Book Review Of Good Bye Mr. Chips ( James Hilton)

By

Rabia Khan

Introduction:

GOODBYE, MR. CHIPS: PLOT SUMMARY Goodbye, Mr. Chips was written in just a week -- "more quickly, more easily, and with fewer subsequent alterations than anything I had ever written before, or have ever written since," James Hilton noted. Based impart on the life of Hiltons own father, the novel is just over 100 pages , divided into 18 chapters, long and tells the simple, elegant tale of Mr. Chipping, or "Chips," and his own "coming of age" alongside the thousands of boys he teaches over the years.

Introduction of author:

James Holton was born on 9 September, 1900 in Kingdom. James Hilton was an English novelist best remembered for several best-sellers, including Lost Horizon and Goodbye, Mr. Chips. He also wrote Hollywood screenplays. He is died on 20 December, 1952 in Long Beach, California, United States. His other novels are Catherine Herself, 1920 , Storm Passage, 1922, The Passionate Year, 1924, Dawn Of Reckoning (Rage in Heaven), 1925, Murder at School (U.S. title: Was It Murder?), published under the pen-name Glen Trevor, 1931, Knight Without Armour (Without Armor), 1933, Lost Horizon, 1933, We Are Not Alone, 1937, To You, Morning Journey, 1951, Twilight of the Wise, 1949, Nothing So Strange, 1947 Chips, 1938, Random

Harvest, 1941, So Well Remembered 1945 The Story of Dr. Wassell 1944, Time And Time Again, 1953, Morning and many others.

Theme of author:

This novelette is a very touching story about a rather shy and

effaced schoolmaster who wins the affection and loyalty of his pupils. One

theme would be that people are deeper and more complex than they first

appear; therefore, it is unwise to make hasty character judgments. Another:

'Make most of the time at hand, because it will slip away from you sooner

than you think.' Another could be something like 'Learn to give and receive

in little ways.'

This is not a deep novel, thematically speaking, but it is a joy to read. It

touches a common chord with such works as 'To Sir, with Love' and 'The

Dead Poets Society.'

Summary of novel:

After retirement, Mr. Chips lived at Mrs. Wicketts house as a paying guest. He bewildered in his past memories. Chips measured his time with the signals of past. Mrs. Wicketts house was just across the road from the Brookfield. Brookfield was far more than Greenwich Time for him. He lived his life according to the bells of Brookfield. After the last bell of Brookfield , Chips wound up the clock , put the wire guard at the front of the fire, turned out the gas and carried a detective novel to the bed. He rarely read more than a page of the novel before he slept.

Chips doctor, Dr. Merivale, called upon him every fortnight or so. The doctor said that Chips was fitter than he. He said that Chips had not any horrible disease but Anno Domini. He also said that Chips would die a natural death. Chips was born in 1848. Chips a toddling child when he saw the Great Exhibition. He also remembered the Brookfield at time of Wetherby. It was the time of Franco-Prussian War. Wetherby was the Headmaster of Brookfield in 1870.Chips had put in for Brookfield after a year at Mulbury which he had not liked because he had a rough experience there. He had liked Brookfield almost from the beginning. He remembered that day of his interview when a chubby, little fellow made a brilliant century. Wetherby himself was fatherly and courteous. He must had been ill and died during the summer vacation before Chips joining. He advised Chips, You are a young man, Mr. Chipping, and Brookfield is an old foundation. Youth and age often combine well. Give your enthusiasm to Brookfield and Brookfield will give you something in return and dont let anyone play tricks with you. I-er-gather that discipline was not always your strong point at Mulbury? Wetherby also asked Chips to take up firm attitude to maintain discipline. When Chips took his first class, the hall was full of lusty and barbarians. He assumed the scowl to cover his inner nervousness. Suddenly, Colley, a boy with red hair, dropped a desk lid knowingly. He tried to show that it was just an accident and there was non-sense about him. But Chips punished him by giving him hundred lines for making such a mischief in the class. There was no trouble in the class after that. After twenty five years, Chips met second Colley and after many years he met third Colley. Third Colley was the grandson of first Colley whom Chips punished for dropping a desk lid in the class. Brookfield was established in the reign of Elizabeth. In the reign of George I, the main structure of the building of Brookfield was rebuilt and extended. After Napoleonic War, the fame of the school declines almost to non-existence. Wetherby restored its fame but later it could not raise its rank. It remained a good school of second rank. It supplied judges, members of Parliament, colonial administrators, peers, and bishops. Mostly, it produced merchants, manufacturers, squires, and parsons. The social and academic status of Chips was respectable but Chips was no more brilliant than Brookfield. If Brookfield had been a school of high position, perhaps it would not have taken Chips. Chips was not an ambitious teacher. In his early twenties, he wanted to get a headship or senior mastership. But later, he realized the unfitness of his qualification.

