"Son and Lovers" by D. H. Lawrence: Important Short Questions

"Son and Lovers" by D. H. Lawrence (first published in 1913) Few Short Questions

  1. When and why does Clara return to her husband?

Ans- Baxter Dawes once becomes seriously ill and he imagines that he is going to die soon. When Clara comes to know about Dawes condition, she is obviously moved. Remorse fully she says that she has been very rude to him. She further admits that her husband has loved thousand times better than Paul. Thus Clara ultimately returns to her husband and become man and wife again.

  1. How does Paul react to his mother’s death?

Ans:- At his mother’s death Paul bewails the event most lamentably. He, alike a possessive, did not allow the neighbors to see the dead body. At the some time Paul is angry with him father for sentimentalizing over the death of his wife. A kind of nihilism overcomes the young man and there is a kind of emptiness in the objects about him.

  1. Give the first name of Mrs. Morel and the names of her children. Whom did she love best among her children?

Ans:- Mrs. Morel’s full name is Mrs. Gertrude Morel belonging to a middle class family of the coppards.
Mrs. Morel gave birth to four children-Three sons and one daughter. They are William, Paul, Arthur and Annie respectively. Among her children Paul was favourite.

5. Once, while teaching Miriam algebra, “Paul threw the pencil in her face”- What does this express?

Ans:- The thought processes of Paul are not only sadistic but positively cruel. Paul’s nature is fierce and as he once threw a pencil at Miriam's face, his anger burst like a bubble surcharged’. Paul is found getting angry when his ego is confronted with a foreign threat.

  1. Where does William go to work, and in what capacity?

      Ans:- when William of thirteen his mother got him a job in an office. There he becomes a best shorthand Clark and book-keeper. When William was 19 years, he left his office for a job in Nottingham. But finally, William got a job in London on an attractive salary of hundred and twenty a year.

  1.  “Never my lord, I’d wait on a dog at the door first “- Who says this and to whom? What was the consequence of it?

Ans:-One day when Mr. Morel came home and asked if there was anything to eat, Mrs. Morel uncivilly and sarcastically spoke to him thus. All this enraged Mr. Morel and flung the drawer at her. A corner of it caught her brow and it began to bleed.

  1. “Lord, let my father die” – Who prayed like this why?

Ans:- Paul hated his father and he prayed every night that his father should die. In fact , owing to mother fixation he can’t love his father or understand him. As Mrs. Morel could not bear the life of her husband, the children shared her misery.

  1. Mr. Morel got ‘a very dangerous smash’ of the leg. How his wife react such incidents?

Ans:- Mrs. Morel got the news of the injury to the leg of her heart of hearts she regretted the happening of the accidents.

  1. Who was ‘Gypsy’?

Ans:- ‘Gypsy’ was the name of the girl with whom William, white in London, fell in love. Her real name was Louisa Lily Denys Western.

  1. “Certainly the shoulders are beautiful, as you say- But I hardly expected to see so much of them at the first view” – Mrs. Morel Wrote a sharp letter to William. Why?

Ans:- William had a love affair to certain ‘Gypsy’. He sent the photograph of the girl to his mother. The photograph showed the bare- shoulders of the girl, not a piece of cloth on the photograph, it may be of a naked girl. Mrs. Morel did not like it and wrote a sharp letter above quoted.

  1. Why didn’t Paul and Miriam get their first love kiss?

Ans:- There was certainly love in them but they did not accept that they were loves. They said that they were only friends. The intimacy between the two was platonic. Their purity prevented even their first love-kiss.

13. What is the setting of the novel?

The novel is set in the late 19th and early 20th centuries in the mining town of Bestwood, Nottinghamshire, England.

14. Who are the main characters in the story?

The main characters in "Sons and Lovers" include Paul Morel (the protagonist), Mrs. Gertrude Morel (his mother), Mr. Walter Morel (his father), Miriam Leivers (Paul's first love interest), and Clara Dawes (his second love interest).

15. What is the central theme of "Sons and Lovers"?

The central theme of "Sons and Lovers" revolves around the complex relationships between parents and children, particularly the strong bond between a mother and her son and the challenges of romantic relationships.

16. How does Paul Morel's relationship with his mother impact his other relationships?

Paul's intense relationship with his mother, Mrs. Morel, creates emotional conflicts and struggles in his romantic relationships. He often finds it challenging to form deep connections with other women due to his attachment and loyalty to his mother.

17. What is the significance of the title "Sons and Lovers"?

The title "Sons and Lovers" suggests the central focus of the novel, which is the intricate and often complicated relationships between parents and children, particularly the sons' struggles to find love and identity outside their relationship with their mothers.

18. What are some major conflicts in the novel?

Major conflicts in the novel include the tension between Paul's loyalty to his mother and his desire for independence, the clash between his romantic relationships with Miriam and Clara, and the conflicts between the working-class and upper-class characters.

19. How does the mining community play a role in the story?

The mining community serves as a backdrop to the story, reflecting the harsh working conditions, social class divisions, and the impact of industrialization on the characters' lives. It also highlights the limited opportunities for upward mobility and the influence of the community on individual lives.

20. What is the narrative style of the novel?

The novel is written in a third-person omniscient narrative style, allowing the reader insight into the thoughts and emotions of multiple characters.

21. How does Lawrence depict the impact of industrialization on the characters and their environment?

Lawrence portrays the negative effects of industrialization on the characters' lives, including the physical toll of working in the mines, the loss of connection to nature, and the stifling effect of urbanization on their overall well-being.

22. What is the symbolism behind Miriam's religious beliefs?

Miriam's religious beliefs symbolize her spiritual and idealistic nature, as well as her struggle to reconcile her desires and passions with her deeply ingrained religious convictions.

23. How does Paul's relationship with Clara differ from his relationship with Miriam?

Paul's relationship with Clara is more physical and passionate compared to his relationship with Miriam, which is more spiritual and emotionally intense. Clara represents a more modern and liberated woman, while Miriam embodies a more traditional and introspective nature.

24. Discuss the role of nature and the natural world in the novel.

Nature and the natural world serve as a source of solace and escape for the characters in "Sons and Lovers." They often find respite and emotional healing in the beauty and tranquility of nature, particularly in the lush countryside surrounding the mining town. The natural world also symbolizes purity, freedom, and a connection to primal instincts, contrasting with the suffocating and industrialized environment of the town.

25.What is the resolution of the story?

The resolution of "Sons and Lovers" sees Paul's gradual detachment from his mother's influence as he seeks to find his own identity and independence. He realizes that his mother's love has constrained his ability to fully love and commit to another woman. While the story does not offer a definitive resolution to Paul's romantic relationships, it concludes with his acceptance of the imperfections and complexities of love and his journey towards self-discovery.

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