Howards End Chapters 1-20 Flashcards

Questions and Answers

Who wrote Howards End?

E.M. Forster

What is the setting of Howards End?

It is a British novel set in London at the turn of the 20th century.

Who is writing the letter in chapter 1 and to whom?

Helen is writing to Margaret.

Who is Margaret Schlegel?

Tibby and Helen's older sister. Signup and view all the answers

Where is Helen at in the first few chapters?

Howards End Signup and view all the answers

Who lives at Howards End?

The Wilcoxes Signup and view all the answers

What do Margaret and Helen think the Wilcoxes would be like?

Gaudy Signup and view all the answers

Why couldn't Margaret go to Howards End as asked?

Tibby has hay fever and she has to watch him. Signup and view all the answers

Who is Tibby?

The ill-tempered youngest of the Schlegels who gets a new disease every month. Signup and view all the answers

What is the first mention of masculinity?

Charles Wilcox has hay fever, but unlike Tibby, he doesn't let it stop him and he stays strong. Signup and view all the answers

What is Mrs. Wilcox doing out in the garden?

Smelling cut hay. Signup and view all the answers

What are Charles and Mr. Wilcox practicing?

Croquet. Signup and view all the answers

What exercises does Evie do?

Calisthenics. Signup and view all the answers

What does Mr. Wilcox do that Helen likes?

He contradicts everything she was taught. Signup and view all the answers

Who does Helen fall in love with at the beginning of the novel?

Paul Wilcox. Signup and view all the answers

Who is Helen Schlegel?

The middle child of the Schlegels who is staying at Howards End at the beginning of the novel. Signup and view all the answers

Who is Margaret, Helen, and Tibby's aunt?

Aunt Juley. Signup and view all the answers

Where did the Schlegels meet the Wilcox parents?

In Germany. Signup and view all the answers

Where do the Schlegels live?

Wickham Place. Signup and view all the answers

What is Wickham Place?

A quiet place that is separated from the rest of London like a neighborhood. Signup and view all the answers

Who is Mrs. Munt?

Aunt Juley. Signup and view all the answers

How does Mrs. Munt interpret Margaret?

She is a little hysterical and a fast talker. Signup and view all the answers

Why does Mrs. Munt stop speaking harshly about Germans and claims the Schlegel children as fully British?

Margaret's eyes shine, and the Schlegels are half German/half British. Signup and view all the answers

Why is Mrs. Munt unsure about Margaret going to see Helen at Howards End?

Margaret doesn't have the experience of love or marriage. Signup and view all the answers

What does being spontaneous make up for in Margaret?

Her beauty. Signup and view all the answers

Why does Margaret ask Mrs. Munt to go to Howards End?

Margaret can't go because she has to take care of Tibby. Signup and view all the answers

What does Margaret tell Mrs. Munt to do when she gets to Howards End?

She must only speak to Helen, and she must avoid the Wilcox family. Signup and view all the answers

What train station does Margaret take Mrs. Munt to?

King's Cross. Signup and view all the answers

What does King's Cross suggest to Margaret?

Infinity. Signup and view all the answers

What does the last telegram from Helen tell Margaret?

The engagement has been broken off and to not send anyone. Signup and view all the answers

What is the name of the Schlegel children's mother?

Emily. Signup and view all the answers

What happened to Emily?

She died after giving birth to Tibby. Signup and view all the answers

What stocks do Helen and Margaret invest in that Mrs. Munt doesn't like?

Foreign stocks. Signup and view all the answers

What stocks does Mrs. Munt tell the girls to invest in?

British stocks; they invest in railroad stocks specifically. Signup and view all the answers

At the time, what are actresses seen as?

Prostitutes. Signup and view all the answers

Where is Howards End located?

Hilton. Signup and view all the answers

Who does Mrs. Munt meet at the train station after getting to the country?

Charles. Signup and view all the answers

Why does Charles tell Mrs. Munt that he is the 'younger Mr. Wilcox'?

Charles thinks that she is referring to him and his father. Signup and view all the answers

Despite Charles being nice to Mrs. Munt, how does he treat the station workers?

He is rude to them. Signup and view all the answers

How is Charles rude to the station workers?

He complains about a parcel for Howards End and threatens to get them fired. Signup and view all the answers

Why does Charles get mad while driving him and Mrs. Munt to Howards End?

Mrs. Munt questions him about Helen's relationship, revealing that he understands Helen and Paul had an engagement. Signup and view all the answers

Why does Mrs. Munt listen to Charles when he asks her to lower her voice?

She is loyal to her social class. Signup and view all the answers

Why is Paul going to Africa?

He is going to Nigeria to run the family company. Signup and view all the answers

What comment does Charles make that makes Mrs. Munt mad?

