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Questions and Answers
What happened when railway men were at strike?
What happened when railway men were at strike?
The soldiers were driving engines; stones had been thrown at the trains. Brookfield boys were patrolling the line with Chips in charge.
Who was Mr. Jones?
Who was Mr. Jones?
Mr. Jones was in charge of the signal box at the railway station, but Chips met him as a striker that day.
What did Chips remember about the Diamond Jubilee?
What did Chips remember about the Diamond Jubilee?
Mr. Chips, along with Katherine, went to London to see the procession celebrating the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria.
How did Queen Victoria look like?
How did Queen Victoria look like?
Why was Grayson upset?
Why was Grayson upset?
Draw a character sketch of Ralston.
Draw a character sketch of Ralston.
How did Chips feel protected from Ralston?
How did Chips feel protected from Ralston?
What was Ralston's urbane ultimatum?
What was Ralston's urbane ultimatum?
What were the accusations laid on Chips by Ralston?
What were the accusations laid on Chips by Ralston?
What did Ralston say when Chips protested at the word 'slovenly'?
What did Ralston say when Chips protested at the word 'slovenly'?
What did Ralston say when Chips objected to the word 'insubordination'?
What did Ralston say when Chips objected to the word 'insubordination'?
Ralston was liked and respected in Brookfield.
Ralston was liked and respected in Brookfield.
How was Ralston trying to run Brookfield?
How was Ralston trying to run Brookfield?
How did it become common knowledge that Ralston had insulted Chips?
How did it become common knowledge that Ralston had insulted Chips?
What was the reaction of the masters to the row between Ralston and Chips?
What was the reaction of the masters to the row between Ralston and Chips?
Why did Chips break down when Sir John Rivers spoke to him?
Why did Chips break down when Sir John Rivers spoke to him?
Who was Chatteris?
Who was Chatteris?
Why did Chips decide to resign?
Why did Chips decide to resign?
What did Chips say in his speech?
What did Chips say in his speech?
Who was Herr Staefal?
Who was Herr Staefal?
How did Chips keep himself busy?
How did Chips keep himself busy?
Who was Forrester?
Who was Forrester?
What did Chips feel when Chatteris read the names of old boys killed?
What did Chips feel when Chatteris read the names of old boys killed?
What was the problem that Chatteris was facing?
What was the problem that Chatteris was facing?
Why and for what did Chatteris want Chips to return to Brookfield?
Why and for what did Chatteris want Chips to return to Brookfield?
What did Chips feel after rejoining Brookfield?
What did Chips feel after rejoining Brookfield?
What were the new jokes made by Chips?
What were the new jokes made by Chips?
When did Chatteris die?
When did Chatteris die?
When was Chips asked to become the Acting Head for the second time?
When was Chips asked to become the Acting Head for the second time?
How did Chips read out the tragic list?
How did Chips read out the tragic list?
What was Chips's opinion regarding bayonet practice?
What was Chips's opinion regarding bayonet practice?
What happened on the night of full moonlight?
What happened on the night of full moonlight?
What did Chips say during the loud explosion?
What did Chips say during the loud explosion?
Who was Burrow?
Who was Burrow?
Who was Maynard?
Who was Maynard?
What was the news spread on the next day of the air raid?
What was the news spread on the next day of the air raid?
What was the reaction of Mr. Chips to the air raid during his class?
What was the reaction of Mr. Chips to the air raid during his class?
How was Chips a legend?
How was Chips a legend?
What happened on November 11, 1918?
What happened on November 11, 1918?
What did Chips do on the night of November 11, 1918?
What did Chips do on the night of November 11, 1918?
Which season did Mr. Chips like the best and why?
Which season did Mr. Chips like the best and why?
Who was Gregson?
Who was Gregson?
What did Chips disapprove about the new master from Oxford?
What did Chips disapprove about the new master from Oxford?
What kind of reputation did Chips earn?
