Teaching Jude the Obscure

Instructions for You

Objective: Hardy's book is all about the folly of dreams: Jude's a guy who's low down but dreams big, thinking that if he wants it enough and his heart is pure then wonderful things can happen. Unfortunately, that's just not the case, and it all ends pretty horribly for Jude.

The novel also hints that Jude may not have been 100 percent on point to go big for that dream in Christminster. He might have been better off thinking about the pros and cons before packing up his family's belongings and rushing off when Arabella came knocking.

In this sixty-minute activity, the students will become the proverbial voice of reason, questioning Jude as he attempts to make his dream a reality. No one likes being the party pooper, but someone needs to show Jude he might be better off sticking to the fairs and selling gingerbread.

Materials Needed: A copy of the text and/or Shmoop's summary page

Step 1: Everyone has dreams, wishes, wants, and aspirations, but sometimes you have to do more than just wait for everything to fall into place. We're talking planning and prepping.

Have your students spend some reflection time writing down details of a dream they might have, as well as a list of how they would make it a reality. They should be focusing on what's needed to make the dream come true, the obstacles they might meet, and how they'd overcome said obstacles. For example, "setting up my own business," "traveling the world," that kind of thing.

Step 2: Jude's decided there's no time like the present, and he's bringing the whole family with him to Christminster. We can already see problems, though; Jude has his blinders on and he's not thinking about anything else, like how his family might be affected or other potential challenges.

Have students get into groups, where they'll write out a 100- to 150-word transcript of an imagined conversation in which Jude will tell them all about his trip and how excited he is. The group will interject and warn him that he needs to plan ahead because they can already see problems down the road. They could mention how his marriage is already strained and any further difficulties could irreconcilably damage his relationship. Why take a risk when he could just enjoy a happy and easy life?

If you want, you can ask two members of each group to perform their imagined conversation.

Step 3: Jude refuses to listen so we need a new approach. This guy reeeaaally wants to get to Christminster.

The groups will write out a list of how the move could affect each family member, using moments from the novel as evidence. They're trying to show Jude why this is a bad idea and why he might want to stop and consider the possible consequences before he dives into his personal dreams.

Step 4: Surprise. Things haven't gone well at Christminster and the family's split up. Without sounding all "We told you so," Jude, we told you so.

Now ask the groups to imagine they're Jude, and write out a "before and after" list. The before column should describe all that was happening before the move to Christminster, such as Jude having the wife he always wanted and a growing family. After, once he pushed to accomplish his dreams? Not so much. This should help give Jude a pretty broad picture of what went wrong with his plan for success (or lack thereof).

When everyone's done, you can hold a class discussion about whether Jude could have predicted such horrible consequences, and what he might have done to prevent everything from falling apart when he tried to make his dreams become a reality. It all goes to show that a little planning and research can make a big difference when you're shooting for the stars.

Instructions for Your Students

Hardy's book is all about the folly of dreams: Jude's a guy who's low down but dreams big, thinking that if he wants it enough and his heart is pure then wonderful things can happen. Unfortunately that's just not the case, and it all ends pretty horribly for Jude.

There's suggestion in the novel that Jude may not have been smart to go big for that dream in Christminster. He might have been better off thinking about the pros and cons before packing up his family's belongings and rushing off when Arabella came knocking.

Today you and your classmates will become the proverbial voice of reason, questioning Jude as he attempts to make his dream a reality. No one likes to be the party pooper, but someone needs to show Jude he might be better off sticking to the fairs and selling gingerbread.

Step 1: Let's start by talking about dreams.

Spend some reflection time writing down a dream you'd like to come true. It could be something like "owning my own business" or "traveling the world." Then, write out how you would make the dream come true, the obstacles you might encounter, and how you'd overcome said obstacles.

Have a class discussion when everyone's done, and see whether you think your classmates have what it takes to turn their dreams into a reality.

Step 2: Jude's decided there's no time like the present, and he's bringing the whole family with him to Christminster. We can already see problems, though; Jude has his blinders on and he's not thinking about anything else, such as how his family might be affected or potential challenges.

Return to your groups, and write out a 100- to 150-word transcript of an imagined conversation in which Jude will tell you all about his trip and how excited he is. Your group will interject and warn him that he needs to plan ahead because they can already see problems down the road (literally and metaphorically). Remind Jude how his marriage is already struggling and that if things don't go well in Christminster, it might mean the end of the road for Mr. and Mrs. the Obscure.

Once you're all finished, teach might ask two members from each group to perform your convo.

Step 3: Unfortunately that didn't work.

This guy reeeaaally wants to get to Christminster.

Next up, your group will write out a list of how the move could affect each family member, using moments from the novel as evidence. You're trying to show Jude why this is a bad idea and why he might want to stop and consider the possible consequences before he dives in and makes his dreams become a reality.

Step 4: Game over. Surprise. Things haven't gone well at Christminster and the family's split up. Without sounding all "We told you so," Jude, we told you so.

In your group, you're going to imagine that you're Jude, and write out a "before and after" list. The before column should describe all that was happening before the move to Christminster, such as Jude having the wife he always wanted and a growing family. After? Not so much. Isn't going for your dreams the best?

When everyone's done, you'll have a class discussion about whether Jude could have predicted such horrible consequences and what he might have done to prevent everything from falling apart. It all goes to show that a little planning and research can make a big difference when you're shooting for the stars.