Whenever, the weather was mild, he would go to the playing-fields and watch games. He liked to smile and to speak to the boys there. He invited the new boys and teachers for tea. He served the boys with walnut-cake with pink icing and tea. During winter, he served the boys with crumpets, soaked in butter. He made sure that there plates were never empty. His guests found it fun to watch him make tea. They enjoyed watching him mix spoonfuls from different small boxes. Chips was living a pleasant and peaceful life. He had no worries. His pension was enough for him. He had also saved some money as well. He could afford everything and anything he wanted. He was of forty-eight in 1896. The spring of 1896 was dear to Chips. During the summer vacation of this year, he went to Lake District with his colleague Rowden. They spent a week together in walking, climbing and enjoying, then, Rowden had to come back. He had some family business. Then, Chips stayed alone in a small farmhouse at Wasdale Head. One day climbing on the Great Gable, he saw a girl waving her hand excitedly from a dangerous looking ledge. He hastened to her for her help because he thought that she was in trouble. In doing so, he slipped and wrenched his ankle. As it came out, she was not in trouble at all but was merely signaling to her friend who was standing farther down the mountain. She was an expert climber even than Chips. Chips felt uncomfortable in the company of women. He hated the modern woman of nineties. He considered them a monstrous creature. Chips was a conventional fellow. He didnt like the women riding bicycles because he was against the undue freedom of woman. He thought that nice women should be weak, shy, and delicate. He did not like Bernard Shaw for his strange and shocking ideas and Ibsen for his disturbing plays. Chips had not expected a woman on the Great Gable; but having met by chance one who seemed to need masculine help, it was more terrifying that she should reverse the situation by helping him because she and her friend helped him. It was much difficult job getting him down abrupt track to Wasdale. Her name was Katherine Bridges. Katherine was a young girl of twenty five. She had blue flashing eyes and freckled cheeks and smooth straw-coloured hair. She had redical views. She rode a bicycle. She admired Ibsen and Bernard Shaw. She believed that women ought to be admitted to the universities and ought to have a vote. She took care of Chips during his unwellness and also revealed her all radical opinions in front of Chips. Though Chips was not very expressive, he did not think it valuable to dispute them. Katherine became the friend of Chips during this period. She called him Chips instead of Mr. Chipping

because Chips was his nickname at school. Within a week, they were utterly in love; before Chips could walk without a stick, they considered themselves engaged; and they were married in London

a week before the beginning of autumn term. Katherine was happy that Chips was a teacher and not a lawyer or a broker or a dentist or a big businessman. She liked the teaching profession. Chips knew that he had ordinary degree. When Chips criticized himself, she gave no answer, just laughed. She had no parents. She married from the house of his aunt in Ealing. She said the she felt like a new boy beginning his first term with Chips. She asked if she would call him Sir or Mr. Chips. She said Mr. Chips would be right. Then she said Good-Bye Mr. Chips. Chips marriage proved to be very successful. Katherine was very popular among boys and masters alike. She won Brookfield as she had won Chips. The wives of the masters were jealous of her in the beginning but

soon, they began to like her. Before marriage, Chips was a dry and average sort of person. Generally he was liked but not loved. He owned no quality that could make him very popular. Marriage moulded him into a new man. His eyes gained sparkle. His humour became rich and mature. He began to feel strong. His discipline improved. He became popular. Chips was conservative in politics while