What kind of reputation did Chips earn?
How financially stable was Chips?
How financially stable was Chips?
What was the will of Chips?
What was the will of Chips?
Why did everyone ask Chips questions?
Why did everyone ask Chips questions?
What did Chips think about a Wurlitzer?
What did Chips think about a Wurlitzer?
What swung before Chips as he sat down by the fire in November, 1933?
What swung before Chips as he sat down by the fire in November, 1933?
What were the things Chips had never done?
What were the things Chips had never done?
Who was Linford?
Who was Linford?
What was the talk between Chips and Linford?
What was the talk between Chips and Linford?
How was Linford received by Chips?
How was Linford received by Chips?
What were Chips's feelings after Linford left his place?
What were Chips's feelings after Linford left his place?
What happened to Chips?
What happened to Chips?
What did Chips feel?
What did Chips feel?
Who was Cartwright?
Who was Cartwright?
What did Cartwright say to Merivale?
What did Cartwright say to Merivale?
What was Chips's response upon being called issueless?
What was Chips's response upon being called issueless?
What would Linford always remember?
What would Linford always remember?
How old was Chips when he died?
How old was Chips when he died?
What did Cartwright say after receiving the news of Chips' death?
What did Cartwright say after receiving the news of Chips' death?
How did Chips measure time?
How did Chips measure time?
What would Chips do after the last bell?
What would Chips do after the last bell?
What was the opinion of Dr. Merivale about the health of Chips?
What was the opinion of Dr. Merivale about the health of Chips?
How often did Dr. Merivale visit Chips?
How often did Dr. Merivale visit Chips?
From what disease did Mr. Chips suffer?
From what disease did Mr. Chips suffer?
When was Chips born?
When was Chips born?
What could Chips still boast of?
What could Chips still boast of?
Why did Chips leave Melbury?
Why did Chips leave Melbury?
How long did he serve there?
How long did he serve there?
Who was Wetherby?
Who was Wetherby?
What was Wetherby’s advice?
What was Wetherby’s advice?
Who was Colley? Why was he punished?
Who was Colley? Why was he punished?
Where was Brookfield situated?
Where was Brookfield situated?
When was Brookfield established?
When was Brookfield established?
What do you know about the changing history of Brookfield school?
What do you know about the changing history of Brookfield school?
What happened in the reign of the first George?
What happened in the reign of the first George?
How long did Wetherby stay in Brookfield?
How long did Wetherby stay in Brookfield?
What kind of men did Brookfield produce?
What kind of men did Brookfield produce?
How ambitious was Chips in his early twenties?
How ambitious was Chips in his early twenties?
What were the inadequacies of his qualification?
What were the inadequacies of his qualification?
When did Chips become the Doyen of the staff?
When did Chips become the Doyen of the staff?
When did Chips retire?
When did Chips retire?
What was presented to him on his retirement?
What was presented to him on his retirement?
Describe Mrs. Wickett’s house.
Describe Mrs. Wickett’s house.
Why did Mr. Chips choose to live at Mrs. Wickett’s?
Why did Mr. Chips choose to live at Mrs. Wickett’s?
What kind of room did Chips have at Mrs. Wickett’s place?
What kind of room did Chips have at Mrs. Wickett’s place?
What did Chips like to do when the weather was mild?
What did Chips like to do when the weather was mild?
How did he welcome the new boys?
How did he welcome the new boys?
How did Chips entertain the boys?
How did Chips entertain the boys?
Who was Collingwood?
Who was Collingwood?
What type of life did Chips have at Mrs. Wickett’s?
What type of life did Chips have at Mrs. Wickett’s?
What kind of books did Chips have in his rooms?
What kind of books did Chips have in his rooms?
What kind of books did Chips read?
What kind of books did Chips read?
What were Chips’ views about Latin and Greek?
What were Chips’ views about Latin and Greek?
How did Chips spend his time at Mrs. Wickett’s after retirement?