He says that Helen didn't wait to spread the news. Signup and view all the answers

Who is the voice in the garden when Mrs. Munt and Charles first get to Howards End?

Mrs. Ruth Wilcox. Signup and view all the answers

Who is the owner of Howards End?

Mrs. Wilcox (Howard is her maiden name). Signup and view all the answers

Describe Mrs. Wilcox.

She worships the past and has instinctive wisdom because of it. Signup and view all the answers

Where does Mrs. Wilcox tell Helen to take Mrs. Munt?

To either Helen's room or Mrs. Wilcox, whichever is thought to be best. Signup and view all the answers

What does Mrs. Wilcox tell Paul to do?

To find Evie and tell her to prepare lunch for 6. Signup and view all the answers

What does Charles mean when he asks his mother if she was aware that Paul was being a fool again?

Paul is a womanizer. Signup and view all the answers

How does Mrs. Munt distort the past?

She thinks that she is a hero and that she saved Emily's girls. Signup and view all the answers

If Helen didn't fall in love with Paul, who did she fall in love with?

She fell in love with the Wilcox family. Signup and view all the answers

Why is Helen so quick to abandon what she's been taught?

She enjoys having Mr. Wilcox and others tell her that her notions of life are sheltered. Signup and view all the answers

How is there a halo of romance around Paul?

Helen worships him and associates all feelings of happiness with him. Signup and view all the answers

How does Helen not give herself any slack?

Her words are 'even more unsympathetic' than the narrator. Signup and view all the answers

How do Helen's feelings last after her moments with Paul?

Magic lasting hours after a kiss. Signup and view all the answers

How does Paul behave when Helen goes downstairs?

He is terrified while the rest of his family is placid. Signup and view all the answers

How do the Wilcoxes focus on their outer selves but not their inner selves?

They are just a wall of newspapers and motor cars and golf clubs. Signup and view all the answers

How does Mrs. Wilcox find out about Paul and Helen's engagement?

No one told her, she knew instinctively. Signup and view all the answers

Why does Helen question what she's taught about the inner self?

The Wilcoxes have Helen thinking that there's more grit in outer self. Signup and view all the answers

What does it mean by the Wilcoxes 'have their hands on all the ropes'?

They are in control. Signup and view all the answers

What is the name of the newspaper often read?

The London Times. Signup and view all the answers

What does the Wilcox episode become?

Memories of mingled sweetness and horror. Signup and view all the answers

What type of politics are Margaret and Helen involved in?

Temperance, tolerance, and sexual equality. Signup and view all the answers

Describe Ernst Schlegel.

He was a prominent German, but not an aggressive or domestic German. Signup and view all the answers

What was Ernst Schlegel's 'Imperialism of the air'?

His mind and thought process. Signup and view all the answers

Why was Ernst's gaze 'always fixed beyond the sea'?

He wanted to go back to Germany but couldn't because things had changed. Signup and view all the answers

Why does Ernst tell his haughty German nephew that he thinks Germans are stupid?

They do not care about their intellect. Signup and view all the answers

Why does Margaret want her family to debate which side is better?

The German side thinks that Germans are better than British people. Signup and view all the answers

What does Helen do in life?

Uses her beauty to attract people. Signup and view all the answers

What does Margaret do in life?

She paves her way through it. Signup and view all the answers

What are Aunt Juley, Helen, Margaret, Tibby, Cousin Frieda, and her boyfriend doing at a music concert?

Listening to Beethoven's Fifth Symphony. Signup and view all the answers

Who does everyone do at the music concert?

Aunt Juley secretly taps her toe; Helen sees heroes and shipwrecks in the music. Signup and view all the answers

Who is Fraulein Mosebach?

Cousin Frieda. Signup and view all the answers

What is the name of Cousin Frieda's boyfriend?

Herr Liesecke. Signup and view all the answers

What bores Helen during the concert?

The Andante. Signup and view all the answers

Why does Helen leave the concert?

She sees goblins and elephants reminding her of unwanted Wilcox memories. Signup and view all the answers

What does Helen take when she leaves?

The umbrella of the man Margaret was speaking to. Signup and view all the answers

Why does Tibby loiter around in the concert?

He was supposed to go after Helen to get the umbrella. Signup and view all the answers

Why doesn't the man want to give Margaret his address or let Helen keep his umbrella?

He is poor and cannot afford another one. Signup and view all the answers

Why does Margaret want to leave the concert?

She doesn't like the Brams, the Mendelssohn that came before it, or 'this Elgar'. Signup and view all the answers

Why does Aunt Juley want Liesecke to stay at the concert?

She wants him to hear British composed music. Signup and view all the answers

Where does the man say that he has been for concerts?

