Anatomy of Far from the Madding Crowd
Thomas Hardy, 1874. Public domain in the UK and the US. Three suitors; choice as plot.
Ask Far from the Madding Crowd a question about its craft (free beta)
Answers cite chapter and paragraph, and every quote is checked against the text. (3 free questions a day).
138,266 words
63 chapters
33% dialogue
17.0 words a sentence
third person
9.2 hours to read
Lessons to borrow
- Patience and steady devotion matter more than passionate intensity: Gabriel's quiet, faithful love ultimately wins Bathsheba, while Boldwood's obsessive passion leads to madness and murder.
- Impulsive actions have lasting consequences: Bathsheba's thoughtless valentine, her infatuation with Troy, and her dismissal of Gabriel all create cascading problems that take years to resolve.
- Character is revealed through crisis and labour: Gabriel's true worth emerges not through words but through his skilled work saving the farm during storms and his willingness to serve without reward.
All 180 lenses
The 20 lenses below are the most asked for. The full set of 180 is grouped in 12 pages:
Beat positions Both
Story and structure · lens A1 · compare across books
| Beat | Where | Our reading | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inciting incident | Ch 1 (CHAPTER I), about 1% through | Gabriel observes Bathsheba admiring herself in a looking glass and diagnoses her vanity as her greatest fault. | |
| First turning point | Ch 4 (CHAPTER IV), about 7% through | Gabriel proposes to Bathsheba and is rejected; she refuses him citing her independence and lack of love. | |
| Midpoint | Ch 34 (CHAPTER XXXIV), about 56% through | Troy reveals he has married Bathsheba, destroying Boldwood's hopes and Gabriel's quiet resignation. | |
| Low point | Ch 43 (CHAPTER XLIII), about 73% through | Bathsheba discovers Fanny and child in the coffin and learns Troy's true feelings; she flees into the night. | |
| Climax | Ch 59 (CHAPTER LIII), about 93% through | Troy appears at Boldwood's Christmas party; Boldwood shoots Troy dead in a violent confrontation. | |
| Resolution | Ch 63 (CHAPTER LVII), about 99% through | Gabriel and Bathsheba marry in a quiet ceremony, their long devotion finally rewarded. |
When Farmer Oak smiled, the corners of his mouth spread till they were within an unimportant distance of his ears (Ch 1, para 2)
Very well,” said Oak, firmly, with the bearing of one who was going to give his days and nights to Ecclesiastes for ever. “Then I’ll ask you no more. (Ch 4, para 92)
Fifty pounds to marry Fanny. Good. Twenty-one pounds not to marry Fanny, but Bathsheba. Good. Finale: already Bathsheba’s husband. (Ch 34, para 139)
This woman is more to me, dead as she is, than ever you were, or are, or can be. (Ch 43, para 65)
Percent is the middle of that chapter as a share of all words. The beat labels are our AI reading of the chapter notes.
Chapter length chart Count
Pace · lens D1 · compare across books
63 chapters. Median 2,011 words, shortest 281, longest 6,494. Whole book 138,266 words, about 9.2 hours at 250 words a minute.
Each bar is one chapter in reading order. Hover for the title and count.
Dialogue share per chapter Count
Dialogue and voice · lens C1 · compare across books
33% of all words are dialogue. Speech tags: "said" is 74% of tag verbs we found.
