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Questions from Classic Reading Group

1. Cranford begins by declaring that the town is populated by “Amazons.� What are “Amazons�? From the characters you meet in the novel, do you agree that they are Amazons? Why or why not?

2. In chapter one, the narrator (later named Mary Smith), describes the society of Cranford. What is her attitude towards the traditions in the society? Does she approve or not? What are your thoughts about the society? How does it compare to the society you may have read about in other Victorian novels?

3. In chapters one and two, Gaskell introduces two very memorable characters: Captain Brown and Miss Jenkyns (Deborah). Both of these characters die rather soon thereafter. Why did Gaskell take such pains to introduce them to the Cranford setting? What role, if any, do they play later in the novel?

4. Dr. Johnson versus The Pickwick Papers: What role does literature play in the novel? Consider the old bachelor’s library, Miss Matty’s father’s library, and the prevalence (or not) of reading in general. What do you think the narrator’s opinions on the matter are?

5. Cranford is a town with few wealthy men, but plenty of lower-class men, thus providing tension among the maids of the town. Discuss the appearance of “followers� in the novel. How is Miss Matty’s opinion changed toward her maid’s relationships? What role do the few men that appear in the novel have?

6. In chapter four, Miss Matty, Miss Smith, and Miss Pole visit with an old bachelor. What differences between Cranford society and Mr. Holbrook’s traditions do they observe? How does this visit change Miss Matty? In what ways is Mr Holbrook a “Don Quixote�?

7. Mary Smith’s treasure is string and rubber bands. Miss Matty treasured candles. What is your petty treasure?

8. After Miss (Deborah) Jenkyn’s death, Miss Matty determines to burn the old family letters. Why? What does this symbolize? How does Miss Smith’s assistance with this help Miss Matty?

9. Miss Matty repeatedly calls her brother “Poor Peter.� What do you think of Peter’s antics? Do you feel sorry for him? What personality traits endeared him to Miss Matty and the others?

10. In chapter 7, Miss Betty Barker hosts a tea for a select few of the ladies in Cranford society. What further details do we learn about Cranford society from this meeting? Consider Mrs Fitz-Adam without an invitation, Mrs Jamieson’s nap, and Miss Betty Barker’s methods of serving tea.

11. Ms Gaskell provides some observations about class with the visit of Lady Glenmire. How does her visit affect the daily life in Cranford? What is surprising about her when she arrives? Consider Miss Smith’s observations. What do you think is her opinion of the situation?

12. Signor Brunoni’s magical act causes a stir among the Cranford ladies, even though they wonder at the propriety of the act. From my perspective, it seemed that the ladies were constantly “putting on an act� in trying to meet the communities expectations for their social class. In what ways does he change the community? Consider his real name and identity. How does the character of Signor Brunoni and his story relate to the overall themes of the novel?

13. How does superstition play a role in “The Panic�? How do the women of Cranford make the situation worse?

14. Miss Matty’s father had encouraged her to make lists for the day, with two columns: one for “what I plan to accomplish� and one for “what I did accomplish.� She says her life was not what she intended. Which other characters say the same? Is there any resolution to Miss Matty’s dreams? How does this comment relate to the themes of the novel as a whole?

15. In what ways does coincidence play a role in the plot of Cranford?

16. What do we know about Miss Smith? Why is she in Cranford? What is her home life like? Do you like Miss Smith? She claims her fault is “indiscretion.� What do you think of her faults and/or her strengths?

17. Why is Lady Glenmire’s upcoming marriage such a scandal for the Cranford community? How is it eventually resolved?

18. In Chapters 13 and 14, Miss Matty’s fortunes are reversed. In what ways does Cranford society abandon its own traditions when she has needs? Consider Miss Matty’s friends, Martha, and the rector.

19. Did you like the resolution/the ending to the novel? How has Cranford society changed once again? How does society come full circle in the end?

