will be able to rebuild her life?
Chapter 17 125-132
1. Retell the William Dewy story.
2. Is there anything peculiar in what we learn about Angel Clare?
Chapter 18 133-140
1. Does Angel look like a winner or a loser at this stage of the story?
2. What finally makes him notice Tess?
Chapter 19 142-148
1. How does Tess get to milk all her favorite cows each time?
2. Although Tess hopes to stay at Talbothays, what thought unsettles her?
3. Why does Tess decide not to tell Angel about her D'Urberville heritage?
Chapter 20 149-153
1. How does Hardy show that Angel idolizes Tess?
2. Give reasons why this is the most romantic chapter in the novel thus far.
Chapter 21 154-160
1. What does Mrs. Crick think is keeping the butter from churning?
2. What effect does dairyman Crick's story have on Tess? Why do you suppose this is so?
3. How is the sun symbolic on p.157
4. Why does Tess feel she could never consciously allow any man to marry her?
Chapter 22 161-164
1. Why was it necessary for the dairy hands to search the meadow?
2. Why is Tess more attracted to Angel at the end of this chapter?
Chapter 23 165-172
1. In chapter 23 Tess and Angel are physically close to one another in the meadow. How do they come to be even closer in this chapter?
2. Even though Hardy says Tess loves Angel why does she think it is a hopeless love?
Chapter 24 173-177
1. What effect does Hardy say the weather and the country atmosphere were bound to have on the young people?
2. What does Angel say he has done after he embraces Tess? How does he think it was a mistake?
Phase the Fourth, The Consequence; Chapters 25-34, pages 181-266
Chapter 25 181-190
1. What evidence is there that Angel is not comfortable with the idea of falling for Tess?
2. What does Angel decide to do before things go any futher with Tess?
3. Who is Mercy Chant and why is she a significant character in the story?
Chapter 26 191-197
1. What do we learn about Angel's parents from their conversation with him? What are they like?
2. How do the D'Urbervilles get brought into this chapter?
3. What has happened between Reverend Clare and Alec D'Urberville?
Chapter 27 198-204
1. What is unusual about the description of Tess on p. 199?
2. How does Angel propose marriage to Tess and what is the result?
3. What does Angel say his father does which he (Angel) says he doesn't like?
Chapter 28 205-210
1. Why does Angel think Tess does not want to marry him?
2. Explain the two strains in Tess's life.
3. What does Tess decide she will do at the end of the chapter?
Chapter 29 211-217
1. Why does dairyman Crick's story of Jack Dollop upset Tess?
2. Why does Angel think Tess is refusing his proposal of marriage? Why is she refusing?
Chapter 30 218-225
1. How does the D'Urberville name arise in this chapter?
2. How does Tess come to tell Angel she is a D'Urberville?
3. How does Alec figure in this chapter?
4. What does Angel finally realize about Tess?
Chapter 31 226-236
1. What does Joan advise Tess NOT to do in her letter?
2. What does Angel say about Tess and the D'Urbervilles?
3. When Angel presses her for a marriage date, what does Tess say?
Chapter 32 237-244
1. What does Tess tell Angel about not being wanted?
2. Why does Tess write to her mother and what is the result?
3. What plans do they make for their honeymoon. Is there irony here?
4. How does Angel explain the lack of marriage banns?
Chapter 33 245-255
1. Why does Angel strike the Trantridge man on the chin?
2. How does Tess finally communicate her past mistake to Angel? How is it that he doesn't get the message?
3. Why did Angel's brothers not attend his wedding?
4. What does the afternoon crowing of the cock on p.254 suggest?
Chapter 34 256-266
1. How does Tess feel when she sees the portraits of the D'Urberville women?
2. What does Tess receive from the Clares as a wedding gift?
3. What does Tess hear of the dairymaids at Talbothays?
4. What is unusual about the description of the diamonds in the last paragraph? Why is this image appropriate here?
Phase the Fifth: The Woman Pays; Chapters 35-44, pages 269-358
Chapter 35 269-278
1. Why does Angel say he cannot forgive her after Tess has forgiven him?
2. What does Angel do after Tess tells him? What does Tess do?
3. What does the doctor notice about the couple?
4. How does this chapter end on a note of pessimism?
Chapter 36 279-290
1. What does Angel say about divorce?
2. Why did Tess want to kill herself and why didn't she?
3. What does Angel do when Tess offers to kiss him?
4. How do you explain Hardy's statement at the bottom of p.287 concerning a good life and no life whatever?
Chapter 37 291-300
1. What does Angel's sleepwalking incident indicate about him?
2. What arrangement does Angel make when he and Tess part and why would a clean break with her have been more kind?
3. Why does Hardy's description of the parting scene seem so painful?
Chapter 38 301-306
1. List three things which happen which make Tess's visit home a disaster.
2. Explain the phrase at the top of p.302, "while here she was, friendless, creeping up to the old door quite by herself with no better place to go in the world." Why is this true and why is it painful?
Chapter 39 307-313
1. How is Angel's idea of the reason for Tess's downfall simplistic and trivial?
2. How does Angel blame Tess for his failures? Why is he wrong?
3. Since the wedding Hardy refers to Angel as 'Clare'. Why is this?
Chapter 40 314-3211. How is Angel's reaction to Mercy Chant ironic?