Katherine had radical views. But, Katherines idealism worked upon Chips maturity and made him gentle and wise. Brookfield donated money to the mission. The boys and their parents contributed much money to the mission. But they made no personal contacts with it. Katherine suggested a match between the mission and Brookfield. The idea was new. The whole staff opposed it. Everyone held the opinion that East End boys were ruffians. They thought that those boys would make everyone upset. But Katherine urged Chips to arrange a match between the mission and Brookfield. She said that England would not ever be divided into officers and other ranks. She said that the Poplar boys were as important to England as Brookfields boys. Chips strongly supported the proposal. The change of attitude proved to be very strong. The authorities were forced to give permission to arrange the match. The team of Poplar boys was arrived. They played Soccer with the Schools second team. They were defeated by seven goals to five. Later, they took tea, met the Head and visited the school. They left sweet memories behind. For once, years later, a private officer stationed at military camp, during war, came to see Chips. He said that he had been one of the team boys from Mission School played Soccer in Brookfield. He also inquired about Katherine. Chips got excited. He told him that there were new boys and masters in the school. They had not seen his wife. Then he told him that she died in less than a year after their visit in 1898. After that soldier was killed at Passchendaele. In Chips minds eye, he saw Katherine rushing along the corridors, laughing at some mistakes in the essay he checked, taking part in concerts and tending him her good advice. She urged Chips not to punish the students. She asked him to give them a chance and to guide them. When Chips remembered things and events of his life, he often felt that he would write them down and make a book of them. But when he began to write down a book, he got tired physically and mentally. Second, his memories lost much of their flavour when they written down. There was always in his mind that horrifying day when Katherine and the new born child died. Katherine was died while giving birth to a baby on the 1st April 1898. Faulkner asked Chips if he might have the afternoon off and miss the chapel too. Chips wife and newborn child were dead on that day. Therefore, Chips could not pay heed to what he said. He just nodded in the positive and went on. He did not want to get condolences and he took class as usual. He set the students to learn the grammar by heart while he himself stayed at his desk in a trance. On that day, he got some letters. He opened these letters one by one. All the letters contained a blank sheet of

paper. He thought that it was strange. Days afterward, he realized that it was a piece of April foolery. After the death of his wife, he left his large apartments in the School House and shifted to his old bachelor quarters. Chips began to remain very sad after the death of his wife. Nothing could lessen his grief. He lost his interest in everything. Therefore, he wanted to give up his housemastership. Later, he was glad that he did not leave it because the work filled up the emptiness in his mind and heart. Just as marriage added something to his life, so did grief. After the death of his wife, Chips became suddenly a kind of man whom the boys classed old. They called him old because they suddenly began to notice his gray hair; otherwise, he was as active, keen, and strong as before. He was fifty. Naylor was a student at Brookfield. When Chips made some energetic fives in cricket playground, he said, not half bad for an old chap like him. When Chips was over eighty, he used to remember Naylor. Now Naylor was a lawyer who was about fifty. Chips thought that he should ask him if a man at fifty becomes old. Chips remembered that Halsbury was Chancellor at eighty and died at ninety-nine. After the death of Katherine, Chips changed his appearance. He wore his gown till it tattered to be held together. While taking attendance, Chips held the school list. Each boy when passed before him spoke his name. Chips cast a verifying glance at him and tick his name off on the list. This verifying glance was special about it. He wore glasses slipping down the nose. His eyebrows were lifted, one little higher than the other. He cast a glance that was half pensive and half inspecting. This was verifying glance of Chips. It was a popular subject of mimicry.

Meldrum had succeeded Wetherby as the Head and held the office for thirty years. In 1900, he died suddenly from Pneumonia and Chips became the acting head of Brookfield. There was a faintest chance that the governors might make him a permanent headmaster. But Chips was not really disappointed when Mr. Ralston was made the Head of Brookfield. He was a young man of thirty-seven. He was glittering with Firsts and Blues. He had a personality that could reduce the Big Hall to silence by the mere lifting of an eyebrow. He was very strict about maintaining discipline. He was a cruel fellow. He treated teachers like slaves. In 1913 a May Morning, Ralston announced the death of the King Edward VII. In the same season, the railwaymen were on strike, soldiers were driving engine, and the stones were throwing at trains. Chips thought to see this entire situation that England as a country whose days of ease were nearly over. Chips remembered the day of Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria in 1897, there was a holiday at Brookfield. He had taken Katherine to London to se the procession. There, they saw Queen sitting in the carriage. An April evening of 1912, there was an exciting news in the papers about the sinking of Titanic. Young Grayson, in particular, was careless and preoccupied after hearing this sad news. It was because his father was had sailed on it. He was anxious about the safety of his father. The next morning, it was noised around the school that Graysons father that no news had yet come about his fate. Grayson was excused lessons for a whole day then finally the news came that Graysons father had been among those who were rescued. Chips shook hand with the boy and said that he was delighted. A quiet, nervous boy. And it was Grayson Senior, not Junior, with whom Chips was destined later to condole. Ralston rendered great services to Brookfield. He brought revolutionary changes in the school. He raised its status. He doubled the school funds. As a result, many rich peoples children got admission to Brookfield. He was a modern man. He wanted to end dead languages. While Chips taught old languages. His methods of teaching were old. Therefore, they both did not like each other. In 1908, Chips reached sixty. Ralston gave an ultimatum that he should think about his retirement. He asked Chips to retire because he did not like him. First Chips was surprised. He could not expect Ralston to go to that extent. Then he said that he would not retire and Ralston might do what he liked. Ralston said that Chips method of teaching was old and lazy. Chips ignored his instructions. Ralston called Chips habits slovenly. He alluded to Chips tattered coat to prove his statement. He said that the coat

