1

Good Bye Mr. Chips!

Chapter # 1
Q.1: Mrs. Wickett (her house --- why Chips chose it)

Before retirement Mrs. Wickett was in charge of the linen-room at Brookfield. Chips lived at
her house as a paying guest. She was a nice lady and took good care of old Chips. She
served him food and tea according to the bells of Brookfield. She also took care of his
guests. She understood Chips well. They shared the memories of Brookfield with each
other.

Mrs. Wickett’s house was just across the road from Brookfield. It was small, ugly, over-
decorated but comfortable. From there he could stay in touch with Brookfield. Also he
could easily walk over to the school grounds and watch games and matches in the
afternoon. He could smile and chat with boys when they touched their caps to him.

Q.2: How did Chips measure his time? (why he preferred the Brookfield time)

After retirement, Mr. Chips lived at Mrs. Wickett’s just across the road from Brookfield.
There he could live his life according to the bells of the Brookfield school. It was more
important for him than the Greenwich Time because he had spent all his life according to
those bells. All his memories were linked to the school. He loved to remain associated with
it.

He, like some sea-captain, still measured time by the signals of the past.

Q.3: Chips’ health after retirement

(Doctor Merivale --- What did he say to Mrs. Wickett? --- views about Chips’ health ---

‘anno domini’)

Merivale was a doctor who visited Chips for a bi-weekly check-up. He said that Chips was
lucky that he would die a natural death as he was not ill at all. It was just ‘anno domini’ i.e.
old age. His chest put strain on his heart. When the cold winds blew, he advised Mrs.
Wickett to take special care of Chips lest he should catch cold. Merivale was also there
when Chips opened his eyes for the last time and died.
(why Chips not left Brookfield after 1929 --- why he preferred summers)

Chips was not ill, of course, but sometimes he got a little tired. His breathing became bad in
winter months. He had to take care of himself when the east winds blew. That’s why he
 2

liked summer which suited him. Chips didn’t leave Brookfield after 1929 even for the ‘Old
Boys’ dinners in London. He was afraid of chills and late nights began to tire him too much.

Q.4: What happened when too many boys visited him?

(Chips’ feelings when his ex-students visited him)

Chips liked it when the boys came to visit him on weekends. Sometimes, they tired him, if
too many came at once. (+) But he didn’t really mind. It was so because he enjoyed their
visits more than anything in the world. He enjoyed it even despite his old age. He could
always rest and sleep afterwards.
(+) *lines about his health

Q.5: Mr. Wetherby

(the year 1870 --- Chips joining Brookfield --- Wetherby’s nature --- his advice to Chips)

Chips joined Brookfield in 1870 during the Franco-Prussian war. Mr. Wetherby, the
headmaster, interviewed him. Chips liked him because of his fatherly and courteous nature.
Moreover, he raised the status of the school with his hard work. He had good
administrative skills. He knew well how to run a school.

He advised Chips to be strict from the very beginning and not let anyone play tricks with
him. He asked Chips to take up a firm attitude from the beginning because that was the
secret. He also said that if Chips gave his enthusiasm to Brookfield, it would give him
something in return. He died before Chips actually joined the school. Chips liked him and he
was a vivid and frequent picture in his mind.

Q.6: Chips’ first class at Brookfield

(the looks of the boys --- their tradition --- use of Wetherby’s advice --- Chips’ victory)

Chips took his first class with a scowl on his face. The Big Hall was full of 500 pitiless boys. It
was a tradition for them to play tricks with the new masters. They looked like lusty
barbarians. Suddenly, a boy named Colley, dropped the desk lid. Chips reacted at once
according to Mr. Wetherby’s advice. He caught the boy and punished him with hundred
lines to write. In this way, he won the first round and there was no trouble after that.
Q.7: Sir Richard Colley

(Chips’ joke about the Colleys I, II & III --- the first boy punished by Chips at Brookfield)

Sir Richard Colley was an alderman and also a baron. He was the first student punished by
Mr. Chips at Brookfield. He dropped the desk lid as an act of mischief. Twenty-five years
later, his son also came to Brookfield. And again many years after that first Colley’s
 3

grandson also became Chips’ student. Chips told Colley II and Colley III in the class that all of
them were the same i.e. stupid. Everyone laughed at that joke.

