INTRODUCTION TO ENGLISH LITERATURE: PRACTICAL EXERCISE

WORKSHEET ON TOM JONES

INSTRUCTIONS: Read the first three chapters of Henry Fielding’s Tom Jones. Make some
notes as you read on the following questions. You could incorporate these answers into your
journal, as anything you write will count towards that. This is NOT a Written Commentary for
the Continuous Assessment, even if it looks like one! I will post my recommended answers
soon. Familiarity with these three chapters will be tested in the final CA Test, so you ARE
advised to read the text and answer the questions, and then read the answers. This exercise
should take about 2-3 hours.

Note - When referring to the text I'll use square brackets. The first digit refers to the page
number, the decimal refers to the approximate position on the page - so [2.5] means in the
middle of page 2, [3.8] means three quarters of the way down page 3 etc.

On Chapter One

1. Chapter One compares the author to a person of another profession. Which

profession? Continuing the comparison, for Fielding, the successive chapters are like ….
What?
- He compares the author to a restaurant owner or a chef. According to the text, the
successive chapters are like the first plate.

2. According to the narrator in Chp 1, is the subject of Tom Jones simple or complex?
- The subject is turning more and more complex during the chapters.

3. Paraphrase the quotation on [2] and explain its importance to the novel.

The Pope quote is: "True wit is nature to advantage drest;

What oft was thought, but ne'er so well exprest."
- The truth is in nature. This quote has an ironic tone, Pope is ridiculing those who do
not have abilities to represent beauty.

4. What is the organizing principle of the book?

- The author compares it with the cookery world, so the principle of organising is a
menu in which there are different plates and also a dessert.

5. How does this organising principle connect with the setting of the novel?
- They are connected by feelings and emotions. Through the food and flavour we can
feel some emotions and this is connected with human nature because it also
transmits usemotions.

On Chapter Two

6. What is the effect of the first five lines of Chp 2? How does it strike you?
 - It seems the beginning of a tale. It starts in the same way as “El Quixote” does.

7. To what extent is Squire Allworthy a typical 18th century ‘enlightenment’ man?

- Allworthy is a typical 18th century “enlightenment” man because Allworthy is a
benevolent, he has good manners and he is also respectful. As his name says (all
worth), he is worthy, respectable, honorable. He is so kind that he does not see evil
in other people.

8. Explain Bridget's attitude to beauty. What does it reveal about her character?
- Bridget is an unattractive woman who Resents beautiful women.

9. Comment on Bridget's 'prudence'. What does it suggest about her, and about people
who hold to such virtues as prudence?
- Bridget’s prudence is related to sex. She doesn’t want to have sex with a man before
matrimony. The author says that he is not going to criticize her because he is nobody
to judge the decisions of others [4]

10. Will the narrative follow a straight line?

- The author explains the story but at some point he interrupts it in order to give some
additional information or to say something about a character or situation in the story

11. Is there an omniscient narrator?

- Yes, because the narrator is the 3rd person, so it’s external and omniscient. Even
though the narrator knows very well the character’s feelings, actions and thoughts.
- [3.4] “This gentleman had in his youth married a very worthy and beautiful woman, of
whom he had been extremely fond: by her he had three children, all of whom died in
their infancy.”.

On Chapter Three

12. Comment on the style of paragraph 3 in Chp 3.

- In this paragraph, the author is making a list of different actions. There are also some
descriptions. The sentences are complex, they are soo extended even though there
are so many pauses. The narrator explains very well the character’s thoughts and he
is also optimistic.

13. What did Sq. Allworthy forget to do?

- He forgot to dress up (he didn’t have enough time to do it) because the servant spent
so many minutes attending her hair before opening the door.
14. What does Deborah's behaviour/reaction suggest about human nature?
- At first she is shocked and she rejects the idea of having a baby in her house but
when Allworthy ordered her to take care of the baby’s necessities, she did it in order
to show her loyalty to him.

15. Consider the tone of the narrator. What does it suggest about the attitude of the
author to the reader?
- The tone is ironic. The narrator uses humor to talk about serious things such as the
woman’s beliefs.

16. Describe in your own words Deborah's reaction to the baby and the author's reaction
to her...
- Deborah was shocked when she saw the baby and she advised Allworthy to discard
the baby at the parish door. Then, Allworthy ordered Deorah to prepare some food,
clothes and to carry the baby to her bed, and it’s in that moment when Deborah saw
the baby differently, she called her “sweet little infant”

17. Give your comments on the Squire's reaction to finding the baby.
- He has paternal instinct and maybe this is the reason why he decided to carry the
baby to Deborah’s house. He wanted to take care of him, to give him a place to live.
He treated the baby as his son maybe because he is moved by the loss of his wife
and daughters.