20. Did you like the novel? Why or why not?

1. Cranford begins by declaring that the town is populated by “Amazons.� What are “Amazons�? From the characters you meet in the novel, do you agree that they are Amazons? Why or why not?
Amazons are a mythical tribe of female warriors who banished men from their society. The Cranford ladies seem like a more contemporary version of Amazons, managing their household affairs, caring for themselves and their friends without much help from men. The one area where they seem somewhat male dependent is in the arena of business and/or finance. I say this because, when the friends arrange a fund to help Miss Matty, they call on Mary Smith’s father to invest the money. He also helps to sell the house and arrange other property. Yet, one gets the sense they could have handled this if a male acquaintance hadn’t been to hand.

2. In chapter one, the narrator (later named Mary Smith), describes the society of Cranford. What is her attitude towards the traditions in the society? Does she approve or not? What are your thoughts about the society? How does it compare to the society you may have read about in other Victorian novels?
She enjoys some elements of society and finds other elements old fashioned, conservative, but humorous � i.e., their rules about visiting only between the hours of 12 and 3 and staying for ½ hour. As the Boxall description notes, the tone is never scornful or mocking. Indeed, by the end, Mary seems to really respect the women and their dedication to one another.

3. In chapters one and two, Gaskell introduces two very memorable characters: Captain Brown and Miss Jenkyns (Deborah). Both of these characters die rather soon thereafter. Why did Gaskell take such pains to introduce them to the Cranford setting? What role, if any, do they play later in the novel?
These characters help establish how self-sacrificing and generous the people of Cranford can be, despite sometimes gruff and cold exteriors. Captain Brown sacrifices his life for his ailing daughter and for the child he saves from the train. Deborah, despite her disapproval of Captain Brown, takes care of his youngest daughter when she is left orphaned and alone. I also wonder if they don’t represent something of the old ways of gallantry and gentility passing. The specter of Deborah haunts the rest of the novel, since Miss Matty sticks to her rules and ways of doing things.

4. Dr. Johnson versus The Pickwick Papers: What role does literature play in the novel? Consider the old bachelor’s library, Miss Matty’s father’s library, and the prevalence (or not) of reading in general. What do you think the narrator’s opinions on the matter are?
I didn’t get the sense that any of the women were big readers, including the narrator. In chapters 2 and 3, Mary says that they didn’t read much, hence their conversations were usually about other things (village affairs, past loves, etc.), so she has plenty of time for sewing. Mr. Holbrook (the old bachelor), on the other hand, lives an isolated life on his farm, so he has had plenty of time to read everything from Shakespeare to Byron to Goethe (“Go-ee-the�). I found this interest in scholarly learning ironic, given that in other areas of his life, he rejected any sense of refinement (e.g., speaking in country dialect and not allowing anyone to call him “esquire�).

I did not understand the fight about Dr. Johnson vs. Charles Dickens � was it something to do with non-fiction vs. fiction? I hope others can fill me in here.

5. Cranford is a town with few wealthy men, but plenty of lower-class men, thus providing tension among the maids of the town. Discuss the appearance of “followers� in the novel. How is Miss Matty’s opinion changed toward her maid’s relationships? What role do the few men that appear in the novel have?
Miss Matty changes her mind because she recognizes that she missed her change at love with Mr. Holbrook, and she doesn’t want anyone else to feel a sense of regret. As she puts it, “God forbid that I should grieve any young hearts.� The “follower� we get to know the most about is Martha’s boyfriend, later husband, Jem, who does exactly what she tells him to do, thus following the pattern of Cranford as a town run by women.

6. In chapter four, Miss Matty, Miss Smith, and Miss Pole visit with an old bachelor. What differences between Cranford society and Mr. Holbrook’s traditions do they observe? How does this visit change Miss Matty? In what ways is Mr. Holbrook a “Don Quixote�?
My primary memory of this is that he served his meal in an old-fashioned manner, pudding before meat. I have a friend who for some unfathomable reason serves a green salad at the end of the meal, like even after dessert. I sympathize with the ladies.

7. Mary Smith’s treasure is string and rubber bands. Miss Matty treasured candles. What is your petty treasure?
I don’t think I have one!! I am overly organized, and I throw away anything that clutters up a surface or drawer. I would be terrible at “elegant economy.�

8. After Miss (Deborah) Jenkyn’s death, Miss Matty determines to burn the old family letters. Why? What does this symbolize? How does Miss Smith’s assistance with this help Miss Matty?
Matty is the last surviving family member, and she does not want the letters to be “fall into the hands of strangers� after she passes. The job falls to her to destroy them to keep family matters private.