Chapter # 2
Q.8: Brookfield (its start --- status --- structure --- services to England --- the people it produced

--- commonness in Chips & the Brookfield)

Brookfield was a good boarding-school of the second rank. There were so many ups and
downs in its history.

It was established in Queen Elizabeth’s time. It was a group of eighteenth century

(+)
buildings built around a big square courtyard. The whole building wore a mantle of creeper
that changed its colour according the changing season. Mainly, this school produced judges,
Members of Parliament, colonial administrators, bishops & parsons, peers, squires,
manufacturers and traders.

Chips’ degree was ordinary and Brookfield was also not a first class school. And this
(+)
mediocrity was the thing that Chips and Brookfield had in common. Otherwise Brookfield
would not have accepted Chips.

Q.9: Chips’ sleep (nostalgia --- dreams --- getting old ‘a sad joke’)

After his retirement, old Chips used to sit by the fire, dreaming. Getting old is a sad joke
because even remembering good times makes sad. Wave upon wave of humour and
sadness swept over him. Tears rolled down his cheeks. In this state he used to fall asleep.
But his sleep was not ordinary. It gave a mystic intensity to his thoughts. He slept, he woke
up, but his dream continued smoothly. Dreams were his life.

Q.10: Was Chips ambitious?

(why he stayed permanently at Brookfield --- his social and academic status)

(+)In the beginning he was an ambitious young man and it was his dream to get senior
mastership in some first class school. But after a decade he realized that he had no scope as
his degree was ordinary and his family connections were of no importance. Therefore, he
decided to settle permanently at Brookfield. He was always happy for it. He took pride in
Brookfield.

At fifty he became ‘doyen’ of the staff. Now he was settled and well-rooted at Brookfield. (+)
 4

At sixty Chips was Brookfield himself. He was the court of appeal in all the matters
regarding Brookfield history & traditions. He was guest of honour at Old Brookfieldian
dinners. Now Brookfield took pride in him. (+)

Chapter # 3
Q.11: Chips’ hospitality (his menu --- tea making --- asking guests to leave)

Chips always liked to invite masters and students, old and new, to tea. Guests liked the way
he made tea from different caddies. He also served them with crumpets and walnut cake
with pink icing. He took care that their plates were never empty. And just before five (after
an hour) he excused himself. Everybody knew it already. Then he saw them off at the door.

Q.12: Major Collingwood (why Chips thrashed him)

Major Collingwood was an old Brookfieldian. He joined the army and got a medal (D.S.O).
Later, someone told Chips that he got killed in Egypt. According to Mrs. Wickett, he was
‘cheeky like’ but ‘he meant no harm’. Chips remembered that once he climbed the
gymnasium roof to get his ball. For this, Chips thrashed him because he could fall and break
his neck.

Q.13: Chips’ room (his books --- what he read --- the newspaper he liked)

Chips’ room was comfortable and sunny. It was decorated in a school-masterly taste. There
were shelves on which he kept sports trophies, fixture cards and photos of boys and men.
There were also big easy-chairs, a Turkish carpet and paintings of ancient Greece.

He read different kinds of books such as classics and belles-lettres. But he liked detective
novels the most. He took them to bed every night. Sleep came to him when he had hardly
read a page or two.

In newspapers, he liked to read The Times every day with morning tea.

Q.14: Chips’ life after retirement (his activities)

Chips lived a pleasant and placid life after retirement. He busied himself in his ‘quiet
enjoyments’. He used to invite new boys and teachers and entertained them, drank tea,
walked to the school ground in the afternoon, watched matches, corrected the
Brookfieldian Directory and wrote literary articles. Moreover, he followed the Brookfield
bells and dreamed about his past.
 5

Q.15: What was the financial status of Chips? (his income --- his investment --- his will)

Chips’ pension was enough. He had invested his savings in ‘gilt-edged’ stocks. He could
afford anything he needed. His income was more than his needs. He helped the needy
people with money. In 1930, he made his will. He left all his money to the Mission, Mrs.
Wickett and to the open entrance scholarship of Brookfield.

