English Literature books summary

where he is not on the guest list. Becky agrees and they live in each

other’s company and to Rawdon, this feels like the blissful days, just

after their marriage.

Chapter 53 A rescue and a catastrophe

Rawdon, who has been arrested, writes to Becky asking her to arrange

for a hundred pounds to bail him out (for he has only seventy pounds).

Becky writes a sympathetic letter, in, which she makes an excuse of her bad

health and puts off his rescue to the next day. A furious Rawdon sends a

letter to Sir Pitt asking for help. Lady Jane comes to his rescue.

Rawdon rushes home and is enraged to see Becky and Lord Styne spending

a great evening together. Becky is bedecked with numerous diamond trinkets,

which Lord Styne has presented to her. Rebecca is mortally scared on being

caught red handed. Rawdon strikes Lord Styne, who claims to have paid large

sums of money to his wife. Rawdon makes Becky open her secret drawer and

finds a thousand-pound note from Lord Styne. Becky only screams that she is

innocent. Rawdon, in a fit of rage, goes away.

Chapters 54 & 55 Sunday after the battle and in which the same subject

is pursued.

Fuming with anger, Rawdon goes over to Sir Pitt and informs him about

what has happened. He assures Pitt that he has come just to request him to

take care of his son whom he loves dearly.

Then he goes to Gaunt House and leaves his card for Lord Styne, expressing

his wish to meet him. He goes to Captain Macmurdo (Mac) and asks him for

help, which the latter gladly extends. Mac takes the responsibility of

returning Styne’s note back to him.

At Curzon Street, Becky’s maid robs her of all her jewelry and her

servants harass her for money. Now that they know that she is out of favor

of both Lord Styne and Rawdon, they are worried about their repayments.

Becky meets Sir Pitt and convinces him of her innocence by saying that she

was entertaining Lord Styne so that she could acquire a good employment for

Rawdon. Lady Jane is furious to see Becky in her house.

In the meanwhile, Rawdon is spending his time with Mac, when two

acquaintances inform him about his appointment as the Governor of Coventry

Island. He has obtained this position due to the patronage of Lord Styne.

Rawdon meets his emissary, Mr. Wenham. Styne’s emissary tries to prove to

Rawdon that Becky is innocent, but Rawdon refuses to believe him. Capt. Mac

hands over the note (given by Lord Styne to Becky) to Wenham and the ex-

col. accepts the job on the insistence of Mac and Sir Pitt. Sit Pitt

however, is unable to bring about a reconciliation between Becky and

Rawdon.

Rawdon fixes an annuity for his wife, writes regularly to his son and

sends Lady Jane all the possible goodies Coventry Island has to offer.

Rawdon also repays all his debts and takes Capt. Mac with him as his

secretary.

Chapter 56 Georgy is made Gentleman

Georgy lives with his grandfather, in great comfort and luxury. He has

the best of everything. Old Osborne is as proud of him as he was of his

dead son. He exceedingly pampers Georgy and the little boy playfully

bullies the entire household. He regularly comes to visit Amelia. One day,

while Georgy is taking lessons, Dobbin and Jos Sedley come to meet him.

Georgy instantly recognizes one to be Major Dobbin, about whom his mother

had always spoken to him.

Chapters 57 & 58 Eцthen and our friend the major.

Amelia’s mother dies. She now looks after her ill father with the help

of the money given by Old Mr. Osborne. Dobbin proceeds for England, but he

falls seriously ill. His peers wonder if he would survive. Jos Sedley is

traveling back

home on the same ship as Dobbin and, in one of his conversations, assures

Dobbin that Amelia has no plans of marrying. After this assurance Dobbin

begins to recover and becomes more and more excited at the prospect of

seeing Amelia.

Amelia is very happy to see Dobbin and talks to him in very buoyant

spirits about Georgy. He is greatly relieved to see Mrs. Binney (the wife

of the man whom he thought Amelia was marrying). Dobbin also informs them

of Jos’ arrival.

Chapter 59 The old Piano

While watching over the shifting of the Sedley household to a better

place, Dobbin tells Amelia that he is glad that she has still kept her old

piano. Amelia does not realize at first, but later it strikes her that,

perhaps it was not George but Dobbin who had sent it for her. She

apologizes to Dobbin for attributing the kind deed to her dead husband.

Dobbin tells her how much he loves her and has loved her since the

first time he saw her. She reminds him that George is and would always be

her husband. But at the same time, she requests Dobbin to be a friend to

both her and Georgy.

Chapters 60 & 61 Returns to the genteel world and In which two lights

are put out.

