Book/Chapter Summary
Book 1 Chapter 1 Gradgrind and his teaching style are introduced.
Facts.
Book 1 Chapter 2 Gradgrind grills his students on practical
knowledge. Bitzer answers correctly, yet is
emotionless and colourless. Sissy answers
incorrectly, but is colourful and full of life, proving
she has imagination. Mr M’Choakumchild, the
schoolmaster, begins his lesson on facts.
Book 1 Chapter 3 Description of Stone Lodge. Gradgrind is proud of
the factual education he provides his students and
own children with. Louisa and Tom introduced,
circus scene (owned by Sissy’s father presumably).
Gradgrind angrily pulls them away, Louisa is more
defensive and takes the blame.
Book 1 Chapter 4 Bounderby introduced, boasting to Mrs Gradgrind
about his rags-to-riches background. Gradgrind
returns, exposing his children’s misbehaviour to
Bounderby. The two men decide to confront Sissy,
believing she is a bad in uence. Bounderby kisses
Louisa on the cheek, she is disgusted.
Book 1 Chapter 5 Description of Coketown. Gradgrind and
Bounderby see Bitzer chasing a frightened Sissy.
She tells the men she is taking healing oils to her
father, Bounderby ridicules her and her father’s
career. Gradgrind is somewhat kinder in his
questions.
Book 1 Chapter 6 Sissy leads the two men to the Pegasus’ Arms,
where the circus is staying. They speak in almost
incomprehensible slang. Sissy’s father ran away
because of his shame and failure to earn a living,
she is distraught. Sleary, the circus owner, is
introduced, sad to see Sissy go. Gradgrind o ers to
take her in and educate her, Bounderby thinks he
should do nothing.
Book 1 Chapter 7 Bounderby returns home, Mrs Sparsit is introduced.
He expresses his disapproval of Louisa associating
with people like Sissy. Gradgrind, Louisa and Sissy
enter, who reveals that she would read fairy tales
with her father, and is grieving him. Louisa ignores
Sissy until she cries. Gradgrind tells Sissy not to
mention her past again as they set o for Stone
Lodge.
Book 1 Chapter 8 Tom and Louisa discuss their unhappiness and
resentment of their factual education. They admit
their only consolations in life are each other, Louisa
more openly; Tom admits he manipulates
Bounderby by suggesting Louisa would dislike
whatever he is doing/saying.
fl ff ff
, Book/Chapter Summary
Book 1 Chapter 9 Sissy has not made much progress in her factual
education, tells Louisa about how she never
answers questions correctly despite her honesty.
She reveals her father was a clown, who became
depressed when he failed to please crowds, she
still hopes for some word from him. Louisa is now
invested too.
Book 1 Chapter 10 Stephen and Rachael introduced, he is waiting for
her on a wet night after work. He clearly has deep
a ection for her. When he gets home, he nds his
drunk and lthy wife in his bed.
Book 1 Chapter 11 Stephen visits Bounderby, asking if there is any way
to divorce his wife. Bounderby maintains that the
law is nal, Stephen protests, scandalising Mrs
Sparsit. Bounderby refuses to help, Stephen leaves.
Book 1 Chapter 12 As he leaves, Stephen runs into a well-dressed old
woman asking about Bounderby’s wellbeing. She
accompanies him to the factory, and thinks it is
marvellous. Stephen nishes his shift, wishing he
was free to marry Rachael so he would not be
unhappy anymore.
Book 1 Chapter 13 Stephen returns home to Rachael caring for his wife
(they used to be friends), he has dark thoughts
about his wife and falls into an uneasy sleep. He
wakes up to her trying to poison herself and
freezes, but Rachael stops her and leaves.
Book 1 Chapter 14 The children have grown up a bit: Tom is
Bounderby’s apprentice, Sissy remains good as her
factual education did not a ect her, so she looks
after Mrs Gradgrind. Gradgrind is now a member of
parliament. He and Tom ponder how Louisa can be
of use now she is a young woman.
Book 1 Chapter 15 Gradgrind tells Louisa of Bounderby’s marriage
proposal. He tells her to consider fact over feeling,
she accepts this but seems to be on the brink of
releasing her true emotions. Thanks to her
education, she has never received/seeked romantic
attraction. She accepts the proposal, Gradgrind
announces this to Mrs Gradgrind and Sissy, the
latter of which pities Louisa.
Book 1 Chapter 16 Bounderby tells Mrs Sparsit of the engagement,
who disapproves: she pities him and sees him as a
victim. Louisa and Bounderby get married, Tom
thinks of the advantages (Bounderby will treat him
better). Tom cheerfully sees her o , despite her
looking upset, as she leaves for their honeymoon to
Lyons (Bounderby wants to look at factories).
Book 2 Chapter 1 Mrs Sparsit chats to Bitzer in her new home,
attached to the bank, about Tom’s laziness.
Harthouse knocks at the door, trying to nd
Bounderby. Mrs Sparsit sits, thinking about
something ill-intentioned towards Louisa.
ff
fi fi fi ff ff fi fi
Book 1 Chapter 1 Gradgrind and his teaching style are introduced.