Chapter # 4 & 5
Q.16: The most important event of the novel or Chips’ life

(The romantic event of the novel --- turning point in Chips’ life ---
the ‘trivial cause of momentous happenings’ --- why Chips looked at his feet)

The spring of 1896 --- Chips (48) was at the Lake District with his friend Rowden. While
climbing the Great Gable, he saw a girl waving from a dangerous ledge. He tried to rescue
her but slipped and hurt his foot. This was the trivial cause that brought Katherine close to
him as she came to nurse Chips every day. It sparked off a romantic change in Chips’ life.
Soon they were head over heels in love and got married.

Later in life, Chips always tried hard to recall about the foot that had performed so signal a
service. But this was the only thing, the details of which always evaded him.

Q.17: Katherine Bridges

(her appearance --- political views --- her modernism ---- the writers she read)

Katherine Bridges was twenty-five, with flashing blue eyes, freckled cheeks & straw-
coloured hair. As Chips had to admit --- she was a very beautiful girl.

She was a governess out of job. She liked bi-cycling & climbing mountains. She was a New
Woman of the nineties with radical views in politics. She was a feminist. She wanted equal
rights with men. Especially, the right to vote and university education. She read and
admired Ibsen, Bernard Shaw & William Morris.

Q.18: Chips’ views before meeting Katherine

(about the New Woman, bi-cycling, Ibsen, Bernard Shaw --- his notion of nice women ---

his orthodox/conservative/conventional ideas)

Chips had orthodox ideas. He was never at ease with women. He thought that nice women
are weak, timid & delicate. And men should treat them with distant chivalry.
 6

He called that New Woman of the nineties ‘a monster’ that filled him with horror. He did
not like modernity, bi-cycling of women and plays of Ibsen & Bernard Shaw. He disliked
women working beside men.

Q.19: Period of courtship

(the time of dizzy happiness --- memories from the Lake District --- how he started liking
Katherine)
Chips’ wrenched ankle put him at the mercy of Katherine. This gave them a chance to know
each other. She came to look after him daily. The man who was against the ‘new woman’
thing, now began to wait for her glimpse when she came bi-cycling along the lake. It was a
time of dizzy happiness --- the evening strolls by the lakeside, her cool voice, her gay
laughter. He felt, he couldn’t refute her ideas even when he disagreed. Every day, Chips
would listen to the chatter of --- he had to admit --- a very beautiful girl. He felt disarmed by
her charms.

(how Katherine started liking Chips)

Before knowing Chips, she felt that the middle-aged men who read the Times and had old
ideas, were terrible bores. But she found Chips to be more interesting and attractive than
any other young man. She was inspired by the honesty of his ideas. His gentle and quiet
manners were attractive, especially his brown eyes and the charming smile. She had never
met anyone like him.

Q.20: Katherine’s views about Chips’ profession (Was she satisfied?)

At first, Katherine feared that Chips might be a lawyer, a stock-broker, a dentist or a cotton
merchant. She used to tell Chips that she was so glad that he was a teacher. She thought
that being a teacher is so different as he influences the minds that grow up one day and
matter to the world.

Q.21: How & why did Chips depreciate his job? (how he tried to play fair with Katherine ---
his views or confessions about his degree & prospects in life)

In fact, Chips didn’t want Katherine to feel sorry after marriage. He wanted to give her a fair
chance. Therefore, he told her honestly about his only mediocre degree and the occasional
problems with discipline. He told her that he didn’t think that he would get any promotion
at Brookfield. He also talked about his inability to marry some young & ambitious girl.

Q.22: How did Kathie talk to Chips a night before wedding?

She wanted to have some fun with Chips. Therefore, she used words like ‘last farewell’, ‘I
am not afraid’, ‘in a thoroughly respectful mood’ to mock up a sense of gravity. But all she
 7

asked in the end was, if she should call him ‘Sir’ or ‘Mr. Chips’. Then she herself declared
that saying ‘Mr. Chips’ would be the right thing.
Then she said, “Good-bye, then --- Good-bye Mr. Chips…!”