Cast and presence map Count
Character · lens B1, B2 · compare across books
| Character | Role (our reading) | Share of mentions | Chapters on page | First appears |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gabriel Oak | lead | 24% | 44 of 63 | Ch 1, para 1 |
| Bathsheba Everdene | lead | 22% | 55 of 63 | Ch 4, para 7 |
| William Boldwood | antagonist | 12% | 42 of 63 | Ch 8, para 20 |
| Sergeant Frank Troy | antagonist | 11% | 37 of 63 | Ch 11, para 21 |
| Liddy Smallbury | ally | 7% | 35 of 63 | Ch 6, para 41 |
| Jan Coggan | ally | 6% | 18 of 63 | Ch 6, para 56 |
| Joseph Poorgrass | ally | 5% | 17 of 63 | Ch 6, para 48 |
| Fanny Robin | minor | 3% | 17 of 63 | Ch 8, para 155 |
| Laban Tall | minor | 2% | 10 of 63 | Ch 8, para 121 |
| Cain Ball | minor | 2% | 9 of 63 | Ch 10, para 56 |
| Henry Fray | minor | 2% | 6 of 63 | Ch 8, para 36 |
| Mark Clark | minor | 1% | 9 of 63 | Ch 6, para 56 |
Who is on the page, chapter by chapter
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 | 37 | 38 | 39 | 40 | 41 | 42 | 43 | 44 | 45 | 46 | 47 | 48 | 49 | 50 | 51 | 52 | 53 | 54 | 55 | 56 | 57 | 58 | 59 | 60 | 61 | 62 | 63 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gabriel Oak | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bathsheba Everdene | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| William Boldwood | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sergeant Frank Troy | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Liddy Smallbury | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Jan Coggan | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Joseph Poorgrass | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fanny Robin | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Laban Tall | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cain Ball |
Most shared chapters: Bathsheba Everdene and Gabriel Oak (40), Bathsheba Everdene and William Boldwood (40), Bathsheba Everdene and Liddy Smallbury (34), Bathsheba Everdene and Sergeant Frank Troy (34), Gabriel Oak and William Boldwood (33).
Counts use the names and aliases in our cast list. A name in narration or speech counts as a mention.
Chapter ending hooks AI
Pace · lens D8 · compare across books
Chapter endings: 25 quiet, 17 reveal, 11 question, 10 cliffhanger.
Chapters end with questions, revelations, and cliffhangers that propel the reader forward: Gabriel's diagnosis of Bathsheba's vanity, the mysterious poor girl, the valentine's seal, Troy's appearance, Boldwood's obsession, and the Christmas party confrontation. Most chapters conclude with emotional or narrative tension rather than resolution.
Every chapter ending
- Ch 1: reveal. Gabriel's final diagnosis of the girl's vanity as her greatest fault reveals his moral judgment and sets up future conflict
Gabriel, perhaps a little piqued by the comely traveller’s indifference, glanced back to where he had witnessed her performance over the hedge, and said, “Vanity. (Ch 1, para 31)
- Ch 2: reveal. The revelation that the mysterious girl is Gabriel's neighbour creates a sense of fate and connection
- Ch 3: question. The girl teases Gabriel to find out her name, leaving him uncertain and intrigued
Now find out my name,” she said, teasingly; and withdrew. (Ch 3, para 68)
- Ch 4: quiet. Gabriel accepts her refusal with dignity, resolving never to ask again, ending the scene with quiet resignation
Very well,” said Oak, firmly, with the bearing of one who was going to give his days and nights to Ecclesiastes for ever. “Then I’ll ask you no more. (Ch 4, para 92)
- Ch 5: quiet. Gabriel's gratitude that he is not married to Bathsheba, as poverty would have ruined her, shows his selfless love
Thank God I am not married: what would she have done in the poverty now coming upon me! (Ch 5, para 18)
- Ch 6: reveal. Gabriel discovers that the wealthy farm mistress is Bathsheba, creating a dramatic reversal of their positions
She lifted the wool veil tied round her face, and looked all astonishment. Gabriel and his cold-hearted darling, Bathsheba Everdene, were face to face. (Ch 6, para 88)
- Ch 7: question. The mysterious girl's identity and circumstances remain unknown, creating intrigue and concern