9. Miss Matty repeatedly calls her brother “Poor Peter.� What do you think of Peter’s antics? Do you feel sorry for him? What personality traits endeared him to Miss Matty and the others?
I did feel sorry for him at first, when he is flogged by his father for a kind of simple joke � he was pretending to be Deborah with a baby, right? But then he disappears and make his family worry that he’s killed himself, only to find that he’s enlisted and will probably die in the war. He is basically responsible for his mother’s early death. And then he lets his sisters believe he’s dead for decades� well, I no longer felt sorry for him. I guess he saves Matty at the end of the book, but it shouldn’t have ever come to that.

10. In chapter 7, Miss Betty Barker hosts a tea for a select few of the ladies in Cranford society. What further details do we learn about Cranford society from this meeting? Consider Mrs Fitz-Adam without an invitation, Mrs Jamieson’s nap, and Miss Betty Barker’s methods of serving tea.
This episode serves to underscore both how the ladies attempt to hold on to standards of gentility and manners but also how these standards are outmoded and even ridiculous. I loved this line, when the giant supper tray is brought in: “…we thought it better to submit graciously, even at the cost of our gentility � which never ate suppers in general, but which, like most non-supper-eaters, was particularly hungry on all special occasions.�

11. Ms Gaskell provides some observations about class with the visit of Lady Glenmire. How does her visit affect the daily life in Cranford? What is surprising about her when she arrives? Consider Miss Smith’s observations. What do you think is her opinion of the situation?
At first this brings some excitement to the town, as the ladies must get new bonnets and things to be presentable. It also brings some drama, as Mrs. Jamieson initially refuses to invite her friends to meet Lady Glenmire (which is ironic because Mrs. Jamieson is terrified to ring the bell for her butler to bring tea). But her ladyship turns out to be very down-to-earth with almost no pretensions.

12. Signor Brunoni’s magical act causes a stir among the Cranford ladies, even though they wonder at the propriety of the act. From my perspective, it seemed that the ladies were constantly “putting on an act� in trying to meet the community’s expectations for their social class. In what ways does he change the community? Consider his real name and identity. How does the character of Signor Brunoni and his story relate to the overall themes of the novel?
The exoctic Signor Brunoni turns out to be plain old Samuel Brown. This is a bit like Lady Glenmire, discussed above � not what the ladies expect based on the name/title.

13. How does superstition play a role in “The Panic�? How do the women of Cranford make the situation worse?
There were no gangs, no robberies, no ghosts, no Irishmen dressed in women’s clothing. The panic is created by the women telling each other scary stories and exchanging their most secret fears. I loved Miss Matty’s ingenious solution of rolling a ball under her bed to make sure no one is under it. Wish I had thought of this as a child!

14. Miss Matty’s father had encouraged her to make lists for the day, with two columns: one for “what I plan to accomplish� and one for “what I did accomplish.� She says her life was not what she intended. Which other characters say the same? Is there any resolution to Miss Matty’s dreams? How does this comment relate to the themes of the novel as a whole?
It seems like almost all the characters could say the same � most of them were raised to hold certain beliefs (about class, comportment, even dress) and either these beliefs are outmoded, or they can no longer afford to hold onto them.

15. In what ways does coincidence play a role in the plot of Cranford?
The biggest coincidence is that Signor Brunoni’s wife was saved by a man who turns out to be Poor Peter. Telling Mary Smith this story enables her to contact him, and he returns a hero, saving his sister from even greater poverty. Melodrama through and through :)

16. What do we know about Miss Smith? Why is she in Cranford? What is her home life like? Do you like Miss Smith? She claims her fault is “indiscretion.� What do you think of her faults and/or her strengths?
We know very little of her except that her family used to live in Cranford, but her father moved away and may even practice a trade (horrors!). She is younger than the Cranford women but was also probably considered an old maid at the time. By indiscretion, I took this to mean a love for gossip and telling tales, which makes her perfect for her role as narrator. As for her strengths, like most of the women in Cranford, she is a generous friend, especially to Miss Matty.