Chapter # 6
Q.23: Katherine’s popularity at Brookfield
(the attitude of other wives --- her wisdom & loving nature)

Katherine conquered Brookfield just as she had won Chips with her wisdom and loving
nature. She was immensely popular with the boys and the teachers alike. At first, the wives
of other masters were a bit jealous of her but they also could not resist the charms of such
a lovely girl.
Q.24: Chips --- before marriage
Before marriage Chips was a dry and neutral sort of person. He was respected but was not
very popular. He was a fixture that gave service, satisfaction, confidence --- everything
except inspiration. He had occasional problems with discipline. He was liked as a decent
fellow and a hard worker. But he was not popular.
Q.25: Chips --- after marriage (why boys loved Chips after his marriage)

Chips’ marriage with Katherine was a great success. She made Chips a new man. His eyes
gained sparkle. His mind started moving more adventurously. His sense of humour became
rich. His discipline improved without being rigid. Before marriage, he was obeyed and
honoured but only now came love. They felt that he was the man whose happiness was
linked with their own happiness.
Q.26: Chips’ humour (Chips’ latest)
Chips had a good sense of humour that became rich after his marriage. He began to make
jokes that boys liked. He used mnemonics and puns that not only raised laughs but also
imprinted something on mind. (+) His jokes were so popular that everybody wanted to tell
them to others. Sometimes, people started laughing even before he came to the point. He
had earned a reputation as a great jester.
‘Chips’ latest’ was any new joke by Chips. (+)
Q.27: Could Chips refute Kathie’s ideas (Was Katherine more brilliant than Chips?)

Katherine influenced Chips’ mind in a great way. She made him see the world outside the
walls of Brookfield. Her young idealism gave gentleness and brilliance to Chips’ maturity.
Katherine had a cleverer brain than Chips had. Though her ideas were radical, they were so
fresh and logical that he couldn’t refute them.
 8

--- how she urged Chips)

The whole staff refused it. Chips also did not agree to that idea. They said that such
(+)
experiment would create confusion and embarrassing incidents because both the schools
belonged to different classes.
Katherine urged Chips that England shouldn’t remain divided into ‘officers’ and ‘other
(+)
ranks’. This changed Chips’ mind and he became a keen advocate of the proposal. Finally,
the authorities had to agree to the match.
(+)The Poplar boys came for the soccer match on a spring day. They were honourably
defeated. Later, they had high-tea and met the head. They were shown over the school.
Chips saw them off at the railway-station. Everything passed without the slightest hitch. The
visitors took with them as good an impression as they left behind them.

Chapter # 7
Q.29: Memories of Katherine that haunted Chips:
In his mind’s eye, he would see Katherine scampering along the corridors, laughing at some
howler in an essay, her creamy arm sweeping over the brown sheen of the cello. He also
saw her furred and muffed at some school matches and at garden parties. He also
remembered the times when she tendered him advice on some issue.
Q.30: Katherine’s leniency
Katherine was so empathetic and wise. She understood the problems of students. Often
she urged Chips to be forgiving with the boys. She asked him to talk to them frankly about
the problem and give them a chance. She thought that cooping up hundreds of boys
together was responsible for their odd behavior. That’s why she pleaded leniency.
Q.31: How many times did Chips not take her advice?
Katherine had a very logical thinking. She was very articulate too. Whatever advice she gave
to Chips, it influenced him. Only one out of ten times he was adamant and didn’t accept her
advice. Later on, in half of such chances, he wished he had taken her advice. This impact
broadened his views.
Q.32: Did Kathie always plead for leniency? (the boys she didn’t like)
Katherine didn’t always plead for leniency. She didn’t like the ‘cocksure’ type of boys.
Therefore, she asked Chips to be severe with such a boy. She said that if such a boy asks for
 9

trouble, he should have it. She knew well which boy deserved forgiveness and which did
not. This shows that she gave her advice according to the situation.
Q.33: What did Chips remember about Kathie when he was about to punish a boy?
Whenever Chips was about to punish any boy, he felt himself at the mercy of a softening
wave of memories. He remembered the time when Kathie used to ask him to forgive some
boy. He thought what Katherine would do if she had been there. Then his brown eyes
twinkled with a shine and he forgave the boy. But the boy couldn’t know why he did so.
Q.34 (also see Q.56) : Did Chips write down his memories?
Chips often felt that he should write down his memories. Sometimes, he would make
desultory notes but again stop. Firstly, because writing tired him both mentally and
physically. Secondly, he thought that his recollections lost much of their flavor when written
down. But still he strongly wished to write them some day.