He fancied that he had felt himself in the penumbra of a very deep sadness when touching that slight and fragile creature. (Ch 7, para 44)
- Ch 8: question. The chapter ends with Gabriel thinking of Bathsheba at night, wondering about her, leaving the reader curious about his feelings
Night had always been the time at which he saw Bathsheba most vividly, and through the slow hours of shadow he tenderly regarded her image now. (Ch 8, para 177)
- Ch 9: quiet. The chapter ends with Bathsheba preparing to meet her workers, establishing her authority
- Ch 10: reveal. William's news that Fanny has run away with soldiers is revealed, confirming earlier suspicions
I shall be up before you are awake; I shall be afield before you are up; and I shall have breakfasted before you are afield. (Ch 10, para 86)
- Ch 11: cliffhanger. The window closes and laughter is heard from the barracks, suggesting Troy's true feelings may differ from his words
Ho—ho—Sergeant—ho—ho! (Ch 11, para 69)
- Ch 12: question. Bathsheba wonders about Boldwood's nature and whether he has been hurt in love, leaving her curious
You may take my word, miss, that that’s what’s the matter with him. (Ch 12, para 40)
- Ch 13: reveal. The seal reads 'Marry Me', a fateful message sent without serious intent
- Ch 14: cliffhanger. Boldwood decides to deliver a letter to Gabriel himself, creating an opportunity to see Bathsheba
To Boldwood it was now no longer merely a letter to another man. It was an opportunity. (Ch 14, para 22)
- Ch 15: quiet. Boldwood returns home troubled, having exposed his feelings to Gabriel through his questions
He again placed the letter on the mantelpiece, and sat down to think of the circumstances attending it by the light of Gabriel’s information. (Ch 15, para 100)
- Ch 16: reveal. Troy's identity and his relationship to the woman are revealed through dialogue; his parting words show his anger and refusal to reschedule
To-morrow!” and he gave vent to a hoarse laugh. “I don’t go through that experience again for some time, I warrant you! (Ch 16, para 20)
- Ch 17: question. The chapter ends with Bathsheba's internal conflict about whether she should apologise for the valentine, leaving her intentions unclear
- Ch 18: quiet. The chapter ends with Boldwood's resolution to go across and inquire of Bathsheba, a quiet but significant decision
- Ch 19: question. Boldwood leaves hopeful but uncertain, and Bathsheba is left troubled by his vehemence and her own conflicted feelings
- Ch 20: cliffhanger. Gabriel leaves with dignity after being dismissed, and Bathsheba is left alone with her anger and regret
And he took his shears and went away from her in placid dignity, as Moses left the presence of Pharaoh. (Ch 20, para 60)
- Ch 21: reveal. Gabriel agrees to stay and Bathsheba smiles at him, suggesting their conflict is resolved
- Ch 22: quiet. The chapter ends with Gabriel's despair and his recitation of a biblical verse about women, showing his emotional turmoil
He adored Bathsheba just the same. (Ch 22, para 60)
- Ch 23: reveal. Boldwood leaves serene and hopeful after Bathsheba's conditional agreement, and she is left with a mixture of triumph and guilt
Bathsheba knew more of him now; he had entirely bared his heart before her, even until he had almost worn in her eyes the sorry look of a grand bird without the feathers that make it grand. (Ch 23, para 54)
- Ch 24: cliffhanger. Bathsheba is left uncertain whether Troy insulted or complimented her, and she realises Boldwood has never told her she was beautiful
It was a fatal omission of Boldwood’s that he had never once told her she was beautiful. (Ch 24, para 73)
- Ch 25: reveal. The chapter ends with Troy appearing at the hayfield, ready to pursue Bathsheba with his charm and labour
- Ch 26: quiet. Troy departs with a salute; Bathsheba retreats homeward in confusion, murmuring about what it all means
I loved my father: good; but better, I love you more. That’s how I can do it (Ch 26, para 89)
- Ch 27: question. Troy says the performance will take only five minutes, but Bathsheba has agreed to meet him alone, raising questions about her judgment
An unconscious look of assent in Bathsheba’s eyes betrayed that something more than his coldness had made her also feel that Liddy would be superfluous (Ch 27, para 36)