17. Why is Lady Glenmire’s upcoming marriage such a scandal for the Cranford community? How is it eventually resolved?
She is marrying someone of a lower class, the town doctor, who practices a trade (horrors!). My impression is that she is not nobility herself but happened to marry someone with a title, a minor peer. This is eventually resolved with the help of Poor Peter (see below).

18. In Chapters 13 and 14, Miss Matty’s fortunes are reversed. In what ways does Cranford society abandon its own traditions when she has needs? Consider Miss Matty’s friends, Martha, and the rector.
Even though she is forced to go into business (horrors!), they do not look down upon her but make sure they buy all their tea at her shop. I loved how everyone found a way to help Miss Matty. This is one of the reasons I ended up liking the book so much � very heartwarming ending.

19. Did you like the resolution/the ending to the novel? How has Cranford society changed once again? How does society come full circle in the end?
Cranford society has admitted at least one man, Poor Peter, but he is proving useful, bring peace between Mrs. Jamieson and the former Lady Glenmire.

20. Did you like the novel? Why or why not?
It took me a while to get into it, but I ended up finding it quite charming.

1. Amazons are a mythical tribe of women warriors, so our narrator is giving us both a wink about these aging spinsters and a real tribute to their resilience.

2. This fictional village aligns with the rest of Victorian novels in its hyper awareness of the British class system but our narrator softens the prejudice through individual insights. The narrator generally loves these women and therefore forgives them their foibles.

3. Gaskell uses Miss Jenkyns as the extreme ruler of the character's etiquette and social behaviors. As she passes away, she is no longer able to bend her own rules and therefore these rules stand even if the circumstances and the times change. Captain Brown represents all that could possibly be good in a man with all the general characteristics that the women do not like including his boisterousness and his lack of class conscious social graces. However, his main failing is that he is poor.

4. There is a great deal of references to literature in the book. Gaskell clearly loves a broad spectrum of reading and the women in the town look to their books for both comfort and information. Dr. Johnson versus Dickens is a parallel manifestation of the old versus the new in fashion and in behaviors.

5. The men include the town doctor, the butler to Mrs. Jamison, Mr. Holbrook, Martha's Jem and finally brother Peter. All of them have a strong streak of willful purpose and all of them tend to bow down if not over for their respective woman partners.

6. Mr. Holbrook, besides being old-fashioned in the way he serves dinner, is old-fashioned in his refusal to put on airs. He stubbornly sticks to his perceived role as a landowning yeoman. He is clearly a gentleman in all aspects except he is without a gentleman's pretension. In this way, Mr. Holbrook is rather the opposite of Don Quixote in his rising up a peasant girl to his "Dulcinea del Toboso". Mr. Holbrook simply loves Matty. Matty realizes that she may have made a wrong decision rejecting Mr. Holbrook, although it really was not her that rejected him.

7. I have been fighting the accumulation of "stuff" and am always attempting to purge "things", however, I have a serious problem with books. Of course, they do not fall under the heading of petty.

8. The burning of letters is a way of moving on after Miss Jenny's passing and also a clear realization on Matty's part that there is no one who would understand or treasure these letters. Miss Smith sharing these letters with her gives Matty some sense that she is not alone nor willfully destroying another person's remembered life.

9. Peter seemed a typical mischievous boy although for this era he seemed quite creative in his antics. He was "poor" in that he was misjudged and was caught, which was unlucky. However, he is someone who makes the best of life and in general his life turned out to be quite rich. What he lacked in real life events he made up for in his creative tales.

11. Lady Glenmire is the closest thing to royalty that the people of Cranford are likely to meet and they are by and large upset that she turns out to have never been to court nor does she have any earthly wealth or even act as pompous as Mrs. Jamison. However, in Mis Smith's eyes and eventually in everyone's eyes, except Mrs Jamison, she makes up for these lacks by being extremely kind and gracious with a really good heart that can look past the ugliness of the name Hoggins.

12. The very exotic Brunoni turns out to be Sam Brown and in this way, his act, reflects the roles everyone takes on to project their place in society.

