Bring on the tough stuff - there’s not just one right answer.
- Who changes more by the end of the novel, Margaret Hale or John Thornton? Why?
- Why are the chapters before the move to Milton important? What does this backstory add to the plot?
- Why did Gaskell call this book North and South? What does the title signify, besides the fact that Margaret moves from the south to the north?
- Is Margaret's initial condemnation of John Thornton reasonable, or is her understanding of labor relations naïve? Use examples from the text to support your argument.
- If a friend asked you what North and South was about, how would you answer them?
- How do Margaret Hale and John Thornton stay the same throughout the novel?
- What does all the death in North and South contribute to the plot? How does it build the (surviving) characters?
- Why does Mr. Hale decide to leave his home in Helstone? Is it a good reason? Why or why not?