had been a subject of amusement throughout the school. A small boy, who was standing outside the office of Ralston, heard the entire row between the two. He told his friends about it and the boys conveyed the news to their parents. Soon the news spread around. The students and their parents and teachers turned against Ralston because they did not like him due to his habits. On the other hand, Chips was very popular in the school. Every one even the young teachers favoured Chips and one day the Chairman of the Governors Sir John Rivers, a student of Chips at Brookfield, visited the Brookfield. He ignored Ralston and treated Chips kindly. He said that Brookfield would not be the same without Chips. He told Chips that he could stay there till he was a hundred. The Chairman expressed his hope that Chips would hang on. Chips stayed on at Brookfield, having as little to do with Ralston as possible. And left Brookfield, after three years of row, in 1911 as he was offered the headship of one of the greater public schools. Chatteris was the successor of Ralston. He was a young brilliant man of thirty-four. He was modern, friendly, and sympathetic. He wisely accepted Chips. Chips also liked him much. In 1913, Chips had Bronchitis and was off duty for nearly the whole of the winter term. This made him decide to resign. Then he was of sixty-five. He thought it unfair to keep going if he could not do his duty well. At the end-of-term dinner, in July 1913, he received his farewell party. He also made a speech there. In his speech, Chips made many little jokes. He uttered several Latin quotes in it. He spoke of the Captain of the School who had overstated chips services. He said that the Captain exaggerated his services. He said that he belonged to an exaggerating family. He said that he had punished his father for having exaggerated one mark into seven. In 1880, there spread German measles and the two third of the School fell ill. The Big Hall of the School was turned into a hospital ward. It is a highly contagious viral disease especially of children. It causes swelling of the lumpy glands and a reddish-pink rash on the skin. It is also called rubella. Chips mentioned many important events in his farewell party. He mentioned the first bicycle, the lamp boy, the seven weeks-frost, the day when the Big Hall turned into hospital ward due to German measles and the great bonfire. During World War I, Brookfield rendered great services. Its playing fields were used for sports and training of cadets. Many of its masters and students joined army. They even sacrificed their lives for the glory of England. Forrester was a boy only four feet high. He was not fit to join army. As a joke, Chips asked him if he was going to join the army. The

irony of the joke is that Forrester was shot dead in the battle of Cambari. Blades, another student of Chips, was the Head of School house. He was eighteen years old. He was getting training for cadet ship. On every Sunday night, after the evening service, Chatteris read out the names of the old student and also their short biographies who were killed in war. It was a very moving sight. One Sunday, twenty-three names of those who died in. The Somme battle were read out in 1916. Generally it was a moving sight. Chips thought that they were only names for Chatteris because he did not know them. But, Chips felt very sad because he could view their faces through his minds eye. Towards the close of that, catastrophic July Chatteris talked to Chips one afternoon at Mrs. Wicketts. He looked over worked, over-worried, and looked very ill. He was suffering from diabetes. He was thirty-nine and unmarried. He told Chips that the young masters had joined the army. He said that the new staff could not do well and he had to take classes until mid nights. He said that he could no longer continue like that. He requested Chips to join the school again. He asked him in holding the things together which were in danger of flying to bit. Chips accepted his offer with a holy joy. After rejoining the Brookfield, Chips taught the same old lessons of Latin and Roman history. He taught these lessons with his old method and pronunciation. He felt very fit. The actual work was not tiring him. He felt very happy. For the first time in his life, he felt himself necessary for Brookfield. He had sublime feelings. Besides his old jokes, he also made new jokes about the O.T.C. and the food rationing system and the anti-air-raid blinds that had to be fitted on all the windows. Chatteris fell ill during the winter of 1917 for the second in his life. Chips became the acting Head of Brookfield then. Chatteris died in April 1917 at the age of 41. Chips was an old man. He did not want to be the official head of Brookfield as he felt himself unequal to it. He said that he was like those army officers of small rank that suddenly become colonels and majors during the war time. He worked as Head in 1917 and 1918. He handled problems and dealt with complaints and requests. He became very kind, gentle, and confident. He kept the sense of proportion. Chips read the names of those who were killed in the war. Sometimes, he was in tears over it. The people did not hate him for showing weakness, because after all, he was an old man. Germany was at war with England in the World war I. Max Steafel was a German. He was killed fighting against England. Chips read his name with those who sacrificed their lives for England. People thought that it was funny to read out the name of an enemy with their heroes. They attributed it

