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How old was Forster when he wrote the first draft of this novel? What was Forster's reason for not publishing this novel when written? Why would he have needed to wait more than 50 years for its appearance?
What were the laws on homosexuality in 1913-14? What famous case would have been in the young Forster's mind? When were these laws updated? (in 1967, the Labour government's Sexual Offenses Act de-criminalized private same sex sexual acts between consenting adults age 21 or over, and in 1980 at the insistence of the European Union this was updated to accord with the rules for heterosexual acts, what were permitted over age 16.)
Chapters 1-9
What is the relation of the narrative voice to the character of Maurice? What are his traits? Is he especially gifted? From what kind of background does he come? (conventional upper-middle class family, affectionate mother and sisters)
Are there ways in which the narrator criticizes his protagonist? Is amused at his expense? (Maurice would be unhappy if Christ existed, 50)
Why do you think Forster chose someone with these traits as his protagonist, rather than a more striking or individualistic personality?
What set of attitudes had characterized social life in Maurice Hall's preparatory school? His relationships with other youths? How are the boys expected to behave toward one another? (according to a caste system, not kindly, repressing unusual emotions) What are his aims? (not to stand out or be ostracized)
What "advice" is forced on Maurice by the senior teacher as he leaves school? Why does he find Mr. Ducie's remarks offensive? (notices the latter's hypocrisy; also he fails to explain anything of emotional relevance to Maurice) Who else forces undesired allusions to a future marriage on him? (Dr. Barry)
From what phobia does he suffer, and with what is this associated? (fear of darkness and mirrors, repression of emotion) What sentiments does he express in his school-leaving oration, and how are these undercut by Dr. Barry? (platitudes about war ignore the cruel reality)
Is the reader expected to like Dr. Barry? (provides a foil, can also be unpleasant; doesn't think well of Maurice at this stage)
What is Maurice's relationship with his mother and sisters? How does he behave toward them? (condescends to sisters)
How does he behave toward the family's servants, the Howells?
What future career is predicted and mapped out for him? What had been the nature of his father's life? (a financial officer, entirely conventional)
What is the first occasion on which we see him show emotion? (loss of George) How is this associated with his fear of the dark?
What causes the failure of his attempt at a heterosexual romance? (Gladys Olcott senses his insincerity and is repelled)
At Cambridge, what does he notice about the persons he meets? (seem more individual; have emotions) What is significant about his lunch with the Dean, his friend Chapman, and the Dean's cousin? (fascinated by the talkative Risley)
What do we learn about male Cambridge undergraduate etiquette, behavior, and language from the scenes in which Maurice visits with other youths? (stiff upper lip behavior, slang, shifting emotions from denial to trust) Why does he shift his interest from Risley to Durham upon visiting the former's rooms? What does he realize as this friendship develops? ("To ascend, to stretch a hand up the mountainside until a hand catches it, was the end for which he had been born." 41)
What qualities does Durham have which are lacking in Maurice? (brighter, more independent) What results from the fact that the two men balance one another in temperament?
What causes Durham's disillusionment with his mother? (she is disappointed at his lack of religious belief)
What do we learn of Maurice's views on religion, and what causes these to change? How does his family react on learning of them? (much less offended) Who helps him when his mother first expresses disapproval? (Kitty diverts topic)
For what does Maurice blame them? (they must not believe very sincerely if they are not offended!)
What hints of his homosexual inclinations does Clive Durham give? (mentions the Symposium) What classical text had been of special interest to Maurice? (Martial's Epigrams) How do the young men manifest their affection for one another? (Maurice strokes his hair, Denham leans against him)
How does Maurice respond when Denham mentions his love? (grossly disapproving) What causes him to change his mind, and how do they reconcile?
Chapters 10-20
What views does the narrator express on the relationship between religion and homosexuality? (at odds, 70) Would his views of religion have been common in fiction of the time?
What are some associations of the use of the automobile, especially at the time? (exclusive to a monied class, associated with modernity and power)
On what grounds is Maurice expelled from Cambridge? (cuts chapel and classes) Is he apologetic? What response does he receive from his mother and Dr. Barry? (84)
In general what characterizes Maurice's relationships with older potential male mentors? (mostly negative) On what grounds does Dr. Barry appeal to Maurice's sense of duty? (he should be "chivalrous" to his mother) Does this seem artificial? (women are to be objects of chivalry, not fairness)
What are Maurice's impressions on visiting the Durham home? How are Clive's family different from his own? (aristocratic in manners, endless servants, grounds of property in ill repair)
What emotions do the two young men feel when together? (93, happiness)
What does Mrs. Durham tell Maurice about Clive's prospects? (he will inherit the estate when he marries, 95) Does this seem strange? (usually one inherits on attaining a certain age or on majority) What do we learn about her character? (given to ruling, makes plans for his marriage, likes Maurice because he seems oblivious to what she sees as his social inferiority)
On what grounds does Clive persuade Maurice to return to Cambridge? (so they can be together for another year)
What respective career tracks do the two young men enter? (99, law and business)
How do their families get along? (become friends, 100) Does this seem probable given their different social status? What advantages does this have for the plot? (intertwining visits)
What becomes Maurice's position in the family? (101, makes decisions, tells others what to do, fires servants and installs an automobile, refuses to permit his sister Kitty funds to continue her much more limited education)
How does he continue his relationship with Clive? (102, visits him on Wednesdays and weekends) Is it surprising that his family takes this in stride?