- Ch 28: reveal. The final revelation that Troy kissed her transforms the chapter from spectacle to intimate moment
The circumstance had been the gentle dip of Troy’s mouth downwards upon her own. He had kissed her (Ch 28, para 53)
- Ch 29: reveal. Gabriel discovers Troy's lie about attending church through the ivy-covered door, proving Troy's deception
It was a decisive proof that the door had not been opened at least since Troy came back to Weatherbury (Ch 29, para 63)
- Ch 30: quiet. After emotional turmoil, Bathsheba and Liddy reconcile with a kiss, but Bathsheba remains troubled
- Ch 31: cliffhanger. Boldwood departs in a state of emotional extremity, threatening to horsewhip Troy if he returns
I hope he may not return here just yet. I pray God he may not come into my sight, for I may be tempted beyond myself (Ch 31, para 55)
- Ch 32: quiet. Bathsheba passes through the gate and disappears into the night; Gabriel and Coggan return home, keeping the incident quiet
By this arrangement she could trot Dainty gently all the day, reach Liddy at Yalbury in the evening, and come home to Weatherbury with her whenever they chose—so nobody would know she had been to Bath at all (Ch 32, para 90)
- Ch 33: question. Gabriel cannot confirm whether Bathsheba and Troy are truly intimate, but the evidence suggests they are
That’s the very thing I say to myself,” said Gabriel (Ch 33, para 84)
- Ch 34: reveal. Troy reveals the marriage through a newspaper clipping, devastating Boldwood who walks the hills all night in despair
Fifty pounds to marry Fanny. Good. Twenty-one pounds not to marry Fanny, but Bathsheba. Good. Finale: already Bathsheba’s husband. (Ch 34, para 139)
- Ch 35: quiet. Boldwood rides past in perfect stillness, his anguish expressed through immobility rather than collapse
- Ch 36: quiet. Gabriel continues thatching through the night as the moon vanishes and the storm approaches
And now nothing was heard in the yard but the dull thuds of the beetle which drove in the spars, and the rustle of thatch in the intervals. (Ch 36, para 60)
- Ch 37: question. Gabriel hears the wind change direction, signalling the disastrous rain is about to begin
He was disturbed in his meditation by a grating noise from the coach-house. It was the vane on the roof turning round, and this change in the wind was the signal for a disastrous rain. (Ch 37, para 60)
- Ch 38: quiet. Boldwood reveals his ricks are unprotected and admits he has forgotten his husbandry entirely
- Ch 39: cliffhanger. Troy whips the horse into a trot to end Bathsheba's questioning about the mysterious woman
No more was said. (Ch 39, para 46)
- Ch 40: quiet. Fanny is admitted to the workhouse and the door closes behind her
The little procession then moved forward—the man in front bearing the light, the two bony women next, supporting between them the small and supple one. Thus they entered the house and disappeared. (Ch 40, para 49)
- Ch 41: question. Bathsheba learns Fanny had yellow hair and was Troy's former love, confirming her worst fears
- Ch 42: reveal. Gabriel discovers the coffin lid reads 'Fanny Robin and child' and erases the last two words to protect Bathsheba from immediate knowledge
Gabriel took his handkerchief and carefully rubbed out the two latter words, leaving visible the inscription “Fanny Robin” only. (Ch 42, para 72)
- Ch 43: cliffhanger. Bathsheba runs from the house after Troy's cruel rejection, her marriage destroyed
- Ch 44: quiet. Bathsheba settles into the attic to wait out her troubles, choosing endurance over escape
All that day Bathsheba and Liddy lived in the attic in a state of barricade; a precaution which proved to be needless as against Troy, for he did not appear in the neighbourhood or trouble them at all. (Ch 44, para 64)
- Ch 45: quiet. Troy falls asleep in the church porch after his night of romantic labour, unaware of the coming rain
He groped along the wall and over the graves in the dark till he found himself round at the north side. Here he entered the porch, and, reclining upon the bench within, fell asleep. (Ch 45, para 29)
- Ch 46: reveal. Troy leaves the village silently, his redemptive effort thwarted by fate