to Chips old ideas. Chips was against war. It killed many of his friends and students. Therefore, he was against it. Thus, people called him pre-war. Once a night of full moon, air raid warning was given while Chips was taking his lower fourth in Latin. But in a moment, the guns began firing and shells began to fall all around. Chips could not get time to reach a safe place. Chips remained calm during the shelling. He even found some phrases to show the way the Germans fought. Chips said if it was their fate to die, they should die in doing something proper. This is how he took his class during the shelling. He was taking class on the ground floor. It was solidly built and was as good as any dugout the school could offer. Therefore, there was no need to run to a dugout in the falling shells. Some of the boys were nervous. Few were able to be attentive, though Chips was speaking a bit aloud. When shelling had stopped, they learned that five bombs had fallen in and around Brookfield. The nearest bomb fell just outside the School grounds. Nine persons had been killed. World War I ended on 11 November, 1918. A whole holiday was declared. The kitchen staff was asked to provide a large meal. There was much cheering and singing and a bread fight. As Chips entered, there was a hush and then the waves of cheering. He was a symbol of victory. He walked to dias as if he wanted to speak. Then he shook his head, smiled, and walked away. He sent his resignation to the Board of Governors on night of November 11, 1918. that day was a damp and foggy day. Chips caught a chill as he walked across the quad to the dinning-hall. The next day, he fell ill with bronchitis. He remained in bed until after Christmas. After fifteen years of his resignation, he was not ill but a little tired at times. He was only bad sometime with his breathing during the winter months. He had to take care of himself when cold east wind blew. Autumn and winter were not bad for him. He spent winter sitting before fire and reading books. However, it was summer that he liked the best. He would not go abroad. Once he tired a trip but could go no further than Riviera as he suffered from Bronchitis. Now he felt bit tired when too many boys visited him but he never really minded. For Chips, there was nothing more enjoyable in the world than their visits. After their visits, he could get good rest and sleep. Once Gregson, the old student of Chips, came to see Chips. Chips told him that he was always late in everything. Chips said perhaps, he would be late in growing old like him. In post-War decade, there were many changes occurred in the world. Chips disliked them. However, he was happy with Brookfield and England that had survived their old traditions. After war there were some changes

also occurred. The boys became bit politer. Punishment did not exist. There were more swearing and cheating. There was a little friendliness between the master and the boys. Chips was shocked when he heard about new master who came from oxford university allowed the sixth class to call him by his Christian name. During 1926, a general strike occurred in England due to an economic slump. Brookfield boys loaded motor-vans with stuffs. The strike cost England much. When an American visitor said that the strike had cost to England much, Chips said that advertisement was always costly. He called it an advertisement as there had been on loss of life and no firing. Boys thought Chips to be a kind of encyclopedia and prophet combined in one person. They asked him question to seek solution of their problems. Some boys asked him questions for the fun of a joke only. Chips did not leave Brookfield after 1929. However, he did not go to London to attend the old boys dinner. In fact, he suspected that he would catch chills if he went out. Moreover, late nights had begun to tire him too much. Chips income was more than he spent. He had invested his small capital in safe stocks. In 1930, he made his will. Except for legacies to the mission and to Mrs. Wickett, he left all he had to found an open entrance scholarship to the school. In 1933, one November afternoon was cold and foggy. Chips feared that he might catch a chill if he went out. Therefore, he kept indoors. Merivale had been come that morning for his usual fortnightly chat. He asked Chips if he was feeling hearty. He advised him to keep indoors as there was a lot of flu about. The whole scenes of its activities before him as he by fire that afternoon. The things he had done and he had not done. He had never traveled by air and he had never gone to a talky show. She had gone to the neighboring village to see her relatives. She had left the tea things on the table with butter and bread. She also left some extra cup in the case some visitors called on him. Chips was not expecting any guest. But at about a quarter to four, the bell rang. Chips himself went to the front door to answer it. A small boy, wearing a Brookfield cap, was standing there. His name was Linford. He looked anxious and timid. He asked if Mr. Chips lived there. Someone told Linford that Chips wanted to see him. Therefore, he came to see Chips. It was just a trick and a joke. Chips understood that boys had played an old joke and a leg-pull. He could not complain as he himself made many such jokes in his time. He decided to cap their joke and keep his end up. Chips said that he wanted him to have a cup of tea with him. He