Chapter # 8
Q.35: Kathie’s death (1898) (Irony of fate)

On a spring day of 1898, Chips’ beloved wife Katherine Bridges and his newly born son died.
Chips was in a horrifying nightmare. He was trying hard to escape from his inside world. He
wished he had also died with them. All that happened on the 1st April (a day of fooling).
That’s why, it seems that there was an irony of fate in it.
Q.36: Why did Chips not want to receive condolences from others?
(Did Chips take class on the day his wife and son died?)
Chips wanted to get used to the things. He did not want to be an object of pity by receiving
condolences. He wanted to face the circumstances all by himself. Therefore, he paced
through the village and took his class also. But he was in a cold trance all the time. He was
in a horrifying nightmare.
Q.37: April foolery that Chips faced. (When did he realize it? ---- his reaction)

Chips received so many letters that boys posted him on some earlier date. All contained
blank sheets of paper. He was already in a state of shock as his wife and son had died on
that day. Therefore, he could not know the purpose of letters. He realized it days
afterwards that it was an act of April foolery.

Chapter # 9
Q.38: Why did Chips want to leave housemaster-ship? (Why didn’t he leave it? Was it useful?)
 10

At first, Chips wanted to leave the housemaster-ship but the Head asked him not to do so.
Later, Chips was happy for not leaving that responsibility. The work gave him something to
do. It filled up an emptiness of his mind and heart because he was all alone after
Katherine’s death. This helped him come out of that shock.
Q.39: Why did boys start calling Chips ‘old’? (Effect of Kathie’s bereavement)

After the death of his wife, Chips became a kind of man whom boys could class as ‘old’. It
wasn’t that he was not active or not interested in his work. He could still knock up a half
century on cricket-field. But they could see that he was in a great shock and had lost
interest in life. His hair was already graying and it was only now that everyone started
noticing it.
Q.40: Chips’ eccentricities (his gown --- his call-over)
At fifty, Chips had the right to some gentle eccentricities. For example, he used his gown
until it was to tattered to wear. Moreover, on windy days when he used to walk through
the school courtyard, his gown, hair and the school list would flutter in a confusing way.
The way he took the call over --- his glasses slipped down his nose, one eye-brow lifted
higher than the other --- was an amusing scene to watch. All these things were an object of
constant mimickery at school.

Chapter # 10 & 11
Q.41: Meldrum (Who was the successor of Wetherby? --- his death --- Chips as an acting Head)

Meldrum became the Head of Brookfield in 1900 after the death of Wetherby. He held the
office for three decades. He died, all of a sudden, from pneumonia. At that time, the
Governors appointed Chips as an Acting Head of Brookfield until they found a new Head. It
was the first time that Chips became the Acting Head.

Q.42: Ralston (appearance --- discipline --- qualification --- unpopularity)

Ralston was the new head of Brookfield after Meldrum. He was a youngster of thirty-seven.
He had such a personality as could reduce the Big Hall to silence by mere lifting of an eye-
brow. He was a science graduate glittering with Firsts & Blues. He was an ambitious and
ruthless fellow. That’s why he was feared and respected but not loved.

Q.43: Ralston’s services for Brookfield

Ralston was a live wire and a fine power-transmitter. He raised the status of Brookfield to a
great extent. He promoted the school in the business community and brought so many
funds to the school. There was a longish waiting list for the first time in the history of
Brookfield.
 11

Q.44: Chips’ views about how Ralston ran Brookfield

(How was Ralston destroying the traditions of Brookfield? --- Chips’ dislike for Ralston)

Chips thought that Ralston was running Brookfield as a factory. He was promoting a ‘snob
culture’ and ‘rotten ripeness’. He was killing the old gentlemanly traditions and sense of
proportion which Brookfield taught. His philosophy moved around just ‘a fat bank account’.
His focus was just on certificates and grades, not on values and equality. In fact, he was
teaching materialism.

Q.45: The row between Chips & Ralston (Ralston’s ultimatum to Chips)

In 1908, when Chips had just turned sixty, Ralston gave him an urbane ultimatum. He asked
Chips to retire because his teaching method was old and his results were declining. He
blamed him for his incorrect pronunciation and tattered gown. Moreover, he also said that
Chips was insubordinate and had slovenly habits.