- Ch 47: question. Troy is taken aboard the ship, his fate uncertain; the reader does not know if he will return
- Ch 48: quiet. Bathsheba accepts Troy's death and keeps Fanny's hair as a memento, finding a strange peace
No—I’ll not burn it—I’ll keep it in memory of her, poor thing!” she added, snatching back her hand. (Ch 48, para 33)
- Ch 49: quiet. Boldwood resolves to wait six years for Bathsheba, finding hope in the possibility of future marriage
Six years were a long time, but how much shorter than never, the idea he had for so long been obliged to endure! Jacob had served twice seven years for Rachel: what were six for such a woman as this? (Ch 49, para 36)
- Ch 50: cliffhanger. Troy and Pennyways depart together into the night with unresolved intentions
- Ch 51: quiet. Bathsheba leaves Oak disappointed that he did not offer his own love, ending the chapter with her inner longing unspoken
Yet in the centremost parts of her complicated heart there existed at this minute a little pang of disappointment, for a reason she would not allow herself to recognize. (Ch 51, para 70)
- Ch 52: quiet. The chapter ends with a sense of foreboding about the unnatural nature of the celebration
In spite of all this, the spirit of revelry was wanting in the atmosphere of the house. Such a thing had never been attempted before by its owner, and it was now done as by a wrench. (Ch 52, para 3)
- Ch 53: quiet. Bathsheba resolves to attend the party, resigned to her fate
- Ch 54: quiet. Boldwood's nervous energy and hope are evident as he prepares to receive his guests
If she promises me, she’ll marry me. Bathsheba is a woman to her word. (Ch 54, para 22)
- Ch 55: cliffhanger. Troy declares he will arrive at Boldwood's house before nine o'clock
Sergeant, I was no more to her than a morsel of scroff in the fuel-house! (Ch 55, para 13)
- Ch 56: quiet. Bathsheba resolves to attend, asking Liddy for her cloak
No marrying for me yet for many a year; if ever, ’twill be for reasons very, very different from those you think, or others will believe! (Ch 56, para 9)
- Ch 57: quiet. Boldwood's feverish anxiety is evident as he hears the first guests arriving
his feverish anxiety continued to show its existence by a galloping motion of his fingers upon the side of his thigh as he went down the stairs. (Ch 57, para 12)
- Ch 58: cliffhanger. Troy checks the time and resolves to reach the party before nine o'clock
Half-past six o’clock. I shall not hurry along the road, and shall be there then before nine. (Ch 58, para 13)
- Ch 59: reveal. Boldwood kisses Bathsheba's hand and walks into the darkness, having surrendered to his fate
Then he broke from Samway, crossed the room to Bathsheba, and kissed her hand. He put on his hat, opened the door, and went into the darkness, nobody thinking of preventing him. (Ch 59, para 125)
- Ch 60: quiet. Bathsheba's fortitude gives way to fainting fits as the reality of her situation becomes unbearable
The simple consciousness that superhuman strain was no longer required had at once put a period to her power to continue it. (Ch 60, para 22)
- Ch 61: reveal. The news arrives that Boldwood will not be executed, bringing relief to the community
Yes—’tis come. He’s not to die. ’Tis confinement during Her Majesty’s pleasure. (Ch 61, para 32)
- Ch 62: reveal. The final paragraph reveals the true nature of their love as enduring and substantial, built on shared hardship rather than passion alone
- Ch 63: quiet. The chapter ends with the village friends departing after their celebration, leaving the newly married couple in peaceful domestic contentment
Come in, souls, and have something to eat and drink wi’ me and my wife. (Ch 63, para 51)
Viewpoint per chapter Both
Viewpoint and narration · lens E2 · compare across books
Counted: the narration is mostly third person (first person words per 1,000 outside speech: 2.3).
The narrative primarily follows Gabriel Oak's perspective in early chapters, shifts to Bathsheba's viewpoint as she becomes the active protagonist, and occasionally adopts omniscient narration to reveal character psychology and foreshadow events. This shifting perspective allows readers to understand multiple characters' motivations and misunderstandings.
