Bleak House
Introduction + Context
Plot Summary
Detailed Summary & Analysis
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Chapter 41
Chapter 42
Chapter 43
Chapter 44
Chapter 45
Chapter 46
Chapter 47
Chapter 48
Chapter 49
Chapter 50
Chapter 51
Chapter 52
Chapter 53
Chapter 54
Chapter 55
Chapter 56
Chapter 57
Chapter 58
Chapter 59
Chapter 60
Chapter 61
Chapter 62
Chapter 63
Chapter 64
Chapter 65
Chapter 66
Chapter 67
Themes
All Themes
Social Mobility, Class, and Lineage
Law vs. Justice
Passion, Obsession, and Madness
Philanthropy, Social Responsibility, and Kindness
Haunting, Guilt, and Destiny
Identity and Appearance
Quotes
Characters
All Characters
Esther Summerson
Mr. Jarndyce
Lady Dedlock
Sir Leicester Dedlock
Ada Clare
Richard Carstone
Mr. Tulkinghorn
Mr. Vholes
Mr. Guppy
Mr. Jobling / Mr. Weevle
Bart Smallweed
Mr. Smallweed
Mrs. Smallweed
Judy Smallweed
Krook
Miss Flite
Captain Hawdon / Nemo
George
Phil
Jo
Mr. Snagsby
Mrs. Snagsby
Guster
Mr. Bagnet
Mrs. Bagnet
Mr. Bucket
Mrs. Bucket
Mademoiselle Hortense
Jenny
Liz
The Brickmaker
Mrs. Jellyby
Mr. Skimpole
Mrs. Pardiggle
Mr. Jellyby
Mr. Quale
Caddy Jellyby
Prince Turveydrop
Mr. Turveydrop
Peepy
Mr. Chadband
Mrs. Chadband / Mrs. Rachael
Miss Barbary / Esther’s Godmother
Volumnia Dedlock
Tom Jarndyce
Rosa
Mr. Rouncewell
Mrs. Rouncewell
Mr. Woodcourt
Mrs. Woodcourt
Charley
Gridley
Mr. Boythorn
Terms
All Terms
Ward
Plaintiff
Symbols
All Symbols
Fog
Miss Flite’s Birds
Houses
Literary Devices
All Literary Devices
Alliteration
Allusions
Anthropomorphism
Dialect
Foil
Foreshadowing
Genre
Hyperbole
Imagery
Metaphors
Mood
Motifs
Paradox
Pathos
Personification
Satire
Setting
Similes
Style
Tone
Unreliable Narrator
Quizzes
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Chapter 1 Quiz
Chapter 2 Quiz
Chapter 3 Quiz
Chapter 4 Quiz
Chapter 5 Quiz
Chapter 6 Quiz
Chapter 7 Quiz
Chapter 8 Quiz
Chapter 9 Quiz
Chapter 10 Quiz
Chapter 11 Quiz
Chapter 12 Quiz
Chapter 13 Quiz
Chapter 14 Quiz
Chapter 15 Quiz
Chapter 16 Quiz
Chapter 17 Quiz
Chapter 18 Quiz
Chapter 19 Quiz
Chapter 20 Quiz
Chapter 21 Quiz
Chapter 22 Quiz
Chapter 23 Quiz
Chapter 24 Quiz
Chapter 25 Quiz
Chapter 26 Quiz
Chapter 27 Quiz
Chapter 28 Quiz
Chapter 29 Quiz
Chapter 30 Quiz
Chapter 31 Quiz
Chapter 32 Quiz
Chapter 33 Quiz
Chapter 34 Quiz
Chapter 35 Quiz
Chapter 36 Quiz
Chapter 37 Quiz
Chapter 38 Quiz
Chapter 39 Quiz
Chapter 40 Quiz
Chapter 41 Quiz
Chapter 42 Quiz
Chapter 43 Quiz
Chapter 44 Quiz
Chapter 45 Quiz
Chapter 46 Quiz
Chapter 47 Quiz
Chapter 48 Quiz
Chapter 49 Quiz
Chapter 50 Quiz
Chapter 51 Quiz
Chapter 52 Quiz
Chapter 53 Quiz
Chapter 54 Quiz
Chapter 55 Quiz
Chapter 56 Quiz
Chapter 57 Quiz
Chapter 58 Quiz
Chapter 59 Quiz
Chapter 60 Quiz
Chapter 61 Quiz
Chapter 62 Quiz
Chapter 63 Quiz
Chapter 64 Quiz
Chapter 65 Quiz
Chapter 66 Quiz
Chapter 67 Quiz
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Bleak House
by
Charles Dickens
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Introduction