Q.46: Chips’ response to Ralston’s ultimatum

At the end of that argument in which Ralston asked Chips to retire from his job, Chips said
that he was in the right and would not retire. He said that nobody had ever complained
about his teaching method. Therefore, he told Ralston to do whatever he could. He ignored
all that Ralston had said and left.
Q.47: Was Chips afraid of Ralston? Why not?
(why he served Ralston --- how Chips felt protected from him)

Chips was not impressed by Ralston. In fact, he disliked him. He knew that Ralston also did
not like him. He was not afraid of Ralston’s ‘slave-driving’ of other masters. He felt himself
protected because of his age and seniority. He just served him willingly enough and quite
loyally because he thought he was serving Brookfield, not Ralston.
Q.48: How did everyone know about the row between Chips & Ralston?
(the response of the students, their parents & the masters)

A boy was overhearing the argument between Chips and Ralston. Soon, the news spread
everywhere. The whole Brookfield had stood up for Chips. They knew well how to defend
their defender. The masters saw a likely champion in Chips because they were fed up with
Ralston’s slave-driving. The boys only feared and respected Ralston. But now their anger
conquered the fear. They were ready to protest against him. Even Sir John Rivers assured
Chips that all the Governors were also on his side. Chips himself had never expected this
kind of support.
 12

Q.49: John Rivers (his support for Chips)

Sir John Rivers was an old Brookfieldian and a student of Chips. He was the Chairman of
Governors when Ralston asked Chips to resign. Rivers believed that Ralston was a very
clever fellow who needed watching. He assured Chips that all the Governors were on his
side. They wanted Chips to stay at Brookfield for hundred years if it was possible for him.
They believed that Brookfield would not be the same without Chips.
Q.50: Mr. Jones (Brookfield’s services during the railway strike)
Once, the railway-men were on strike. The soldiers were driving the engines. The
Brookfieldians were given the duty to guard the railway-lines. Chips was supervising the
task. There he met a striker named Jones. He was in charge of the railway signal box. At
school, everyone was surprised to know that Chips was talking to a striker.
Q.51: What did Chips think of England?
Chips had a strong faith in England and in English flesh & blood. He believed that England
was playing an important role at international level. Times were changing fast and
England’s responsibility had increased so much. A slightest carelessness could upset the
balance. That is why he was proud of his country.
Q.52: Diamond Jubilee celebrations – 1897. (Queen Victoria --- her looks)

Once Chips went to London to see the Diamond Jubilee celebrations. Katherine was also
with him. He saw Queen Victoria in the procession. She was sitting in her carriage. To Chips
she seemed like a crumbling wooden doll. She was a symbol of the monarchy and many
other things which, like the Queen, were coming to an end.
Q.53: Grayson
Grayson was a good student. But then he became silent and inattentive in the class. Chips
thought that he might be waiting for the rescue of his father. His father was onboard the
Titanic that sank. Later, his father was rescued. But unfortunately, Grayson himself died in a
few days. Maybe he was sick and nobody knew about it. Chips condoled with his father.

Chapter # 12
Q.54: Chatteris (the successor of Ralston --- his appearance --- nature --- relation with Chips

--- asking Chips to re-join Brookfield)

Chatteris became the Head of Brookfield (in 1911) when Ralston left. He was younger than
Ralston. He was diabetic and very weak. In the war years he became over-worried because
of over-work. That’s why he went to Chips and requested him to come back to school. He
believed that even Chips’ presence in the school would help him hold things together. Chips
liked Chatteris. Therefore, he decided to rejoin Brookfield.
 13

Q.55: Chips’ retirement

(his age --- the year --- reason --- the farewell party --- speech --- service duration)

In 1913, Chips had bronchitis and was off duty for the whole winter term. He was sixty-five.
Ralston’s straight words also had some effect on him. Therefore, he decided to resign. It
was an end-of-term dinner. A cheque, a writing desk and a clock were presented to him. In
the end, three cheers were shouted in his honour. And his decent career ended decently.
His speech was not very long. It had good many jokes and raised a lot of laughter. This
slowed the progress of the speech and made it long. There were also some references to
Latin quotations, some puns, bits of recollections from the old days of Brookfield and some
sentimental expression of gratitude and his love for the school. He said that Brookfield had
been his life as he had served there for forty-two years.
Q.56 (also see 34): What name did Chips propose for his memoirs?
In his retirement speech Chips told that he ought to write a book with the title ‘Memories
of Rod and Lines’. Normally, the expression rod and line refers to the fishing tackle. But
here, Chips intended a pun. By ‘rod’ he meant ‘the stick’ and by ‘lines’ he meant the ‘writing
work’. Both things were used to punish the boys. That’s why there was a lot of cheers and
laughter.