- Ch 1 to 8: Gabriel Oak
- Ch 9 to 10: Bathsheba Everdene
- Ch 11: Fanny Robin and Sergeant Troy
- Ch 12 to 13: Bathsheba Everdene
- Ch 14: Farmer Boldwood
- Ch 15: Gabriel Oak
- Ch 16: Third person, mostly observing the church scene
- Ch 17: Third person, mostly Boldwood's perspective
- Ch 18: Third person, Boldwood's perspective
- Ch 19: Third person, mostly Bathsheba's perspective
- Ch 20 to 21: Third person, Bathsheba's perspective
- Ch 22: Third person, Gabriel's perspective
- Ch 23: Third person, Gabriel's perspective at first, then Bathsheba's
- Ch 24: Third person, Bathsheba's perspective
- Ch 25: Third person, omniscient narrator
- Ch 26 to 28: Bathsheba Everdene
- Ch 29: Bathsheba Everdene / Gabriel Oak
- Ch 30: Bathsheba Everdene
- Ch 31: Bathsheba Everdene / Farmer Boldwood
- Ch 32: Bathsheba Everdene / Gabriel Oak
- Ch 33: Gabriel Oak / Cain Ball
- Ch 34: Gabriel Oak and William Boldwood
- Ch 35 to 38: Gabriel Oak
- Ch 39: Bathsheba Everdene
- Ch 40: Fanny Robin
- Ch 41: Bathsheba Everdene
- Ch 42: Third person, primarily Joseph Poorgrass
- Ch 43 to 44: Third person, primarily Bathsheba
- Ch 45: Third person, primarily Troy
- Ch 46: Third person, primarily Troy and the gurgoyle
- Ch 47: Third person, primarily Troy
- Ch 48: Third person, primarily Bathsheba
- Ch 49: Third person, primarily Gabriel and Boldwood
- Ch 50: Third person, primarily Troy's perspective
- Ch 51: Third person, primarily Bathsheba's perspective
- Ch 52: Third person, omniscient
- Ch 53: Third person, Bathsheba's perspective
- Ch 54: Third person, Boldwood's perspective
- Ch 55: Third person, Troy's perspective
- Ch 56: Third person, Bathsheba's perspective
- Ch 57: Third person, Boldwood's perspective
- Ch 58: Third person, Troy's perspective
- Ch 59 to 61: Third person, omniscient
- Ch 62: Bathsheba Everdene
- Ch 63: Gabriel Oak and Bathsheba Everdene
Want and need of the lead AI
Character · lens B3 · compare across books
| Lead | Gabriel Oak |
|---|---|
| Wants | Gabriel wants to win Bathsheba's love and marry her, building a life together as equals. |
| Needs | Gabriel needs to accept that love requires patience, humility, and the willingness to serve without expectation of reward. |
| False belief | Gabriel initially believes that his modest means and quiet character make him unworthy of Bathsheba, when in truth his steadiness and devotion are his greatest strengths. |
| Arc | positive. Gabriel moves from rejected suitor to trusted shepherd to farm manager to husband, gaining wisdom and proving his worth through faithful labour. |
Scene log AI
Story and structure · lens A4 · compare across books
One line per chapter: goal, conflict, outcome
| Ch | Summary | Goal | Conflict | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gabriel Oak, a young farmer of modest means and quiet character, encounters a vain and beautiful girl on a yellow waggon and pays her toll, then later observes her admiring herself in a looking glass. | Gabriel witnesses a beautiful stranger and helps her pass the toll gate | The girl's vanity and indifference to his kindness; her aunt's claim she has many suitors | Gabriel pays her toll; she ignores him; he diagnoses her greatest fault as vanity |
| 2 | On a cold December night, Gabriel tends his newborn lambs in his shepherd's hut, then discovers a mysterious light and spies two women caring for a sick cow, one of whom is the girl from the waggon. | Gabriel must care for his lambs during the lambing season; he discovers an unexpected light in the darkness | The harsh winter weather; Gabriel's isolation and hard work; the mystery of the light | Gabriel tends his flock; he discovers the girl from the waggon is his neighbour, caring for cattle with her aunt |
| 3 | Gabriel finds the girl's lost hat and observes her riding through the plantation in an unconventional manner; later he nearly suffocates in his hut but is rescued by her, and they have a tender but awkward conversation. | Gabriel returns the girl's hat; he nearly dies from a closed hut and is saved by her | The girl's embarrassment at being observed; Gabriel's lack of tact; the danger of the sealed hut | Gabriel returns the hat; she saves his life; they have an intimate moment but part with tension between them |