Under what conditions does Clive fall ill, and with what results? (is repelled and disgusted by his dinner at the Halls, ceased to love Maurice) How does Maurice respond to his illness? (nurses him tenderly) What are Maurice's first reactions to his friend's alienation? (believes that by steadiness and calm he can help him regain his spirits)
Chapters 21-30
What discussions do the two men have about death? (113) What chemical does Maurice give Clive as the latter departs for Greece? (chlorodyne, an opiate, 112) What hadn't Maurice wished to visit Greece, and what had impelled Durham to do so against his mother's wishes?
What are some early signs that something has gone wrong? (Clive states that he regrets their relationship, which has been a mistake, 113)
What recognition/decision does Clive come to in Greece? (116, is no longer homosexual) What does he feel at this discovery? (at first feels depression and loss of purpose, then relief and happiness at joining the world of "normal" people)
Does it seem likely that someone firmly with one sexual orientation would so suddenly change? (could have been bisexual) What may have been some psychological factors abetting this shift? (immense family pressure, desire to maintain class status as squire)
What does Maurice write to Clive while the latter is in Greece, and with what result? (Clive writes that he no longer loves him, 117, Maurice enjoins him to return; he can try to make him feel better)
What happens when Clive appears at the Hall home in Maurice's absence? (flirts with Ada, 123; also notices that in Maurice's absence the three women are happy and get along well)
With what emotions does Clive leave Maurice's home? (despite the initial conflict, expects a new dawn and a better life as a result of his new orientation, 130)
How are Forster's chapters constructed? (usually short, with a final summation)
Whom does Maurice blame for Clive's lack of affection for him? (Ada, 133) How does he behave towards her, and how does she respond? (accuses her of improper behavior; she weeps, seems guilty, then notes that he has always been unkind to her and Kitty) Does it make sense for him to blame his sister for any possible advances from Clive?
What emotion overtakes Maurice? (sense of hopelessness and meaninglessness) How does he exhibit this in the train into work? (crumples his newspaper, says he'd jump out of window, 135) What does he begin to consider? (suicide, 135)
What events shift the train of Maurice's thoughts? (visit to dying grandfather) What advice does the old man give him? (not to "let it out until the evening," 139) What in the old man's example and/or beliefs seems to fortify Maurice? (old man is sincere, also imagines that the unredeemed will fall into the sun along with the redeemed--no escape)
What qualities does Maurice try to cultivate? (moral virtues) What are some of the activities in which he engages? (helps with College Settlement, joins Territorials)
How does he try to mend matters with his sisters, and with what results? (Ada is cool, even sarcastic, 142, and Kitty feels it may be too late for her to attend classes anyway, 143) What judgment does the narrator make on his efforts? ("the muscles it had developed remained for another use," 144)
How does he respond to the news of Clive's marriage? (is hurt that Clive hadn't told him first, 145) How does he respond to the presence of Dr. Barry's nephew, and what is the result of his advances? (149, the youth fails to accept his advances)
How does Maurice interpret his attempted liaison, and is he correct? (sees it as lust, 150, and realizes that sex with an underage minor might cause legal difficulties) Under what other circumstances might he have found a partner? (at Settlement House)
How do his present thoughts differ from the prior relationship with Clive? (Clive had valued sexual abstinence, 151) What is the tone of his first telephone conversation with Anne, and what does she convey about his importance in the list of Clive's friends? (a stiff call, he is the eighth they have called that morning) What does he recall about the past weekend? ("he had nearly assaulted a boy," 154)
Chapters 31-37
What unexpected act of violence does Maurice commit, and why? (knocks down man who initiates a sexual offer, 155) What does Maurice fear? (this will be his own old age) What causes him to visit Dr. Barry? (Dr. Jowitt had stated that he encountered "unspeakables of the Oscar Wilde variety" only in asylum work, 156)
Based on the past, does it seem wise to have confided his problem to Dr. Barry? (any negative response could have been relayed to his family) What is Dr. Barry's reaction? (it's all in his mind, he's fine, 159) What advice does he give? (to marry) What is Maurice's reaction to this interview? (thinks the doctor may be right)
Whom does Maurice encounter at the symphony, and what advice does he give Maurice? (Risley, to visit a hypnotist, 162)
Why does Clive invite Maurice to his estate at Penge? (hopes to be useful to him, realizes that he has good qualities, 165-66) Why does he not feel the need to mention his past attraction to his new wife? (they never discuss sex) What surprises her on her wedding night? (had no notion of the nature of the marital act, 164) What reserves do they keep within marriage? (never see one another unclothed, 164) Is this in accord with Clive's tastes? (he believes the act must never be discussed nor vaunted, 165)