Intro
Plot Summary
Plot
Summary & Analysis
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Chapter 41
Chapter 42
Chapter 43
Chapter 44
Chapter 45
Chapter 46
Chapter 47
Chapter 48
Chapter 49
Chapter 50
Chapter 51
Chapter 52
Chapter 53
Chapter 54
Chapter 55
Chapter 56
Chapter 57
Chapter 58
Chapter 59
Chapter 60
Chapter 61
Chapter 62
Chapter 63
Chapter 64
Chapter 65
Chapter 66
Chapter 67
Themes
All Themes
Social Mobility, Class, and Lineage
Law vs. Justice
Passion, Obsession, and Madness
Philanthropy, Social Responsibility, and Kindness
Haunting, Guilt, and Destiny
Identity and Appearance
Quotes
Characters
All Characters
Esther Summerson
Mr. Jarndyce
Lady Dedlock
Sir Leicester Dedlock
Ada Clare
Richard Carstone
Mr. Tulkinghorn
Mr. Vholes
Mr. Guppy
Mr. Jobling / Mr. Weevle
Bart Smallweed
Mr. Smallweed
Mrs. Smallweed
Judy Smallweed
Krook
Miss Flite
Captain Hawdon / Nemo
George
Phil
Jo
Mr. Snagsby
Mrs. Snagsby
Guster
Mr. Bagnet
Mrs. Bagnet
Mr. Bucket
Mrs. Bucket
Mademoiselle Hortense
Jenny
Liz
The Brickmaker
Mrs. Jellyby
Mr. Skimpole
Mrs. Pardiggle
Mr. Jellyby
Mr. Quale
Caddy Jellyby
Prince Turveydrop
Mr. Turveydrop
Peepy
Mr. Chadband
Mrs. Chadband / Mrs. Rachael
Miss Barbary / Esther’s Godmother
Volumnia Dedlock
Tom Jarndyce
Rosa
Mr. Rouncewell
Mrs. Rouncewell
Mr. Woodcourt
Mrs. Woodcourt
Charley
Gridley
Mr. Boythorn
Terms
All Terms
Ward
Plaintiff
Symbols
All Symbols
Fog
Miss Flite’s Birds
Houses
Lit Devices
All Literary Devices
Alliteration
Allusions
Anthropomorphism
Dialect
Foil
Foreshadowing
Genre
Hyperbole
Imagery
Metaphors
Mood
Motifs
Paradox
Pathos
Personification
Satire
Setting
Similes
Style
Tone
Unreliable Narrator
Quizzes
All Quizzes
Chapter 1 Quiz
Chapter 2 Quiz
Chapter 3 Quiz
Chapter 4 Quiz
Chapter 5 Quiz
Chapter 6 Quiz
Chapter 7 Quiz
Chapter 8 Quiz
Chapter 9 Quiz
Chapter 10 Quiz
Chapter 11 Quiz
Chapter 12 Quiz
Chapter 13 Quiz
Chapter 14 Quiz
Chapter 15 Quiz
Chapter 16 Quiz
Chapter 17 Quiz
Chapter 18 Quiz
Chapter 19 Quiz
Chapter 20 Quiz
Chapter 21 Quiz
Chapter 22 Quiz
Chapter 23 Quiz
Chapter 24 Quiz
Chapter 25 Quiz
Chapter 26 Quiz
Chapter 27 Quiz
Chapter 28 Quiz
Chapter 29 Quiz
Chapter 30 Quiz
Chapter 31 Quiz
Chapter 32 Quiz
Chapter 33 Quiz
Chapter 34 Quiz
Chapter 35 Quiz
Chapter 36 Quiz
Chapter 37 Quiz
Chapter 38 Quiz
Chapter 39 Quiz
Chapter 40 Quiz
Chapter 41 Quiz
Chapter 42 Quiz
Chapter 43 Quiz
Chapter 44 Quiz
Chapter 45 Quiz
Chapter 46 Quiz
Chapter 47 Quiz
Chapter 48 Quiz
Chapter 49 Quiz
Chapter 50 Quiz
Chapter 51 Quiz
Chapter 52 Quiz
Chapter 53 Quiz
Chapter 54 Quiz
Chapter 55 Quiz
Chapter 56 Quiz
Chapter 57 Quiz
Chapter 58 Quiz
Chapter 59 Quiz
Chapter 60 Quiz
Chapter 61 Quiz
Chapter 62 Quiz
Chapter 63 Quiz
Chapter 64 Quiz
Chapter 65 Quiz
Chapter 66 Quiz
Chapter 67 Quiz
Theme Wheel
Theme Viz
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Bleak House: Chapter 2 Quiz
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Why does Lady Dedlock return to London from her husband's country house?
