The Great Trouble

Eel and Henry both go to school at the end of the novel, but Florrie gets a job instead. What does this conclusion suggest about the different forms of advancement that were available to boys and girls in Victorian England?

Analyze at least three different characters to judge how parents (and parental figures) are characterized and how they affect the actions of the protagonists.

Examine at least two characters who have a distinctive nickname. Does each person’s nickname reveal anything about their actual character? Use examples from the text to support your position.

Explore the reactions of at least three characters when they encounter an animal. How do their various reactions parallel their treatment of human beings?

How does Eel’s experience of helping Dr. Snow improve his confidence in his own credibility? What events effect this internal shift?

Why does Mrs. Weatherburn, who is so harsh with Eel, immediately take a liking to Henry? Use examples from the text to support your analysis.

Why does the novel never reveal Eel’s birth name, even after he meets someone who once knew his father? What does this choice imply about the importance of names in the novel?

The Great Trouble incorporates aspects from a variety of different genres and sometimes takes the form of an action novel, a mystery, or an educational text. How does Eel demonstrate different character traits that fit these genres? Use examples from the text to support your analysis.