How did Chips spend his time at Mrs. Wickett’s after retirement?
What was the misconception about Mr. Chips’ marital life?
What was the misconception about Mr. Chips’ marital life?
When and with whom did Chips go to the Lake District?
When and with whom did Chips go to the Lake District?
How did he meet Katherine?
How did he meet Katherine?
What did Chips think about women?
What did Chips think about women?
What was the concept of nice women near Chips?
What was the concept of nice women near Chips?
Describe Katherine.
Describe Katherine.
What were Katherine’s views about women's rights?
What were Katherine’s views about women's rights?
What did Katherine think of Chips at first?
What did Katherine think of Chips at first?
Why did Katherine like Chips initially?
Why did Katherine like Chips initially?
Why did Chips used to look down at his feet?
Why did Chips used to look down at his feet?
What could Chips re-smell, re-saw, and re-follow?
What could Chips re-smell, re-saw, and re-follow?
What did Katherine think about Chips' profession initially?
What did Katherine think about Chips' profession initially?
Why did Katherine think that school mastering was so different?
Why did Katherine think that school mastering was so different?
How did Chips depreciate himself before Katherine?
How did Chips depreciate himself before Katherine?
Where did Chips marry Katherine?
Where did Chips marry Katherine?
How much Katherine was liked out Brookfield?
How much Katherine was liked out Brookfield?
What sort of a person had Chips been till his marriage?
What sort of a person had Chips been till his marriage?
What changes did Katherine/marriage bring in Chips?
What changes did Katherine/marriage bring in Chips?
What had Chips aimed when he first came to Brookfield?
What had Chips aimed when he first came to Brookfield?
What did Katherine suggest about East End lads?
What did Katherine suggest about East End lads?
What was the mission that Brookfield ran?
What was the mission that Brookfield ran?
What was the reaction to Katherine’s revolutionary idea?
What was the reaction to Katherine’s revolutionary idea?
How did Katherine convince Chips?
How did Katherine convince Chips?
Describe the visit of Poplar boys.
Describe the visit of Poplar boys.
What were the memories that came back to Chips in a cloud?
What were the memories that came back to Chips in a cloud?
How did Katherine advise Chips in dealing with boys?
How did Katherine advise Chips in dealing with boys?
When did Katherine urge severity?
When did Katherine urge severity?
What was the incident of Dunster and Ogilvie?
What was the incident of Dunster and Ogilvie?
What did Chips do in an exercise book?
What did Chips do in an exercise book?
What was the difficulty in writing a book?
What was the difficulty in writing a book?
How did Chips pace through Brookfield village?
How did Chips pace through Brookfield village?
What do you know of Faulkner?
What do you know of Faulkner?
What did young Faulkner ask Chips on April 1, 1898?
What did young Faulkner ask Chips on April 1, 1898?
What did Chips nearly answer young Faulkner?
What did Chips nearly answer young Faulkner?
What was the piece of April foolery?
What was the piece of April foolery?
When and how did Katherine die?
When and how did Katherine die?
Why did Chips not want to receive condolences?
Why did Chips not want to receive condolences?
How different did Chips look after Katherine’s death?
How different did Chips look after Katherine’s death?
Where did Chips move to after his wife’s death?
Where did Chips move to after his wife’s death?
How did his school mastership prove useful after the death of his wife?
How did his school mastership prove useful after the death of his wife?
What changes occurred in Chips with the start of the new century after Katherine’s death?
What changes occurred in Chips with the start of the new century after Katherine’s death?
What did Chips no longer feel?
What did Chips no longer feel?
What had he won by seniority and ripeness?
What had he won by seniority and ripeness?
What had Katherine left Chips with?
What had Katherine left Chips with?
What sort of gown did Chips wear after the death of Katherine?
What sort of gown did Chips wear after the death of Katherine?
How did Chips take call-over?
How did Chips take call-over?
What was the easy and favorite subject of mimicry?