1 of 11
To attend a series of important social events and gatherings
Because she enjoys the countryside more than the city
To escape the constant rain and tedium of the country
To visit family members she has not seen in a long time
What role does the “fashionable intelligence” play in the novel?
2 of 11
It serves as a personal security team that protects Lady Dedlock's privacy
It serves as a group of close friends and confidantes who support Lady Dedlock
It serves as a collection of financial advisors managing Lady Dedlock's wealth and investments
It serves as a collective character that acts as a rumor mill surrounding Lady Dedlock
How is Sir Leicester Dedlock characterized in the novel?
3 of 11
As a humble and flexible man who values modern social changes
As a proud and stubborn man with a deep respect for his family's lineage
As a modern entrepreneur who has little interest in his family's history
As a passive figure with no strong opinions about society or his family’s role in it
What is notable about Sir Leicester and Lady Dedlock's marriage?
4 of 11
Sir Leicester married Lady Dedlock for love, despite rumors of her non-noble background
Their marriage was intended to consolidate power, even though Sir Leicester was already wealthy
Sir Leicester married Lady Dedlock for her wealth and social status, despite her desire for love
Lady Dedlock married Sir Leicester to gain political influence, despite his foolishness
What does Lady Dedlock's social ascension signify in the context of the novel?
5 of 11
It highlights the rigid class structures of the time that are impossible to transcend
It demonstrates the power of noble birthright as the only means to achieve high social status
It underscores the insignificance of personal effort in achieving social mobility
It reflects the changing social norms and the possibility of overcoming class barriers
What does Lady Dedlock's success in society suggest about the aristocracy and fashionable world?
6 of 11
They are willing to accept those who can maintain a noble façade
They are discerning and not easily fooled by appearances
They value genuine accomplishments and hard work above all else
They prioritize moral integrity and personal character in their social rankings
What role does Mr. Tulkinghorn play in the narrative?
7 of 11
He is a cheerful and open man who entertains the nobility with tales of adventure
He is a servant who aspires to rise above his station through hard work and dedication
He is a somewhat inscrutable lawyer who knows the secrets of the nobility
None of the above
What misconception does Lady Dedlock have about the people who surround her in daily life?
8 of 11
She thinks her servants know everything about her personal life
She believes that her inner life is completely private and unknown to those around her
She believes that the people around her are constantly looking for ways to sabotage her
She thinks that she's the only person in this society who is secretly depressed
When Mr. Tulkinghorn visits Lady Dedlock and Sir Leicester, what attitude does Lady Dedlock show towards the Jarndyce and Jarndyce lawsuit?
9 of 11
She is highly interested and optimistic about a favorable outcome
She is bored and does not expect the lawsuit to ever be resolved
She actively seeks to resolve the lawsuit through diplomatic means
She is unaware of her involvement in the lawsuit and its details
How does Lady Dedlock react to Mr. Tulkinghorn's update on the Jarndyce and Jarndyce lawsuit?
10 of 11
She is thrilled about the potential resolution of the lawsuit
She is indifferent and bored and shows no reaction to the update
She is bored at first but then suddenly feels faint
She finds the details of the report humorous but ultimately unimportant
What does Lady Dedlock's reaction imply about the document Tulkinghorn reads her?
11 of 11
She is frustrated with how boring the document is
She is confused by the document's legal jargon
She is surprised by the content of the report
She secretly recognizes the handwriting on the document
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Greenall, Lily. "Bleak House."
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LitCharts LLC, 20 Aug 2019. Web. 14 Jan 2025.
Greenall, Lily. "Bleak House." LitCharts. LitCharts LLC, 20 Aug 2019. Web. 14 Jan 2025.
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