| 4 | Gabriel falls in love with Bathsheba and resolves to marry her; he visits her aunt's cottage to propose but is told she has many suitors; Bathsheba chases after him to correct this, but when he proposes she refuses him, citing her independence and lack of love. | Gabriel seeks to marry Bathsheba; she must decide whether to accept him | Bathsheba's vanity and independence; Gabriel's humble status; her aunt's misleading information; Gabriel's earnest but clumsy courtship | Gabriel proposes; Bathsheba refuses, saying she will not marry yet and wants her independence |
| 5 | Bathsheba leaves the neighbourhood, and Gabriel learns she has gone to Weatherbury; his young dog accidentally drives his entire flock of two hundred sheep over a chalk pit, destroying his farm and leaving him destitute. | Gabriel tends his flock; the young dog must be controlled; Gabriel must survive the loss | The young dog's overzealousness; the sheep's panic; Gabriel's financial ruin; his separation from Bathsheba | The flock is destroyed; Gabriel loses everything; the young dog is shot; Gabriel is left with only the clothes he wears |
| 6 | Gabriel, now destitute, seeks work at a hiring fair in Casterbridge; learning that Bathsheba is near Weatherbury, he travels there and discovers a rick-yard fire, which he heroically helps to extinguish, impressing the farm's new mistress, who turns out to be Bathsheba. | Gabriel seeks employment; he travels to Weatherbury; he must save the burning ricks | Gabriel's poverty and lack of prospects; the spreading fire; the danger to the farm's crops | Gabriel finds work as a shepherd; he saves the ricks; he is reunited with Bathsheba, now a wealthy farmer |
| 7 | Bathsheba hires Gabriel as her shepherd; he walks to the village and meets a poor, sickly girl hiding by a tree, to whom he gives a shilling and promises to keep her presence secret. | Gabriel seeks lodging and employment; he encounters a mysterious girl in distress | Gabriel's uncertainty about his new position; the girl's poverty and illness; her need for secrecy | Gabriel is hired as shepherd; he meets the mysterious girl and offers her aid; she remains a mystery |
| 8 | Gabriel Oak joins the farm workers at Warren's Malthouse, where he learns about Bathsheba Everdene and hears news of the missing servant Fanny Robin. | Gabriel seeks to integrate into the community and learn about his new employer | The men gossip and speculate about Fanny's disappearance; Gabriel must navigate social dynamics | Gabriel plays his flute and wins approval; news arrives that Fanny has run away with soldiers |
| 9 | Bathsheba receives a visit from Farmer Boldwood at her farmhouse, and later questions Liddy about him while preparing to meet her workers. | Bathsheba wants to manage her farm and understand her new position | She is caught unprepared when Boldwood visits; she learns he is indifferent to her charms | Boldwood leaves after asking about Fanny; Bathsheba becomes curious about him |
| 10 | Bathsheba meets with her workers to pay them and announce her management decisions, then learns that Fanny has run away with the soldiers. | Bathsheba establishes her authority and pays her workers | She must manage diverse personalities and prove herself as a female farmer | She commands respect; William returns with news that Fanny eloped with Sergeant Troy |
| 11 | Fanny Robin meets Sergeant Troy at the barracks in the snow and asks him to marry her, but he is evasive about the timing. | Fanny seeks to confirm her engagement to Troy and arrange their marriage | Troy is reluctant and evasive; he has not yet asked permission from his officers | Troy agrees to marry her but delays setting a date, leaving Fanny disappointed |
| 12 | Bathsheba appears at the corn market in Casterbridge as a farmer, attracting attention, and notices Farmer Boldwood's indifference to her. | Bathsheba establishes herself as a farmer in the market | She must prove herself among male farmers; Boldwood ignores her despite her beauty | She succeeds in business but becomes intrigued by Boldwood's indifference |
| 13 | Bathsheba and Liddy play a divination game with a Bible and key, then Bathsheba impulsively sends a valentine to Farmer Boldwood with the seal 'Marry Me'. | Bathsheba seeks amusement and divination about her future | She is torn between sending the valentine to Boldwood or to a child | She sends it to Boldwood on impulse, sealed with 'Marry Me' |