What was the easy and favorite subject of mimicry?
What did Chips think about Boers?
What did Chips think about Boers?
Which Prime Minister of England visited Brookfield School?
Which Prime Minister of England visited Brookfield School?
Why did Chips become the acting head of Brookfield?
Why did Chips become the acting head of Brookfield?
Who succeeded Meldrum as the Headmaster?
Who succeeded Meldrum as the Headmaster?
What kind of personality did Ralston have?
What kind of personality did Ralston have?
Why did the school bell clang one morning?
Why did the school bell clang one morning?
Study Notes
Chapter 1: Mr. Chips' Background
- Mr. Chips measures time by the Brookfield school bell, reminiscent of an old sea captain.
- After the last school bell, he winds the clock, prepares for bed with a detective novel, and makes himself comfortable.
- Dr. Merivale reassures Chips about his health, claiming he will die a natural death due to old age.
- Dr. Merivale visits Chips bi-weekly for medical checks; Chips' only health concern is the effects of aging.
- Chips was born in 1848 and proudly recalls attending the Great Exhibition as a infant.
- He left Melbury due to bullying and weak discipline, serving only one year there.
- Mr. Wetherby, headmaster of Brookfield, interviewed Chips in 1870, providing fatherly advice to channel his enthusiasm into teaching.
Chapter 2: Brookfield School History
- Brookfield is located behind ancient elms, featuring 18th-century architecture surrounding a quadrangle.
- Established as a grammar school during the reign of Elizabeth.
- The school's reputation fluctuates; it thrived during the reign of George I but declined post-Napoleonic War until improved by Wetherby.
- Wetherby served from 1840 to 1870, significantly revitalizing the school.
- Brookfield produced influential alumni, including judges, MPs, and colonial administrators.
- In his early twenties, Chips aimed for headmastership at a first-class school despite mediocre qualifications.
- He became Doyen of the staff at age fifty and retired in 1913, receiving various gifts upon retirement.
Chapter 3: Mr. Chips' Living Arrangements
- Mrs. Wickett’s house is described as ugly yet convenient for Mr. Chips, located directly across from Brookfield.
- Chips preferred living at Mrs. Wickett's for easy access to school, maintaining close connections.
- His room is small but comfortable, filled with books, trophies, and mementos of his teaching career.
- Enjoys watching students play in mild weather and hosts new students for tea to build rapport.
- Chips entertains boys with cakes and tea, making the experience enjoyable.
- Notable students include Collingwood, who later became a major and received a medal for bravery.
Chapter 4: Meeting Katherine
- Chips visited the Lake District in 1896 with colleague Rowden, where he met Katherine by accident.
- Initially wary of women, Chips perceives the modern woman as intimidating.
- Katherine, a governess with liberal views on women's rights, finds Chips appealing for his distinct nature.
- Katherine admires Chips for his honest opinions and kind demeanor, despite his insecurities.
Chapter 5: Personal Reflections
- Chips remembers significant places in the Lake District fondly, recalling nature's beauty.
- Katherine initially fears that Chips might hold a more mundane profession.
- Chips minimizes his accomplishments and expresses doubts about his worthiness to marry an ambitious woman.
- They marry in Ealing, cementing their bond as partners.
Chapter 6: Transformation after Marriage
- Katherine swiftly becomes popular among students and faculty at Brookfield.
- Prior to marriage, Chips struggled with popularity; Katherine transforms him into a charismatic figure.
- She inspires him to seek deeper connections within the community, proposing a soccer match between the school and East End lads.
- Despite resistance from staff, Katherine argues for community engagement and prevents Chips from dismissing the idea outright.
Chapter 7: Memories of Katherine
- Chips reminisces fondly about Katherine's lively presence at Brookfield, recalling joyful moments.
- Katherine understands the need for both kindness and discipline in dealing with students.
- Following an incident involving Dunster and Ogilvie, Chips finds solace in remembering Katherine’s advice.