Queen's Hall, Covent Garden, and the Royal Opera. Signup and view all the answers

Who does Margaret talk about when the man sees how sophisticated and fluent she is in art?

Monet and Debussy. Signup and view all the answers

What remark does Helen make when Tibby says that she and Margaret need to hurry?

She calls him Auntie Tibby. Signup and view all the answers

What is the 'man who lost his umbrella's' name?

Leonard Bast. Signup and view all the answers

What is Leonard on the verge of, and what does the abyss represent?

Gentility; total poverty and ruin. Signup and view all the answers

What does Leonard refuse to do when it comes to speaking to the rich?

He refuses to tell them that he is inferior. Signup and view all the answers

Why would Leonard have a definite rank if he was born centuries in the past?

There was no upward motion in life then. Signup and view all the answers

What is Leonard's home?

A cellar-apartment. Signup and view all the answers

Why is Leonard relieved to see the electric light still on?

The landlord hasn't turned off his power. Signup and view all the answers

Whose picture does Leonard accidentally break?

Jacky. Signup and view all the answers

Why does Leonard read a volume of Ruskin?

He thinks that if he reads it then it'll help him move up in status. Signup and view all the answers

What does Leonard think of the Schlegels?

They have their hands on the ropes culturally. Signup and view all the answers

Who walks into Leonard's home?

Jacky. Signup and view all the answers

Describe Jacky Bast.

She is a prostitute and not respectable, dresses gaudily. Signup and view all the answers

What phrase do Jacky and Leonard use to greet each other?

'What ho!' Signup and view all the answers

Why does Jacky sit on Leonard's lap and feel him up?

She is trying to use sex and her sexuality to hold on to him. Signup and view all the answers

Why does Leonard get frustrated at Jacky?

She asks questions about if he loves her and he is committed to marrying her. Signup and view all the answers

When is Leonard Bast's birthday?

November 11th. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Author and Publication

E.M. Forster authored Howards End, published in 1910.

Setting

The novel is set in London during the early 20th century, reflecting societal changes and class distinctions.

Main Characters

Margaret Schlegel: The eldest sister of the Schlegel family, characterized by her intelligence and progressive views.
Helen Schlegel: The middle sister who falls in love with Paul Wilcox early in the story.
Tibby Schlegel: The youngest sibling, known for his ill temperament and frequent illnesses.
Charles Wilcox: The older son of the Wilcox family, representing traditional masculinity.
Paul Wilcox: The younger son, involved in a complicated engagement with Helen.

Relationships and Plot Points

Helen writes letters to Margaret, revealing family dynamics and her feelings towards the Wilcoxes.
Mrs. Wilcox resides at Howards End, representing a contrast between the old and new values in society.
The Wilcox family is perceived by the Schlegels as "gaudy," reflecting their differing social values.

Themes of Masculinity and Gender

Early indications of masculinity appear when comparing Charles Wilcox's resilience to Tibby's ailments.
The novel explores notions of gender, intelligence, and society's expectations through characters like Helen, Margaret, and their interactions with men.

Family Dynamics

Aunt Juley, the girls' aunt, showcases traditional views and often influences the sisters' decisions.
The Schlegel family has a background that intertwines British and German heritage, leading to complex cultural discussions.

Margaret and Helen are involved in progressive politics, advocating for temperance, tolerance, and equality.
Class divisions are highlighted through characters' interactions, particularly between the Schlegels and the Wilcoxes.
Leonard Bast symbolizes the struggle for gentility amidst poverty, representing the working class.

Symbolism and Motifs

Howards End serves as a symbol of heritage and the past, contrasted with the rapid changes in early 20th-century British society.
The concert scene illustrates differing perceptions of art and culture among the characters, with meaningful interactions framed by music.

Key Incidents

Helen's impulsiveness leads her to engage with the Wilcox family, setting the stage for her romantic entanglement with Paul.
Charles Wilcox's behavior, particularly toward the station workers, exemplifies class arrogance and entitlement.
The tension surrounding Helen's engagement and her eventual disillusionment highlight societal pressures regarding love and marriage.

Helen and Leonard's Parallel Stories

Helen's relationship with Paul contrasts sharply with Leonard Bast's struggles; both explore themes of love and the implications of social class.
Leonard's aspiration for a better life through education and culture reflects the intersections of class and personal ambition.

Closing Notes on Characters

Jacky Bast, Leonard's partner, embodies the challenges faced by women in lower classes, further enriching the narrative's exploration of gender roles.
The characters’ interactions serve to critique the constraints of societal norms and the complexities of human relationships.

Studying That Suits You

Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.

Description

Test your knowledge of the first 20 chapters of E.M. Forster's 'Howards End' with these flashcards. Learn about key characters, the setting, and significant plot points as you prepare for discussions and exams on this classic British novel.