The Help Chapter Summaries

Questions and Answers

What does Aibileen do in Chapter 1?

Aibileen is introduced and the white women play bridge at Elizabeth's.

What happens to Minny in Chapter 2?

Minny loses her job and Aibileen sets up a job for her with Celia.

What significant event occurs in Chapter 3?

The mummy narrator is introduced for the first time.

What does the narrative in Chapter 4 reveal about Minny's home life?

Minny hides in the bathroom to get away from Johnny. Signup and view all the answers

What does Skeeter discuss with her mother in Chapter 5?

Skeeter's mother discusses why she doesn't have a husband and her last letter from Constantine. Signup and view all the answers

What career opportunity does Skeeter pursue in Chapter 6?

She goes to the local paper to get the Miss Myrna column and asks Aibileen to help. Signup and view all the answers

What concern does Aibileen have in Chapter 7?

Aibileen is worried that Mae Mobley believes she is bad. Signup and view all the answers

How does Skeeter's relationship with Hilly develop in Chapter 8?

Skeeter gets set up by Hilly and gets her hair done. Signup and view all the answers

What does Skeeter do to hide from her mother in Chapter 9?

She lies to her mother, saying she's going to church. Signup and view all the answers

What pivotal event involves Minny in Chapter 10?

Minny forces Celia to tell Johnny about her. Signup and view all the answers

What happens during the interview in Chapter 11?

Skeeter goes to Aibileen's house for the interview, and it's awkward. Signup and view all the answers

In Chapter 12, what does Aibileen wish for?

Aibileen talks about Treelore's death and what books she wishes to read. Signup and view all the answers

What does Minny talk about in Chapter 13?

Minny talks all night about cooking. Signup and view all the answers

What humiliation does Aibileen face in Chapter 14?

Hilly humiliates Aibileen by making her say she likes having her own toilet. Signup and view all the answers

What does Aibileen say about the relationship between white and black girls in Chapter 15?

Aibileen tells the story of white and black girls being the same. Signup and view all the answers

What happens in Chapter 16 during the prayer meeting?

Aibileen is at a prayer meeting, but someone gets mad that they're not doing anything. Signup and view all the answers

What does Celia want to learn from Minny in Chapter 17?

Celia wants to learn to play bridge from Minny. Signup and view all the answers

What traumatic event occurs in Chapter 18?

Celia loses her child, and Minny has to throw it away. Signup and view all the answers

What situation does Skeeter find herself in during Chapter 19?

Skeeter reads about Carl Roberts who spoke out and got cattle branded. Signup and view all the answers

What does Skeeter's family learn in Chapter 20?

Skeeter feels proud of her dad for standing up for black people who were killed. Signup and view all the answers

What confrontation occurs in Chapter 21?

Skeeter and Hilly have a confrontation about the initiative. Signup and view all the answers

What happens during Mae Mobley's birthday in Chapter 22?

Elizabeth feels glad she can buy her daughter things. Signup and view all the answers

What significant event does Hilly host in Chapter 23?

Hilly invites Celia and Johnny to the benefit. Signup and view all the answers

What does Celia discover in Chapter 24?

Celia finds Minny has a bruise and knows it's from being beaten. Signup and view all the answers

What does the omnipotent narrator reveal in Chapter 25?

Celia gets drunk, throws up, and rips Hilly's dress. Signup and view all the answers

What does Johnny do in Chapter 26?

Johnny calls Minny to look after Celia as she is upset after last night. Signup and view all the answers

What major truth unfolds for Skeeter in Chapter 27?

Skeeter decides on the title of the book and learns what happened to Constantine. Signup and view all the answers

What personal crisis does Skeeter face in Chapter 28?

Skeeter's mother doesn't have long to live, and Stuart proposes but takes the ring back. Signup and view all the answers

What reactions do Skeeter and others have towards the book in Chapter 29?

They notice people not reading the book and get nervous. Signup and view all the answers

What concern arises about Hilly in Chapter 30?

They learn Hilly is reading the book. Signup and view all the answers

What event unfolds in Chapter 31 involving Mae Mobley?

Mae Mobley got told off as she colored herself black. Signup and view all the answers

What chaotic event happens in Chapter 32?

Hilly is telling everyone to fire the maids, and Leroy hits Minny. Signup and view all the answers

What significant realization does Skeeter have in Chapter 33?

Skeeter tells Lou Anne how much she loves her maid who saved her from depression. Signup and view all the answers

What changes occur in Chapter 34 due to the book?