Chapter # 13
Q.57: Forrester
Forrester was the smallest boy that Brookfield ever had. He was just four feet high above
his muddy football boots. Once, he told Chips that he was interested in joining army. Later,
he joined the air force. And then in 1918, the news came that he was shot down in flames.
Q.58: What was the adjective used for Chips? (Chips --- a Pre-war)

Chips was a peace-loving soul. He was against war and fighting among humans. It seemed
very strange to him that how the heroes of one nation were the villains of the other. He
also wondered how the sacrifices of one generation were cancelled out by another. Why
should there be war? Due to his such thoughts people said that he was ‘pre-war’. They said
that his ideas were queer.
Q.59: Bayonet practice:

Bayonet is a knife attached to the muzzle of a rifle. It is used as a weapon in hand to hand
fight. It is used not only to save bullets but also when there are no bullets left. Chips, saw
bayonet practice in military camps near Brookfield. He considered it a very vulgar way of
killing people because it doesn’t kill instantly. It gives a very painful death.
 14

Q.60: Brookfield’s services during the war

In the war years, military camps sprang up quite near Brookfield. The soldiers used its
playing fields for sports and training. Most of the younger teachers had also joined the
army and gone to war or were getting the training. Many of the boys and teachers
sacrificed their lives for the glory of their country.
Q.61: What was read in the chapel every Sunday evening?
(Chips’ feeling when Chatteris read out the names of the boys ---

Did anyone despise Chips when he shed tears while reading out the names of martyrs?)

Every Sunday night, in the chapel, after the evening service, Chatteris read out the names
and short biographies of the boys who got killed. (+)
Chatteris didn’t know the boys personally. Maybe to him, they were just names. But
(+)
Chips remembered their faces and had known them for years. That’s why his feelings of
bereavement were stronger than any other person’s feelings.
(+)After the death of Chatteris, now it was Chips who had to read out the names of the boys
who got killed in action. Sometimes, it was seen that Chips was in tears while doing so. But
no one despised him for this weakness because they knew well that how deeply Chips was
attached to his ‘sons’.

Chapter # 14 , 15 & 16
Q.62: Chips’ work and feelings after re-joining Brookfield

Chips felt like a music hall favourite. He was again taking just a few forms in Latin and
Roman History. He was teaching with the same old pronunciation. He told old as well as
new jokes. For the first time in his life, he felt himself necessary for the thing he loved the
most. It was the most sublime feeling in the world, and it was his at last.

Q.63: Chips: second time Acting Head

(why Chips not wanted to be officially declared the Acting Head --- his work as Head)

In 1917, when Chatteris died after becoming seriously ill, the Governors asked Chips to take
his place. But Chips considered himself just ‘a war time fluke’ who gets some post because
there is a lack of people. He was old and didn’t want others to expect a lot from him. So, he
didn’t want to be appointed officially. They agreed and Chips became the Acting Head for
the second time.
 15

Chips used to sit in the Headmaster’s study and handle problems & complaints. A gentle
and kindly confidence had emerged in him. He revived the old traditions that Ralston had
destroyed. He believed that Brookfield was a home to the ‘sense of proportion’.

Q.64: How was the building shaking during the bombing? (why they not ran for a dug-out)

It was a moonlit night when Chips was taking his class on the ground floor. Plenty of
shrapnel was falling about. The building was shaking badly. It seemed to be lifting off its
foundation. But it was a solidly built structure and the safest place. Therefore, Chips
decided not to run for any trench or dug-out.

Q.65: How did Chips take his class during the shelling?