13. By believing too much in every little scare and then by believing "others" or "foreigners" are always suspicious they start the trend toward the panic. Then, like teenagers around a campfire, by sharing their worst fears with each other they come to view what could ultimately have been a cat stealing a piece of mutton as a major crime wave that may or may not have been triggered by supernatural beings.

14. One gets the impression that no one in the novel except for Mr. Hoggins has lived a life that he aimed for. Even Deborah wanted more of a career even though she never wanted to marry. Peter had a great life but not the one he thought he would have and Matty in particular thought she would be a wife and a mother. However, her friends fill in with love what she may have missed in life and Martha's baby adds a child into the equation.

15. Much like Dickens, Gaskell uses coincidence when she can not get the plot to move along of its own accord. Mr. Hoggins and Lady Glenmires spending time together over an ill servant for example. Gaskell doesn't need to detail how this romance came to be. Missing the boat, literally, before Peter sails, gives Peter's leaving a mystery and a tragedy it otherwise would not have had.

16. Miss Smith, like many of the other characters is charming and naive but not quite as naive as many of them. She is responsible for taking care of her father's house which would be considered a slow death to any young woman now a days but was very common back then. One gets the impression that she is young enough to still possibly get married and have children although she is well past the age of being "fresh", but that she has learned through her association with Cranford that one can have a full life without a husband if that is the way life turns out.
Miss Smith is indiscreet in that she is sharing all of these tales with us through her narration but she doesn't often actually share any secrets or even gossip with other characters and certainly never with malicious intent.

17. A "Lady" should not be marrying a common doctor even if he is more wealthy than she is. Further (horror of horrors) she gives up her title for Mrs Hoggins which is beyond the understanding of the ladies in town. However, Peter resolves this by breaking down the conflict between Mrs. Hoggins and Mrs Jamison. Once Mrs. Jamison is speaking to Mrs. Hoggins again, the whole town feels that it is now okay to once again look up to her for her character instead of her title.

18. All of them jump in to help their friend in any way that they can, and they work hard to be a help without taking credit for it or projecting any pity on Miss Matty. They continue to give her her dignity. Even Martha with her great heart but few graces, tells her that they need a tenant, and not that they are giving her the charity of a room in their home. Also, going into a trade is the biggest downfall that can befall a member of the upper class and yet they overlook Miss Matty selling tea and do not condemn this action.

19. Peter and Mr. Hoggins are men with a more central role in the life of Cranford but one knows that the woman can get along perfectly well without them. The men are very simply useful.

20. Did you like the novel? Why or why not?
I thought it was charming and the writing style perfectly served the characters. I really felt that I had gotten a good glimpse of a small town in England during that era. However, I didn't think it was a great book and I hope that the other Gaskell's on the list are different.

Wow, this is a lot of questions.

1. Cranford begins by declaring that the town is populated by “Amazons.� I did like how this book opened. I got the impression that women ran the business of life in Cranford and that men sought escape soon after arriving, but I did not get the impression of Amazons. Mostly gentile ladies, full of gossip

2. In chapter one, the narrator (later named Mary Smith), describes the society of Cranford. What is her attitude towards the traditions in the society? Does she approve or not? What are your thoughts about the society? How does it compare to the society you may have read about in other Victorian novels? I liked her description of Cranford and its inhabitants. It seemed a more inviting space than other Victorian novels.

3. In chapters one and two, Gaskell introduces two very memorable characters: Captain Brown and Miss Jenkyns (Deborah). Both of these characters die rather soon thereafter. Why did Gaskell take such pains to introduce them to the Cranford setting? What role, if any, do they play later in the novel? Captain Brown causes the ladies some discomfort when he talks of taboo items that are in discord with their social norms but they soon like him because he is kind. His death is a turning point in the novel and Captain Brown serves as a symbol of kindness.
Miss Jenkys is a strong woman, with authority over life in Cranford. She represents the Victorian age in the novel. She would be the Amazon.


4. Dr. Johnson versus The Pickwick Papers: What role does literature play in the novel? Consider the old bachelor’s library, Miss Matty’s father’s library, and the prevalence (or not) of reading in general. What do you think the narrator’s opinions on the matter are? They serve as education of knowledge, entertainment, and reflection.