Changes happen because of the book, and Mae Mobley plays games about black people. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Chapter 1

Aibileen is introduced while white women play bridge at Elizabeth's house.
Outside toilets are discussed, reflecting social issues of the time.

Chapter 2

Minny loses her job and Aibileen helps her secure employment with Celia.

Chapter 3

The narrative shifts to Skeeter, who meets Celia and is instructed to keep it secret from her husband, Johnny.

Chapter 4

Insight into Minny's home life, where she hides in the bathroom to escape Johnny's abuse.

Chapter 5

Skeeter's mother questions her about being single and reflects on the last letter from her maid, Constantine.

Chapter 6

Skeeter receives advice from Elaine Steinbeck to gain experience, leading her to the local paper for the Miss Myrna column.
Aibileen shares information about Constantine's daughter.

Chapter 7

Aibileen struggles with Mae Mobley's self-esteem and begins affirming her worth.
Mae Mobley experiences potty training but faces violence in Aibileen's home; Robert Brown suffers severe consequences.

Chapter 8

Skeeter expresses interest in conducting interviews for her book after corresponding with Elaine.

Chapter 9

Skeeter lies to her mother about attending church, deals with transportation issues, and has an unpleasant date with Stuart.

Chapter 10

Minny encourages Celia to tell Johnny about their working relationship; Celia exhibits odd behavior.

Chapter 11

Skeeter interviews Aibileen, navigating an awkward situation as Aibileen shares her stories.

Chapter 12

Aibileen reflects on Treelore's death and her reading aspirations; Minny expresses interest in joining.

Chapter 13

Minny talks about cooking; Skeeter enjoys a date with Stuart, while Jim Crow laws are discovered, coinciding with her mother's hospitalization.

Chapter 14

Hilly humiliates Aibileen by forcing her to say she prefers using her own toilet.
Medgar Evers is murdered, emphasizing the era's racial tension.

Chapter 15

Aibileen shares the similarities between white and black girls.
Skeeter stands up to Hilly's ostracism.

Chapter 16

At a prayer meeting, dissatisfaction grows regarding actions taken against injustice; Yule May mentions college aspirations for her children.

Chapter 17

Celia seeks to learn bridge from Minny and shows signs of alcoholism, which raises concerns.

Chapter 18

A heartbreaking scene unfolds as Celia experiences a miscarriage, and Dr. Tate's insensitivity is noted.

Chapter 19

Skeeter learns about Carl Roberts' branding incident, while Stuart's visit complicates her emotional life and Yule May faces legal troubles.

Chapter 20

Skeeter feels proud of her father's stance on racial issues; Stuart's relationship with her ends after conflict arises.

Chapter 21

A confrontation occurs between Skeeter and Hilly over the community initiative.

Chapter 22

Mae Mobley's birthday prompts Elizabeth to show her affections through gifts, while discussions arise about John Green Dudley and toilets on Hilly's property.

Chapter 23

Hilly hosts a benefit, where Martin Luther King Jr.'s speech resonates, revealing tension arising from Celia's slip about Minny.

Chapter 24

Celia discovers Minny's bruise from abuse; they discuss societal divides and misunderstanding.

Chapter 25

In a chaotic scene, Celia acts out under the influence, leading to dramatic confrontations involving Hilly.

Chapter 26

Minny reassures Celia of her worth, igniting Celia’s self-assertion against Hilly.

Chapter 27

Skeeter learns important truths about Constantine while facing setbacks with her writing and Stuart's marital complications.

Chapter 28

As Skeeter's mother becomes ill, Stuart proposes, but the truth about Skeeter's life leads him to retract.

Chapter 29

The book's reception causes anxiety as they worry about its impact amidst early praise.

Chapter 30

Hilly's awareness of the book's content causes concern; Celia engages in an honest conversation about her past.

Chapter 31

Hilly's efforts to decipher the book's characters suggest danger for the maids; Mae Mobley faces repercussions for colorings.

Chapter 32

Leroy's abuse toward Minny escalates; Hilly's attempts to undermine the maids lead to community chaos.

Chapter 33

Skeeter's admiration for her maid contrasts with Hilly's storyline; confrontation leads to Skeeter's decision to leave town for New York.

Chapter 34

Changes surge as the book influences societal attitudes, while Mae Mobley's innocent actions catch her father's scrutiny, leading to significant repercussions.

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Test your understanding of the key events in 'The Help' through these flashcard summaries. Each card highlights significant moments from different chapters, focusing on characters like Aibileen and Minny. Challenge yourself to recall the important themes and developments in this powerful narrative.