asked the boy to sit by the fire. Chips served him with tea and walnut cake

with pink icing. Chips found that his name was Linford and lived in Shropshire. He was the first of his family at Brookfield. They talked of Shropshire, of schools, of the school life in general and of the news in that days paper. Chips told him that he was growing up into a very difficult world. And with a glance at the clock he delivered himself of his old familiar formula Im umph sorry you cant stay. At the front door he shook hand and said Good bye, my boy and answer came in shrill voice Good bye, Mr. Chips Chips sat by the fire and the words: Good bye, Mr. Chips. Began to echo in his mind because these were the words which Katherine had said a night before their wedding. Suddenly the tears rolled down his cheeks. When he wanted to light up the room, he could not move because he felt tired. Anyhow, he leaned his back in his chair. He felt that he was no more a

chicken. When he awoke, he himself lying in bed. He saw Dr. Merivale bending over him and smiling. He said that you ruffian feeling all right? That was a fine shock you gave us!. Chips murmured after a pause and the weakness of his voice surprised him. He saw his doctor Merivale, Mrs. Wickett, Mr. Cartwright: the new head of Brookfield, and old Buffles who commonly called Roddy. The doctor asked him if he was feeling well. He told him

that he was just fainted. He asked him to take it easy and sleep again if he

wanted. Chips thought that I was going to sleep. But, it was not sleep, and it wasnt quite wakefulness either; it was a sort of in between state, full of dreams. He saw the scenes of his past and heard different types of music. Once he heard them talking about him in the room. Cartwright and Merivale were whispering about him. Merivale told Cartwright that Chips married a girl who died about thirty years ago. Cartwright replied that pity, he never had any children. Chips opened his eyes as wide as he could and tried to attract their attention. He could not speak loud. He murmured something and they all looked round and came nearer to him. He called for their discussion. Old baffles smiled and said that it was nothing at all. He said that they were just wondering when Chips would wake out his beauty sleep. Chips replied I thought I heard you one of you saying it was a pity umph a pity I never had any children eh?... But I have And others smiled without answering, and after a pause Chips began a faint and throbbing chuckle Yes umph I have.. thousands of em .thousands of emand all boys.. And then the chorus sang in his ears in final harmony, more grandly and sweetly than he had heard ever it before and more comfortingly too.. and soon Chips was asleep. He seemed so peaceful that they did not disturb him to say good night; but in the morning, as the school bell sounded for breakfast, Brookfield had the news Brookfield will never forget his lovablenes, Cartwright said in a speech to the school. Which was absurd, because all things are forgotten in the end. But Linford, at any rate, will remember and tell the tale: I said good-bye to Chips the night before he died. Critical analysis:-

The title Good-bye, Mr. Chips is taken from an expression

that appears twice in the novel. On the night before their wedding, Katherine

whispers Good-bye, Mr. Chips in the belief that, once they are married,

they will never be the same again. Near the end of the novel, Linford, a new

boy at school, departs from tea with the aged teacher with the words Good-

bye, Mr. Chips, unaware that Chips will die the next day. These two

episodes illustrate the factors that give Chipss life its meaning: Katherine

and the students of Brookfield School. From Katherine, Chips learns to

temper justice with mercy and to balance learning with love, gentleness, and

an appreciation of beauty. From his students, Chips derives his whole reason

for living. The students of Brookfield School become Chipss children, and

he remembers their names and faces all the rest of his life. As he lies on his

deathbed, Mr. Chips overhears one of the masters saying what a pity it was

Chips never had children. At this, the old man opens his eyes and says But I

have, you know . . . I have . . . thousands of em . . . and all boys.

Good-bye, Mr. Chips provides a desirous portrait of a teacher whose life is

dedicated to his students. Although the schooling familiar to todays

immature and young adult readers differs sharply from that described in the

novel, they will see many parallels between Mr. Chips and their own

favorite teachers.

References:- Introduction: http://www.slideshare.net/Muhammad786/goodbye-mrchips-note-by-muhammad-azam

Introduction of author: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Hilton_(novelist)

Theme of author: http://www.enotes.com/homework-help/what-basic-theme-novel-quot-goog-bye-mr-chips-quot-53575 Critical analysis: http://www enotes.com/topics/good-bye-mr-chips/critical-essays

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