5. Cranford is a town with few wealthy men, but plenty of lower-class men, thus providing tension among the maids of the town. Discuss the appearance of “followers� in the novel. How is Miss Matty’s opinion changed toward her maid’s relationships? What role do the few men that appear in the novel have? They really are just supportive characters but also provide different aspects to the changing society.

6. In chapter four, Miss Matty, Miss Smith, and Miss Pole visit with an old bachelor. What differences between Cranford society and Mr. Holbrook’s traditions do they observe? How does this visit change Miss Matty? In what ways is Mr Holbrook a “Don Quixote�?

7. Mary Smith’s treasure is string and rubber bands. Miss Matty treasured candles. What is your petty treasure?

8. After Miss (Deborah) Jenkyn’s death, Miss Matty determines to burn the old family letters. Why? What does this symbolize? How does Miss Smith’s assistance with this help Miss Matty? It symbolizes a break with the past. Mary Smith's presence provides emotional support.

9. Miss Matty repeatedly calls her brother “Poor Peter.� What do you think of Peter’s antics? Do you feel sorry for him? What personality traits endeared him to Miss Matty and the others?

10. In chapter 7, Miss Betty Barker hosts a tea for a select few of the ladies in Cranford society. What further details do we learn about Cranford society from this meeting? Consider Mrs Fitz-Adam without an invitation, Mrs Jamieson’s nap, and Miss Betty Barker’s methods of serving tea.

11. Ms Gaskell provides some observations about class with the visit of Lady Glenmire. How does her visit affect the daily life in Cranford? What is surprising about her when she arrives? Consider Miss Smith’s observations. What do you think is her opinion of the situation? This leads to increased formality, heightened social observances, and a focus on maintaining appearances.

12. Signor Brunoni’s magical act causes a stir among the Cranford ladies, even though they wonder at the propriety of the act. From my perspective, it seemed that the ladies were constantly “putting on an act� in trying to meet the communities expectations for their social class. In what ways does he change the community? Consider his real name and identity. How does the character of Signor Brunoni and his story relate to the overall themes of the novel? He is an outsider, Italian, and he might represent the changing society as it moves into the industrial age. His presence shows the tension between the established order and change.

13. How does superstition play a role in “The Panic�? How do the women of Cranford make the situation worse? they are prone to superstitions and their talking increases their anxiety.

14. Miss Matty’s father had encouraged her to make lists for the day, with two columns: one for “what I plan to accomplish� and one for “what I did accomplish.� She says her life was not what she intended. Which other characters say the same? Is there any resolution to Miss Matty’s dreams? How does this comment relate to the themes of the novel as a whole? Miss Matty is central character. She has to make her own way in opening a tea shop. She does what is right even to her own detriment. Peter's return gives her back her sense of family.

15. In what ways does coincidence play a role in the plot of Cranford?

16. What do we know about Miss Smith? Why is she in Cranford? What is her home life like? Do you like Miss Smith? She claims her fault is “indiscretion.� What do you think of her faults and/or her strengths? She is visiting. She is the narrator and we only know her as the story progresses. There is not much otherwise.

17. Why is Lady Glenmire’s upcoming marriage such a scandal for the Cranford community? How is it eventually resolved? They assumed that she was marrying beneath her. It is eventually revealed that their assumption was incorrect.

18. In Chapters 13 and 14, Miss Matty’s fortunes are reversed. In what ways does Cranford society abandon its own traditions when she has needs? Consider Miss Matty’s friends, Martha, and the rector.

19. Did you like the resolution/the ending to the novel? How has Cranford society changed once again? How does society come full circle in the end? Major Gordon returns from India and brings back Matty's brother Peter, who resolves their family's financial issues. Jessie Brown, who was in a long courtship with Major Gordon, finally accepts his proposal. The novel also ends with the marriage of Sophy and Dr. Harrison. It also is showing that life is changing as they move toward the industrial age.

20. Did you like the novel? Why or why not. I liked it, I like Gaskells writing. I think this might be my least favorite but it is still good.