The Mill on the Floss

How does Eliot foreshadow the adult conflicts between Maggie and Tom through the depiction of their relationship as children in Part 1?

Why do adults criticize Maggie’s appearance as a child? How does her physicality develop into adulthood? Analyze the development of society’s perceptions of Maggie’s appearance. How do these perceptions relate to femininity and social norms?

Mr. Tulliver dreams of achieving greater social mobility through Tom’s education. What is the significance of Tom’s education with Mr. Stelling? How does it relate to the novel’s wider themes of gender and family expectations?

In what ways do the Tullivers and the Dodsons both support and challenge the ethos of family loyalty? How does Eliot depict family through the bonds and conflicts in the novel?

Why are some of the men in this novel so against Maggie’s intellectual development? What role does Maggie’s intellectualism play in both her characterization and her relationships with others?

The outcome of the boating scandal brings different consequences for different characters. Choose two or three characters, exploring and contrasting how they respond to the scandal. What factors inform their response? How does their response relate to their characterization, social status, and/or personal motivations?

Compare Maggie’s feelings for Philip with her feelings for Stephen. In what ways are the relationship dynamics different? Why?

Explore the rivalry between Mr. Wakem and Mr. Tulliver. How does this rivalry shape the lives of their children? How does it impact the fathers themselves?