The History of Mr. Polly · Chapters

Chapters explained

Chapter companions for The History of Mr. Polly by H. G. Wells.

Read with companions Book page

Each chapter has a companion in the reader — open a free preview to see notes beside the text.

Chapter 1
I: Beginnings, and the Bazaar
Mr. Polly, suffering from indigestion and discontent, sits on a stile and reflects on his miserable life, his failing shop, and his strained marriage. The chapter then flashes back to his youth as an apprentice at Port Burdock Bazaar, where he formed a close friendship with Platt and Parsons, the 'Three Ps,' and first experienced the stirrings of romantic and intellectual curiosity.
Chapter 2
I
Mr. Polly, now a plumper and healthier man, sits fishing at the Potwell Inn about five years after his arrival. He reflects on his past, including his arson and desertion of Miriam, feeling regret only for the latter. He has transformed the inn with paint and the famous 'Omlets' sign, finding contentment in his new life.
Chapter 3
II
Mr. Polly, disguised with a beard, returns to Fishbourne and discovers that Miriam has been living as a widow after his presumed drowning. He visits her tea shop, learns from Annie that Miriam started the business with the insurance money, and realizes his earlier remorse was misplaced as he feels the old antagonism return. He decides to leave again, confirming he will not come back.
Chapter 4
III
Mr. Polly sits with the fat woman at the Potwell Inn, contemplating the mystery of life during a serene evening. He reflects on his past, including his marriage to Miriam, his encounter with Uncle Jim, and his own actions like setting fire to a house. He expresses a fatalistic view of life, suggesting that happiness and goodness are not achieved through effort but through an inherent character that others respond to.
Chapter 5
IV
Mr. Polly enjoys the idyllic setting of the Potwell Inn, admiring ducklings and learning to punt under the plump woman's guidance. He meets a young girl who warns him about Uncle Jim, a violent man who has driven away other visitors and threatens to harm Mr. Polly.

Free preview

63 more chapter companions sit beside the text in BetterReads — open a free preview to unlock the rest.

63 more companions → free preview

I: Beginnings, and the Bazaar

I

II

III

IV