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The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling Study Guide

by Henry Fielding

The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling study guide contains a biography of Henry Fielding, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis.

The narrator provides that his purpose in the text will be to explore "human nature." As such, his story veers between several extremes - comedy and tragedy, low and high society, moral and base.

Squire Allworthy, a man defined by his interminable kindness, returns to his Somersetshire estate to find a child abandoned in his bed. He gives the child to his sister Bridget to look after, and they investigate to determine that the child's mother is a young woman named Jenny Jones. She leaves the area, and Allworthy decides to raise the boy, Tom Jones. Tom is brought up alongside Allworthy’s nephew Blifil, Bridget's son. They are educated by two men of differing outlook, Thwackum and Square. Blifil is a miserable and jealous boy.

Tom is an…

Read the full The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling Summary

• The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling Summary
• About The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling
• Character List
• Glossary of Terms
• Major Themes
• Quotes and Analysis
• Summary and Analysis of Book 1
• Summary and Analysis of Book 2
• Summary and Analysis of Book 3
• Summary and Analysis of Book 4
• Summary and Analysis of Book 5
• Summary and Analysis of Book 6
• Summary and Analysis of Book 7
• Summary and Analysis of Book 8
• Summary and Analysis of Book 9
• Summary and Analysis of Book 10
• Summary and Analysis of Book 11
• Summary and Analysis of Book 12
• Summary and Analysis of Book 13
• Summary and Analysis of Book 14
• Summary and Analysis of Book 15
• Summary and Analysis of Book 16
• Summary and Analysis of Book 17
• Summary and Analysis of Book 18
• Summary and Analysis of the Dedication
• The Instructive Nature of "Tom Jones"
• Related Links on The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling
• Suggested Essay Questions
• Test Yourself! - Quiz 1
• Test Yourself! - Quiz 2
• Test Yourself! - Quiz 3
• Test Yourself! - Quiz 4
• Test Yourself! - Quiz 5
• Test Yourself! - Quiz 6
• Author of ClassicNote and Sources

• The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling: Major Themes
• The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling: Questions
• The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling: Purchase the Novel and Related Material
• Henry Fielding: Biography