2. Why does Angel make it impossible for his family to get in touch with Tess?
3. How is Angel's treatment of Izz Huet heartless and mean?
4. What does Izz tell him about Tess?
5. Why does Angel tell Izz he can never forget her?
Chapter 41 322-329
1. What does Tess do in the first eight months after she parts from Angel?
2. What happens to Tess's family to make them need money?
3. Why does Tess not want to go to Angel's father for help?
4. Why does Tess not want to go back to Talbothays?
5. What is the symbolic significance of the wounded pheasants?
Chapter 42 330-335
1. What does Tess do to make herself less attractive? Does it work for her?
2. What is the significance of the statement on page 334, six lines from the top of the page: 'Wives are unhappy sometimes; from no fault of their husbands--from their own.' Do you agree with Tess here? Why?
3. Contrast the atmosphere and environment of Flintcomb Ash with in this chapter with that of the valley of Var or Froom on pages 120-124. This is a good example of atmosphere influencing the mood of the story.
Chapter 43 336-347
1. How is the work at Flintcomb Ash symbolically important?
2. Why does Marian write to Izz? Does Izz's presence at Flincomb Ash help in any way?
3. Why does Tess prefer Groby's abuse to his gallantry?
4. Is Tess's resentment of Angel for asking Izz to go away with him in character for Tess? She has been docile and humble; why would she change now?
Chapter 44 348-358
1. Why does Tess eventually decide to go to Emminster?
2. Why does she finally choose to avoid Angel's parents? Do you think she might have been mistaken?
3. Why is it ironic that Mercy Chant takes Tess's boots?
Phase the Sixth: The Convert 361-431
Chapter 45 361-370
1. Why does Tess still fear Alec D'Urberville? What is Hardy's explanation?
2. What does Alec ask Tess to do at Cross-In-Hand?
3. Is there any evil foreshadowing in this chapter? What?
Chapter 46 371-383
1. Why does Alec pursue Tess to Flintcomb Ash? What does Tess decide about him?
2. Why does Alec miss his preaching engagement?
3. Why does Alec feel responsible for Tess's present state?
4. In the previous chapter Tess commented that she didn't think Alec's conversion was permanent, now she seems to be right why is she so uneasy?
Chapter 47 384-392
1. Why is it appropriate for Alec to show up when Tess is working on the steam thresher?
2. What does Tess do to Alec when he calls her husband a mule?
3. What is Alec's answer to her?
Chapter 48 393-399
1. Why does Tess choose not to drink any ale?
2. What is Tess's answer to Alec's offer of help for her family?
3. What does she finally do out of desperation?
Chapter 49 400-407
1. Why does Rev. Clare feel justified in having sent his two sons to Cambridge while not providing the same education for Angel?
2. How have Angel's experiences in South America changed his mind about some things?
3. How does Angel's traveling companion affect him?
4. Why does Tess decide to go home?
Chapter 50 408-415
1. What is Jack Durbeyfield's plan for survival and how is it in keeping with his character?
2. Why do the Durbeyfields not have a garden?
3. How does Alec D'Urberville work his way into this chapter?
4. What is ironic about her father's death? How does Jack's dying create a problem for the family?
Chapter 51 416-423
1. How does Hardy explain the tendency of people to move from the villages to the larger centres? What does this sort of thing do to the culture of the people?
2. How does Tess's return home prove to be a problem for her family?
3. Explain the legend of the D'Urberville coach and four? Why is it significant at this point in the story? Do you know any other legends in which the sighting of a spectre (ghostly illusion) is a sign of bad luck?
4. Why do you suppose Alec D'Urberville is so persistent with Tess?
5. Why is it cruel when Joan speaks to Tess at the end of the chapter?
Chapter 52 424-431
1. What is meant by the term 'house ridding?' Why are so many people doing it April 6?
2. What bad news do they receive before they arrive at Kingsbere?
3. What is the significance of the condition of the D'Urberville tombs in the church?
4. Why do Izz and Marian write to Angel?
Phase the Seventh: Fulfilment 435-472
Chapter 53 435-439
1. When we think of foreshadowing, what might the changed physical appearance of Angel suggest about the relationship and feelings between Tess and Angel?
Chapter 54 440-444
1. What does Angel learn from Joan Durbeyfield? Why is this meeting with his mother-in-law an unhappy one?
Chapter 55 445-449
1. How does Hardy's description of Sandbourne suggest it is an unnatural place?
2. How is the reunion between Tess and Angel also unreal?
3. Who is more to blame for the present state of affairs and why?
Chapter 56 450-4541. What happens between Alec and Tess?
2. What is suggestive about the fact that this news is relayed by Mrs. Brooks, the lodging-house landlady?
Chapter 57 455-461
1. What does Tess say drove her to kill Alec?
2. Why is it significant that the D'Urberville coach and murder is mentioned in this chapter?
3. Why is Angel's statement on p. 459: 'later on when they have forgotten us,' so foolish?
4. How do they find a place to stay?
Chapter 58 462-469
1. Why does Tess not want to leave the deserted mansion?
2. How are Tess and Angel discovered?
3. Why is it significant that Tess lies on the altar slab at Stonehenge?
Chapter 59 470-472
1. Why is it significant that Angel and Liza-Lu are going uphill? Why are they holding hands?
2. In this phase Tess appears physically in only three of the chapters, the others we only hear about her. What is significant about this?
3. The chapters in this section are the shortest in the novel. Why do you think this is so?