Chips tried to cheer the boys up by cracking little jokes. Even he found some phrase to show
the way Germans fought and there was a little chuckle. He encouraged them by saying that
if they were to die, they should die doing something really appropriate. Chips said so many
funny things and laughed so heartily that tears were all running down his face.

Q.66: Mr. Burrow (Whom did Chips call the Stink merchant?)

During the shelling, Chips told his class that they would not stop their work because some
of some stink-merchant who invents a mischief (a bomb) in his laboratory. The boys were
quite amused at that pun. In fact, Chips killed two birds with one stone. He was not only
referring to the bomb-makers but also to the science master, Mr. Burrow whom the boys
secretly called ‘stink merchant’.

Q.67: November 11th, 1918:

(Events of Chips’ final/second time retirement --- the bread fight --- why he finally retired ---
how he got ill --- What happened when Chips came on the dais?)

A grand dinner was arranged on November 11th, 1918. There was a lot of singing, cheering
and also a bread fight. Then Chips came on the dais. But he didn’t say anything and left. The
day was damp and foggy. Chips had to walk across the quadrangle. This gave him a chill and
he remained in bed for so many days because of bronchitis. He thought that he wouldn’t be
able to perform well and so he resigned.
 16

Chapter # 17
Q.68: How much did Chips adjust with new innovations?
(things Chips had never done in his life)

Chips was a conservative by nature. It was hard for him to get along the new things.
Therefore, in the matter of worldly progress, his experience was lesser than his students.
There were two things he had never done in his life. First, he had never travelled by air.
Second, he had never been to a talky-show.

Q.69: Linford
(why he came to see Chips --- how Linford looked when he came ---

Did Chips know that the boys sent Linford as a joke? --- how Chips capped their joke --- how

Chips kept his end up --- how Chips welcomed Linford)

Linford was the small and last boy to meet Chips before his death. He was befooled by
other boys because he was a new comer. They told him that Chips wanted to meet him. He
believed them and came to see Chips. There was an expression of anxious timidity on his
face.

Chips understood that the old boys sent Linford as a joke. It was an old leg pull. Chips had a
good sense of humour. Therefore, he decided to cap their joke by playing normal. He
welcomed Linford in and served him in his usual way with cake and tea. He made the boy
feel at home.

Q.70: Discussion between Chips and Linford

Chips told Linford that Brookfield is a likeable place when one gets used to it. He also told
that he was also afraid in the beginning when he joined Brookfield. He asked him about his
family relations at Brookfield. They also talked about schools and school life. They also
discussed about the news in that day’s newspaper.

Q.71: What happened to Chips when Linford left?

Talking to Linford had quite exhausted him. Linford’s words ‘Good-bye, Mr. Chips…!’ made
him remember Kathie. There was an emotional outburst and tears rolled down his cheeks.
His senses began to dim. The sound of call-over bell seemed to be muffled. His view blurred
and he couldn’t see the window well. He tried to get up but couldn’t. He leaned back in his
chair and fainted.
 17

Chapter # 18
Q.72: Was Chips worried when he knew that he fainted? (Who was around him?)

When Chips came to senses, he felt that Cartwright, Merivale, old Buffles and Mrs. Wickett
were around him. He couldn’t speak, hear or think well and couldn’t understand what had
happened. Perhaps his senses were not responding and he was too sleepy to be worried
about anything. Rather it was some dreamlike state in which bits of his past life swung
before his eyes.

Q.73: About what did Chips talk before dying?

(what he said about his children --- the things that Chips remembered before dying --- the last
words of Chips --- the music Chips heard before his death --- When did Chips open his eyes for

the last time?)

When Chips was coming to his senses, he over-heard Cartwright saying that Chips had no
children. Then he opened his eyes and replied that he had thousands of children and all of
them were boys. Then a chorus of all their names began to sound in his ears in a final
harmony. He started calling them and begged them to be with him in that last moment.
And then he passed away.

Q.74: Significance of the title of the novel ‘Good Bye Mr. Chips’

Katherine said these words to Chips a night before their wedding. ‘Good bye!’ is said when
somebody leaves. But, paradoxically, these words reminded Chips how she came into his
life and changed him. Even after her death, whatever he did or thought, was ‘with the
remembered eyes of Kathie’. A small boy Linford also said the same words to Chips for the
last time before his death. This brought him a sudden flash-back of his whole life.