Where does this leave Maurice? (with the wrong words on his lips and the wrong desires in his heart, 165)
Where does Maurice choose to spend his holiday? (at Penge) Does this seem a strange choice? What does he notice on his arrival? (gamekeeper is flirting with two women; the Durham home in true disrepair--the roof leaks--and Clive hasn't bothered to be present to greet him, 166-67)
What are the topics of conversation between Anne and Maurice, and what do they reveal about Clive's politics? (the minister lectures Clive on his treatment of his tenants, Clive is running for parliament against the "radical party")
What is Anne's background? (of similarly aristocratic background as Clive, with no money: "she belonged to the same class as the Durhams, and every year England grew less inclined to pay her highly," 167) What views do each express on the duties of charity? (she believes one should care about "the poor"; he declares that they "don't suffer as we should in their place," 168)
What is Anne's response? (he is "horrible," 168) Is she correct? How do his high Tory views reflect on his competence as a stock broker? (she feels she has entrusted her money to the right person, 168)
What act does Maurice take in response to his cold reception? (arranges to visit the hypnotist, 170) What level of conversation occurs in the drawing room? (all agree that "radicals are untruthful, and socialists mad," 171) What would have been Forster's own views? (the Bloomsbury set were pro-Labor; he published Two Cheers for Democracy in 1951)
Who are brought into tend to the leak in the roof? (three servants, including the gamekeeper)
That evening what does Maurice do as he gazes out of the window? (strikes his face and bites his lips, 172)
With whom does Maurice spend his next day, and with what level of enjoyment? (bored, hunts rabbits with Archie London, 173) Why does Clive invite Maurice to return? (hadn't entertained him properly, felt "visit had been a failure," 174)
What lie does Maurice tell Clive, and with what result? (he's hoping to get married; Clive takes this as a definite engagement and is delighted, 174) What final gesture does he make, and how does this affect Maurice? (kisses him on his hand, Maurice is repelled, 176)
What unexpected cry does he make into the darkness? (cries "Come!", 176) What does he sense as he writes out the description of his case for the hypnotist? (that someone had looked over his shoulder, 176)
What incident occurs with the gamekeeper as he leaves? (the latter refuses to accept his tip, 177) What has been his motive? (pride, likes Maurice) What happens in London at the hypnotists' office? (he admits he can only cure a few of his patients, 181) What diagnosis does he give him? (congenital homosexuality, 180)
What does the hypnotist try? (able to put Maurice in a trance, then suggests the beauty of a woman figure he conjures up, 183) Does the hypnosis seem to be successful? (not quite) What does the hypnotist advise that he do? (vacation for a while, 183)
Does it make sense that Maurice returns again to Penge? (doesn't want to return to his own home, 183) Would this seem to be an emotional mistake since he had felt so marginalized on his last visit, and wasn't close to anyone there? (useful for romantic plot)
What is Alec Scudder's response on his return? (apologizes, tries to be helpful, 185)
What religious views does Maurice exchange with the rector, and in what context? (annoyed that the latter is preoccupied with whether Alec has been confirmed, 189; he asserts that the rector's concern for Alec is to absolve the church of blame, and that this isn't Christian, 189) What news does he learn about Alec's future? (intends to emigrate, 187)
Is it strange that he keeps bumping into Alec in the darkness? Of what does he suspect him? (of stealing an apricot, 190) What act does he perform during sleep? (rises and calls at the window, "Come!", 192) What then occurs? (Alec enters and touches him, 192) How had he been able to do so, and what does he carry for protection? (had placed ladder by window, carries a gun)
Chapters 38-46
What does the reader learn about Alec Scudder after he and Maurice begin to talk? (has paid close attention to each detail in Maurice's movements, 195) What are the implications of the fact that Alec has been out in the rain watching for any signs of movement in the house? (196) What preoccupies Alec? (secrecy--wants door locked and needs to leave early, 196)
What suspicions does Maurice harbor about what the servants or others may have noticed? (198) Do you think he is a bit paranoid? What are some notable letters in his mail? (his mother doesn't seem well, 199, seems to be a member of the Property Defence League, 199)
Why does Maurice not wish to play cricket? (he disliked playing with his social inferiors, 200) How does the cricket game go? (he and Alec play their best, 201) In what context is the word "socialist" mentioned? (the schoolmaster is socialist, 202) What does Clive notice as he leaves the playing field? (Alec doesn't applaud Clive with the others, 202)
