44 pages 1 hour read

James Hilton

Goodbye, Mr. Chips

Fiction | Novella | YA | Published in 1934

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Essay Topics

1.

Chips never explains outright what drew him to his discipline (Latin and Greek language, and classical history). Are there hints in the text of how this field aligns with his tastes and personality? How does his profession as a classics teacher deepen his characterization?

2.

Katherine Bridges’s last name is significant to her role in the story. How does Katherine create “bridges” between people, social classes, and points of view? Cite specific examples from the novella in your response.

3.

By the war years, Mr. Chips has outlasted everyone else at Brookfield, teachers as well as headmasters. He accepts the (temporary) role of headmaster only when forced to; otherwise, he has been content to teach the same lessons in the same way for over 40 years. Does this fixedness suggest that Chips accepts his strengths and limitations, or does it reveal a lack of ambition and innovation? Support your argument with evidence from the text.