Amelia’s good fortune makes her friends happy for her. Georgy is very

fond of Dobbin, while there is no great attachment between Jos and Georgy.

Jos and Amelia become a part of the genteel society. Jos invites his

friends home for frequent parties and himself goes to Court.

John Sedley dies after a prolonged illness, during which he was loved

and cared for by Amelia. He too is very fond of Amelia in his last days,

even more than when she was a little girl. After Mr. Sedley’s death,

Osborne invites Jos to his house, saying that he has nothing against him.

Dobbin also implores Mr. Osborne to reconcile with Amelia and he agrees for

a meeting. Unfortunately, the old patriarch dies soon but he leaves half

his property to Georgy, an annuity of 500 pounds for Amelia and restores

Georgy to his mother. Dobbin too is left a sum, sufficient to buy him his

commission as Lieutenant Colonel. Affluent people from all quarters,

including the haughty Maria Bullock, (nee Osborne) come to pay a visit to

Mrs. Osborne owing to the knowledge of her newly acquired nobility. Jos,

Amelia, Georgy, and Dobbin plan a foreign trip.

Chapter 62 Am Rhein

Jos Sedley, Amelia, Georgy, and Dobbin leave for Pumpernickel for a

pleasure trip. They enjoy themselves and

most of all Amelia begins to brim with excitement and radiance of

happiness. Dobbin is glad to see her so. She sketches the beautiful

mountains and is enchanted by musical performances, which they attend.

Chapter 63 In which we meet an old acquaintance.

Lord Tapeworm, the heir and nephew of one of Major Dobbin’s late

Marshal, accompanies Jos and the rest of the party as their friend.

Tapeworm suggests a doctor for Jos to loose weight, who plans to stay and

get treatment. They move in aristocratic society and attend their

festivities.

One day, Georgy meets a mysterious woman at a gambling house, for whom

he plays and wins. Jos recognizes her to be Rebecca. Dobbin extracts a word

from Georgy that he will never gamble again.

Chapter 64 A vagabond chapter.

After separating from Rawdon, Becky is left with a bad reputation,

which compels her to leave the country. Before quitting England, she writes

to little Rawdon, to which he replies as per his duty. First she goes to

Bologne. Soon she feels the pangs of loneliness. She is driven out of the

hotel in which she lives, as she is deemed unfit to stay there.

Every time Becky makes her little circle of friends, some past

acquaintance pours cold water on her efforts. She begins again from square

one. She realizes that Amelia and the other people she knew are kind

people. Bored of all her show of being a respectable lady, she throws all

her guard and her taste for low life grows more remarkable. She travels all

over Europe and mingles with coarse men. At Rome, she finds Lord Steyne at

a ball and hopes to reestablish their acquaintance, but a warning from his

confidential man forces her to flee to save her life, as Steyne is livid

about his confrontation with Rawdon.

The news comes later, that Lord Steyne has died is Naples, due to a

series of fits, as a result of the downfall of French Monarchy at the

French Revolution.

Chapter 65 Full of business and pleasure.

Jos goes to see Becky at her dingy room in the ‘Elephant’ Hotel. Becky

succeeds in winning his favor and tells him the saddest story of her life,

which is absolutely false. Jos, much affected, reports about her condition

to Dobbin and Amelia. Initially, Amelia is unmoved, but as soon as she

learns that Becky’s son was torn from her arms, she instantly leaves to see

her dear friend. Becky watches Amelia and Dobbin approach, yet pretends to

give a shriek the moment she sees them at her door.

Chapter 66 Amantium Irae

In spite of repeated polite warnings from Dobbin, Amelia and Jos are

determined to bring Becky home with them. Dobbin is opposed to this view

because he overhears the two boys with whom she comes from Leipzig, talk

very lightly about her. Dobbin is the only one who can see through all of

Becky’s pretensions. Finally, Dobbin tries to remind Amelia of Becky’s

behavior with George, before the battle. This infuriates her and she

refuses to see Dobbin anymore. Dobbin too, angry with her for the first

time, admits to himself as well as her that, she is and never was worth all

the devotion he has given her, and he leaves, never to return. Georgy is

very sad to hear that Dobbin is leaving. When he goes to bid Dobbin

goodbye, Becky sends him a note imploring upon him to stay, which Dobbin

tears in spite.

