We have changed our privacy policy. In addition, we use cookies on our website for various purposes. By continuing on our website, you consent to our use of cookies. You can learn about our practices by reading our privacy policy.

Middlemarch Questions

Bring on the tough stuff - there’s not just one right answer.

  1. How do we approach long novels differently from short ones?
  2. Originally, this novel was going to be called "Miss Brooke" (that became the title of the first volume). The final version, as you know, is called Middlemarch. Why do you think Eliot changed the title?
  3. What's the purpose of the Prelude and the Finale?
  4. Does Eliot change the definition of what "an epic life" is by the end of the novel?
  5. Is the end of the novel disappointing?
  6. Is Dorothea's life a failure? What constitutes failure in the world of this novel?