Facts.
Book 1 Chapter 2 Gradgrind grills his students on practical
knowledge. Bitzer answers correctly, yet is
emotionless and colourless. Sissy answers
incorrectly, but is colourful and full of life, proving
she has imagination. Mr M’Choakumchild, the
schoolmaster, begins his lesson on facts.
Book 1 Chapter 3 Description of Stone Lodge. Gradgrind is proud of
the factual education he provides his students and
own children with. Louisa and Tom introduced,
circus scene (owned by Sissy’s father presumably).
Gradgrind angrily pulls them away, Louisa is more
defensive and takes the blame.
Book 1 Chapter 4 Bounderby introduced, boasting to Mrs Gradgrind
about his rags-to-riches background. Gradgrind
returns, exposing his children’s misbehaviour to
Bounderby. The two men decide to confront Sissy,
believing she is a bad in uence. Bounderby kisses
Louisa on the cheek, she is disgusted.
Book 1 Chapter 5 Description of Coketown. Gradgrind and
Bounderby see Bitzer chasing a frightened Sissy.
She tells the men she is taking healing oils to her
father, Bounderby ridicules her and her father’s
career. Gradgrind is somewhat kinder in his
questions.
Book 1 Chapter 6 Sissy leads the two men to the Pegasus’ Arms,
where the circus is staying. They speak in almost
incomprehensible slang. Sissy’s father ran away
because of his shame and failure to earn a living,
she is distraught. Sleary, the circus owner, is
introduced, sad to see Sissy go. Gradgrind o ers to
take her in and educate her, Bounderby thinks he
should do nothing.
Book 1 Chapter 7 Bounderby returns home, Mrs Sparsit is introduced.
He expresses his disapproval of Louisa associating
with people like Sissy. Gradgrind, Louisa and Sissy
enter, who reveals that she would read fairy tales
with her father, and is grieving him. Louisa ignores
Sissy until she cries. Gradgrind tells Sissy not to
mention her past again as they set o for Stone
Lodge.
Book 1 Chapter 8 Tom and Louisa discuss their unhappiness and
resentment of their factual education. They admit
their only consolations in life are each other, Louisa
more openly; Tom admits he manipulates
Bounderby by suggesting Louisa would dislike
whatever he is doing/saying.
fl ff ff
, Book/Chapter Summary
Book 1 Chapter 9 Sissy has not made much progress in her factual
education, tells Louisa about how she never
answers questions correctly despite her honesty.
She reveals her father was a clown, who became
depressed when he failed to please crowds, she
still hopes for some word from him. Louisa is now
invested too.
Book 1 Chapter 10 Stephen and Rachael introduced, he is waiting for
her on a wet night after work. He clearly has deep
a ection for her. When he gets home, he nds his
drunk and lthy wife in his bed.
Book 1 Chapter 11 Stephen visits Bounderby, asking if there is any way
to divorce his wife. Bounderby maintains that the
law is nal, Stephen protests, scandalising Mrs
Sparsit. Bounderby refuses to help, Stephen leaves.
Book 1 Chapter 12 As he leaves, Stephen runs into a well-dressed old
woman asking about Bounderby’s wellbeing. She
accompanies him to the factory, and thinks it is
marvellous. Stephen nishes his shift, wishing he
was free to marry Rachael so he would not be
unhappy anymore.
Book 1 Chapter 13 Stephen returns home to Rachael caring for his wife
(they used to be friends), he has dark thoughts
about his wife and falls into an uneasy sleep. He
wakes up to her trying to poison herself and
freezes, but Rachael stops her and leaves.
Book 1 Chapter 14 The children have grown up a bit: Tom is
Bounderby’s apprentice, Sissy remains good as her
factual education did not a ect her, so she looks
after Mrs Gradgrind. Gradgrind is now a member of
parliament. He and Tom ponder how Louisa can be
of use now she is a young woman.
Book 1 Chapter 15 Gradgrind tells Louisa of Bounderby’s marriage
proposal. He tells her to consider fact over feeling,
she accepts this but seems to be on the brink of
releasing her true emotions. Thanks to her
education, she has never received/seeked romantic
attraction. She accepts the proposal, Gradgrind
announces this to Mrs Gradgrind and Sissy, the
latter of which pities Louisa.
Book 1 Chapter 16 Bounderby tells Mrs Sparsit of the engagement,
who disapproves: she pities him and sees him as a
victim. Louisa and Bounderby get married, Tom
thinks of the advantages (Bounderby will treat him
better). Tom cheerfully sees her o , despite her
looking upset, as she leaves for their honeymoon to
Lyons (Bounderby wants to look at factories).
Book 2 Chapter 1 Mrs Sparsit chats to Bitzer in her new home,
attached to the bank, about Tom’s laziness.
Harthouse knocks at the door, trying to nd
Bounderby. Mrs Sparsit sits, thinking about
something ill-intentioned towards Louisa.
ff
fi fi fi ff ff fi fi