Chapter 67 Which contains births, marriages, and deaths

While Amelia is silent and depressed due to her behavior towards

Dobbin, Becky takes charge of the house. She becomes popular in society

because of her wit and talents. The news of Dobbin re-joining the service

arrives. The party (Amelia, Becky, Jos and Georgy) moves to Ostend on Jos’

health grounds. Becky has many low acquaintances there, who forcefully

impose themselves upon her and pay tipsy comments on Amelia. Amelia yearns

to go back, but Jos cannot discontinue his treatment. Amelia writes to

Dobbin. When Becky’s luggage arrives from Leipzig, she impresses Jos by

showing him his portrait, which she has preserved, and the letter, asking

Becky to elope, which George had written to her and given her at the ball

just before the war. Amelia is even more determined to marry Dobbin and she

does. Becky roots her anchor on Jos and follows him wherever he goes. After

his marriage to Amelia, Dobbin leaves the service and they live in

Hampshire, close to Queen’s Crawley. Lady Jane and Amelia become great

friends and Georgy and Rawdon study together and both fall in love with

Lady Jane’s daughter. Dobbin and Amelia have a daughter who is named after

her godmother Lady Jane.

Jos Sedley dies, leaving half of his money to Mrs. Crawley, who is

suspected as the cause of his death. Col. Rawdon Crawley dies of yellow

fever in Coventry Island, six weeks before the death of Sir Pitt. As Sir

Pitt’s son had died in infancy, Rawdon is made the next Baronet. He makes

his mother a liberal allowance but does not meet her. Becky calls herself

Lady Crawley and becomes engaged in charity activities.

William Shakespeare

Extremely Short Summaries. Good for Seminars

A Midsummer Night's Dream

Act I: Theseus, Duke of Athens, is preparing to marry Hippolyta in his

palace. He is solving a dispute between Egeus (who wants his daughter,

Hermia, to marry Demetrius) and Lysander, who has Hermia's love. Theseus

declares that Hermia must marry D emetrius as the law specifies, or marry

no one. Hermia and Lysander plan to escape to the woods and elope, and they

tell Helena. Helena loves Demetrius, and plans to impress him by telling

him of the lovers' plans. In the wood, six laborers meet to arrang e the

production of a play for Theseus's wedding.

Act II: In the wood, a Fairy talks with Robin Goodfellow about how Oberon,

King of the Fairies, is mad that his wife Titania has stolen an Indian

child from him. To get him, Oberon tells Puck to find and use a magic

flower's juice to make Titania f all in love with a beast. Meanwhile,

Oberon pities Helena's grief at Demetrius hating her, and tells Puck to

also use the juice to make Demetrius love Helena.

Act III: Puck (Robin) accidently puts the juice on Lysander instead of

Demetrius. He then turns Bottom's head into that of an ass, for Titania.

Oberon sees Puck's mistake, tells him to anoint Demetrius, and now both are

following Helena, leading he r to believe they are mocking her. Hermia does

not know what to think, as the two men begin to fight. Titania is so

entranced with Bottom that she freely gives up the Indian boy. Now Oberon

tells Puck to release her from the spell and fix the lover's quad rangle.

Act IV: Theseus and Hippolyta enter the woods for their marriage. They find

the lovers, and despite Egeus' request, Theseus declares that since all

four are happy (Demetrius with Helena and Lysander with Hermia), they shall

all be married on the sa me day. Bottom finds himself restored, and so the

play be performed.

Act V: At the wedding, Theseus asks for the play "Pyramus and Thisbe," and

it is performed. It is awful. The married people retire to bed, and Puck

ends the play with a nice anecdote.

The Merchant of Venice

Act I: Antonio, the Merchant of Venice, discusses his sadness with Salerio

and Solanio. Bassanio asks him for a loan, and Antonio says he may borrow

on his credit because his money is at sea. In Belmont, Portia discusses her

distaste with her suito rs with Nerissa. Back in Venice, Bassanio gets

money from Shylock on the condition that if Antonio does not repay in three

months, he gets a pound of his flesh.

Act II: The Prince of Morocco arrives to try for Portia's hand. Bassanio

and company plan their dinner. In Venice, Shylock tells his daughter

Jessica not to go out, but she loves Lorenzo and they escape that evening

with her father's valuables. Mor occo picks the Golden Casket, which is

wrong, and leaves. Salerio and Solanio, the gossipers, talk of Shylock's

anger at finding his daughter and money taken. The Prince of Aragon arrives

and tries to win Portia's hand, but incorrectly chooses the silver casket.

Act III: The gossipers reveal that one of Antonio's ships has sunk and that

he may be in trouble. Bassanio correctly picks the leaden casket, but later

finds out that Antonio owes a pound of flesh to Shylock. Because he will

die, he wants to see Ba ssanio again. Bassanio goes to Venice to see him.