What happens to Maurice after the cricket match? (he falls sick, speaks at random, 203)
What testimonial regarding Alec does Clive give Maurice? (he's intelligent and honest, from tradesman's family, 205)
What is the content of Alec's telegram and letters to him? (207, eager to see Maurice again, explicit about sex) Is it unexpected that he should write Maurice at his home? (very) Do his family ask questions? (no)
How does he interpret these missives? (expects blackmail, 207) What worries him about the fact that there was a key to the boathouse in the Durham family home? (208--thinks Simcox will spy on them)
What happens on his second visit to the hypnotist? (unable to be hypnotized) What does he think may have caused this? (his time with Alec)
What advice does the doctor give him, partly in jest? (could move to France or Italy, where homosexual acts are not illegal, 211) What ideas does Maurice have for places of escape? (living in the greenwood apart from society, 212)
What comparisons are made with the prior behavior of Maurice's father? (he too had strayed, but with no consequences since he wasn't seeking sex with other men, 213)
What effect does a passing royal procession have on him? (remembers that he must "stick to [his] class," 215) On his return home, how does his behavior at dinner suggest that his attitudes toward class differences may be changing slightly? (215, in response to complaint by his family, he notes that "servants might be flesh and blood like ourselves")
What change has occurred in the tone of Alec's next letter? (a bit angry and threatening, 216) What allusions does Alec make to Maurice and Clive? (the servants had known of their relationship) What is Maurice's response? (decides that Alec is confused as he himself had been, 217, write him a brief letter to arrange a meeting)
How successful do you think Forster has been in creating a working-class gay character? Does Alec have surprising traits? (assertive, wheedling, full of detailed explanations for what he thinks may have annoyed Maurice, often thoughtful, often demanding, concerned to declare his respectability)
What new attitude does Maurice form toward his clients? (looks down on them, tepid and hypocritical, 218, seems o. k. to his fellow commuters)
When they meet at the British Museum, what are Alec's original intentions? (wishes to entrap Maurice, 219-220) What occurs as they walk together in the British Museum, and how does this change their attitudes? Are there comic aspects to the scene? (Ninevan bulls would have been familiar to all cultured persons in London, incongruous setting; coincidentally they meet Maurice's old teacher, who fails to recall his name, 225)
What counter threat does Maurice make, and what causes Alec to draw back? (mentions he would kill himself after arranging to prosecute Alec, 219)
What does Maurice credit with their reconciliation? (226, "And he rejoiced because he had understood Alec's infamy through his own--glimpsing, not for the first time, the genius that hides in man's tormented soul.")
What does Maurice have to forego in order to spend more time with Alec? (cuts an important dinner party, 227)
What does Maurice try to persuade Alec to do? (stay in England and live with him) Why do these suggestions apparently fail? (Alec scheduled to leave right away and wants his job in Argentina) What complaints does Alec make about his employers and those of a higher class in general?
What does Maurice find when he attempts to bid farewell to Alec as he leaves by ship? (Alec hasn't arrived, Maurice meets Mr. Borenius, concerned for Alec's soul) In what way does Mr. Borenius cause him anxiety? (hopes that all sexual irregularities will be punished in criminal code, 237) How does Maurice respond when he understands that Alec hasn't arrived? (joyful)
Is it symbolic that the two men reunite at Penge? What is the point of the final scene in which Maurice tells Clive that he has had sex with the latter's employee? (If nothing else, it loses Alec his job! serves purpose of revenge, mixed with a bit of desire for honesty, no going back)
What does Clive fear? (afraid that a hint of the past might tarnish his political career, 245)
What does the novel suggest will be the future fate of these men? Are there any loose ends left untied? (communication with their respective families, obtaining employment) What is the importance of imagining a happy fate for two gay lovers? Do you think this ending is realistic given the circumstances and time period?
Might there have been other options for these two men? (Maurice could have emigrated to Argentina; they could have lived in France or Italy)
What other famous modernist novel features a gamekeeper/woodman? Could Lawrence have known of Forster's work? (not certain; however the two men were briefly friends around 1914-15 when both were associated with the Bloomsbury set)
What are some notable features of Forster's style? (creates dramatic settings for encounters--the ship before it sails, the British Library, the ladder by the window at Penge; short conversations followed by eloquent summaries)