Chapter 8: Grief and Change
- Chips experiences profound grief after Katherine's death during childbirth on April 1, 1898.
- He avoids receiving condolences, needing time to process his loss alone.
- He reluctantly adapts to a more solitary life, moving back to bachelor quarters while continuing his role as housemaster.
Chapter 9: Overcoming Grief
- Chips' appearance changes as grief age him prematurely; he becomes more introspective.
- His role in education helps fill the void left by Katherine, allowing him to regain purpose.
- The start of the new century brings newfound stability and pride in his position as a respected educator.
Chapter 10: Acting Headmaster Role
- Chips becomes acting head of Brookfield in 1900 after the sudden death of Meldrum, who had served for 30 years.
- Ralston succeeds Meldrum, characterized as strict and ambitious, able to command authority effortlessly.
- A school bell unexpectedly summons everyone due to the death of King Edward VII, marking an important moment in history.
Chapter 11: Ralston's Leadership
- Ralston is a strict disciplinarian who leaves Brookfield in 1911 to pursue better opportunities.
- Chips feels secure in his position due to his seniority and experience.
- Ralston accuses Chips of being outdated, prompting conflict over teaching methods and personal habits.
- Tension rises between empathy for Chips' methods and Ralston’s demands for modernization; the struggle represents a generational shift in education.### Ralston and Chips' Dynamic
- Ralston exhibited a mix of laziness and obstinacy, leading to a chaotic environment.
- Despite being feared, Ralston became increasingly disliked after a confrontation with Chips.
- Ralston attempted to impose a factory-like culture focused on money and machines at Brookfield.
- The incident involving Ralston insulting Chips spread quickly among the students, starting from a small boy who overheard the argument.
- Ralston's harsh leadership caused the staff to rally around Chips, acknowledging his traditional methods.
Chips' Significance and Personal Struggles
- Chips was deeply attached to Brookfield, recalling significant memories from his 42 years of service in a farewell speech.
- Herr Staefal, a younger and friendly German master at Brookfield, had a close relationship with Chips and was later killed in WWI.
- Chips remained active post-retirement by engaging with students, managing alumni relations, and contributing to school publications.
- The reading of names of fallen students during wartime grief deeply affected Chips, bringing their faces and memories to mind.
Chatteris' Tenure and Chips’ Return
- Chatteris, a modern and friendly successor, struggled with diabetes, affecting his management during wartime.
- Chips’ return to Brookfield was welcomed; he felt rejuvenated and made new jokes to lift spirits amidst the war.
- Upon Chatteris' death, Chips was appointed Acting Head, indicating his central role in the school.
The Impact of War on Brookfield
- During an air raid, Chips handled the situation remarkably well, maintaining class order amid chaos.
- Brookfield experienced significant loss, with nine casualties reported from an air raid.
- Chips gained legendary status among students, respected for his demeanor and humor even during wartime.
Chips' Later Years and Legacy
- In his later years, Chips enjoyed summer and actively engaged with old boys returning to Brookfield.
- Chips earned a reputation for wit and humor, often making jokes that were anticipated by his audience.
- He was financially stable, contributing his wealth back to school and community causes.
- Chips’ will indicated his commitment to Brookfield, wanting to establish a scholarship fund.
Final Moments
- Chips reflected on his life as he sat by the fire in 1933, reminiscing about his journeys and experiences.
- He interacted with Linford, a new student, sharing insights about school life, deepening his legacy.
- Chips fainted and, despite feeling weak, held onto fond memories of his students, referring to them as his children.
- Chips passed away at 85 in November 1933, leaving a lasting impact at Brookfield, remembered fondly by students and faculty alike.
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Description
Test your knowledge on Chapter 1 of 'Goodbye, Mr. Chips'. This quiz covers key elements such as Chips' ways of measuring time and his routines after school. Dive into the details of his character and relationships portrayed in this classic story.