Act IV: Shylock rejects an offer from Portia for three times the initial

loan because he wants his enemy Antonio dead. Portia and Nerissa disguise

themselves as doctor and clerk and go to help Antonio. Portia points out

that because the 'bond' they made said Shylock could not have Antonio's

blood, he cannot take the flesh and also loses all of his possessions.

Act V: Lorenzo and Jessica are enjoying the night, when Portia and Nerissa

return just ahead of Bassanio, Graziano, and Antonio. The wives reveal

themselves and the rings they had deceitfully taken.

The Tragedy of Richard II

Act I: The play begins with a dispute between Bolingbroke and The Duke of

Norfolk. Richard wants John of Guant, Bolingbroke's father, to solve the

matter, but when he cannot he says they will fight it out. Then, Richard

cancels this idea and instea d banishes Mowbray for life and Bolingbroke

for ten years.

Act II: Gaunt dies after insulting Richard, and the King claims his wealth

to help finance his war with Ireland. Northumberland reveals that

Bolingbroke is returning to England with an army to overtake Richard. He,

with York and Willoughby, join hi m. Richard's troops under the Earl of

Salisbury dispurse because they think Richard is dead.

Act III: Bolingbroke executes Bushy and Green, both loyal to the King.

Richard returns to England happily after defeating the Irish, but loses

that zest when he finds out that he has lost his troops and Bolingbroke

will surely defeat him. Bolingbro ke discovers that Richard is nearby in

Berkeley Castle, goes and asks him to surrender, and Richard does.

Act IV: The Bishop of Carlisle reluctantly lets Bolingbroke, who has been

questioning Bagot about whether the King ordered an execution or not,

overtake his castle. After some dramatic speech, Richard is sent to the

Tower by Bolingbroke, now known as King Henry IV.

Act V: Richard's loving and grief-stricken wife sees him on his way to

detention. A plot is hatched against Bolingbroke by Aumerle and others, but

his father York finds out and tells. Aumerle is spared but the other rebels

are not. Richard is kille d by Exton, news the new king says he is not

happy to hear, and so he decides to launch a crusade to ease his

conscience.

Hamlet, Prince of Denmark

Act I: Guards on duty discuss seeing the Ghost of Hamlet's late father, the

dead King, and then see him again. Hamlet's mother, Gertrude, has remarried

to Hamlet's uncle Claudius, putting the King's murderer on the throne. The

courtier Polonius pre pares his son Laertes for a journey to Paris. He then

orders his daughter to stay away from Hamlet, her love, because he fears

Hamlet is going mad. The Ghost appears to Hamlet and tells him he wants

revenge on Claudius.

Act II: After a time lapse, Hamlet feigns madness, but cannot as easily

fool Claudius as he does others. The two both want to kill each other, but

both need a reason to justify it. The attacking Fortinbras is reported to

have called off his strike on Denmark, but that remains to be seen.

Polonius and Claudius try to trick Hamlet, but he stays ahead of them.

Hamlet meets his old friends, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, and is at first

delighted to see them. But, he immediately realizes they are there to spy

on him. Hamlet devises to use a play which show's Claudius's crime to prove

him guilty.

Act III: Hamlet contemplates suicide, but Claudius is still not fooled and

decides to send Hamlet to England, most likely to kill him. The play is

done, and Claudius knows he must act or he will fall. Foolish Plonius asks

Gertrude to question Hamle t. While the two are talking, Hamlet begins to

grow angry at his mother, but the Ghost reappears and tells Hamlet to

remember who it is that he is after. Inadvertently, Hamlet kills Polonius

who was listening in from behind the curtain.

Act IV: Laertes is angry at Claudius because he thinks he killed his

father, but the king consoles him. Claudius hatches a plan to kill Hamlet,

who is back in Denmark because he escaped death in England via some wit and

some pirates.

Act V: Hamlet finds out from a gravedigger that Ophelia is dead, and upon

seeing her funeral, announces his love for her. Laertes challenges him to a

match, but they do not fight just yet. They go back to the castle for a

jousting match where...the Queen drinks a poisoned glass meant for Hamlet,

Laertes wounds Hamlet, Hamlet kills Laertes, Laertes announces Claudius's

evil intentions, Hamlet kills Claudius, and then Hamlet dies because

Laertes was fighting with a poisoned sword. Before his death, H amlet tells

Horatio to give authority to the approaching Fortinbras.

Othello

Act I: Iago is discussing his desire for revenge against Othello (for his

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