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
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
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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 17 Quiz
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What is Esther's opinion about Richard?
1 of 8
She admires his discipline and hard work
She believes he relies too much on talent and charm
She thinks he is very disciplined about his career
She feels he is overly cautious about the future
Why do the Badgers imply they no longer want Richard as an apprentice?
2 of 8
They believe he is too advanced for them to teach
They feel his dedication surpasses their own
They think it's a waste of time because he isn't disciplined
They prefer to mentor someone with no prior experience
How does Richard react to the feedback from the Badgers?
3 of 8
He is unconcerned and admits his lack of interest in his profession
He decides to prove the Badgers wrong by working harder
He immediately looks for another apprenticeship
He apologizes and promises to change his attitude
Why are Esther and Ada worried about Richard's decision to study law?
4 of 8
They believe he is genuinely interested in law as a career
They fear he will not take his law career seriously
They worry his interest in law is to get closer to Jarndyce and Jarndyce
They are confident in his decision and supportive
How is Richard characterized in relation to his career decisions and future?
5 of 8
As ambitious and deeply strategic about his future
As honest but naïve and unrealistic about his future
As cunning and manipulative as he hides his true intentions
As diligent and hardworking so that he can establish a successful career
Why does Mr. Jarndyce tell Esther about her origins?
6 of 8
Because Esther asked him to share details of his own life
He wanted to confess his feelings for her
Esther inquires about her family background
Because he has become her guardian
Why does Mrs. Woodcourt emphasize her family's noble Welsh lineage during the visit?
7 of 8
To impress Esther with their family history
To hint that Esther is not suitable to marry her son
Because she is proud of her Welsh heritage and wants to share it
To encourage Esther to research her own ancestry
How does Esther typically react to signs of affection from others?
8 of 8
She is always eager and expecting such gestures
She welcomes them with great enthusiasm and no doubts
She is indifferent and does not care much about others' affection
She struggles with self-doubt and often assumes they are not meant for her
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LitCharts LLC, 20 Aug 2019. Web. 14 Apr 2025.
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