| 14 | Boldwood receives Bathsheba's valentine and becomes obsessed with it, interpreting it as a serious declaration of love, while Gabriel receives a letter from Fanny. | Boldwood seeks to understand the valentine's meaning and origin | He misinterprets the casual valentine as a genuine proposal | Boldwood becomes consumed by thoughts of the mysterious sender and plans to deliver a letter to Gabriel |
| 15 | Gabriel meets Boldwood at the malthouse where workers gossip about Bathsheba; Boldwood delivers Fanny's letter to Gabriel and asks about the valentine's handwriting. | Gabriel tends to lambs and socializes with workers; Boldwood seeks information about the valentine | Gabriel defends Bathsheba against gossip; Boldwood tries to learn who sent the valentine | Gabriel reveals the handwriting is Bathsheba's; Boldwood becomes more obsessed |
| 16 | A soldier waits at the wrong church for a wedding that never happens, then meets the woman outside in anger and disappointment. | Frank Troy expects to marry the woman at All Saints' church | The woman goes to the wrong church, All Souls', and arrives too late | The wedding is cancelled; Troy is furious and walks away |
| 17 | Boldwood sees Bathsheba in the market and falls suddenly in love with her, misinterpreting her earlier valentine as a genuine proposal. | Boldwood looks at Bathsheba and becomes convinced she is beautiful and interested in him | He struggles to understand whether his feelings are justified and what her valentine meant | He decides she has said marry me and grows jealous watching her with another farmer |
| 18 | Boldwood meditates alone on his farm, revealing his intense and extreme nature, then sees Bathsheba in a distant meadow and is overwhelmed by love. | Boldwood walks and thinks about his life and his new feelings | His calm exterior hides enormous emotional forces that are now unleashed by love | He sees Bathsheba and is consumed by the realisation of his love for her |
| 19 | Boldwood finds Bathsheba at the sheep-washing and makes a passionate declaration of love and marriage, which she cannot accept but does not refuse. | Boldwood wants to propose marriage to Bathsheba and win her consent | Bathsheba does not love him and is troubled by the intensity of his feelings | She asks for time to think and he agrees to wait, though she gives no promise |
| 20 | Bathsheba struggles with Boldwood's offer while Gabriel grinds shears; she asks his opinion, he criticises her conduct, and she angrily dismisses him from the farm. | Bathsheba wants Gabriel to deny the rumours of her engagement to Boldwood | Gabriel refuses to lie and instead criticises her for trifling with Boldwood's feelings | Bathsheba loses her temper and fires Gabriel, though he remains calm |
| 21 | Sheep break into clover and become dangerously bloated; Bathsheba must swallow her pride and ask Gabriel to return and save the flock. | Bathsheba needs someone to cure the sheep before they die | Only Gabriel knows how to do it, but she has just dismissed him and must ask his forgiveness | Gabriel returns and saves most of the flock; Bathsheba asks him to stay on |
| 22 | The sheep-shearing takes place in the great barn; Gabriel supervises while Bathsheba watches; Boldwood arrives and takes her riding, making Gabriel jealous and sad. | The farm workers shear the sheep efficiently while Bathsheba oversees the work | Boldwood's arrival and his attention to Bathsheba distract Gabriel and make him jealous | Gabriel accidentally wounds a sheep while watching Boldwood and Bathsheba together |
| 23 | At the shearing supper, Bathsheba sings while Gabriel plays flute and Boldwood provides bass; afterwards Boldwood proposes again and Bathsheba agrees to consider marriage within five or six weeks. | Boldwood wants Bathsheba to commit to marrying him | Bathsheba is moved by his passion but cannot promise yet | She agrees to give him an answer after five or six weeks, which he accepts as hope |
| 24 | While checking the farm at night, Bathsheba meets a soldier whose spur catches her dress; he is revealed to be Sergeant Troy, a charming and handsome man. | Bathsheba inspects the farm before bed | A soldier's spur becomes entangled in her dress in the dark plantation | Troy charms her with flattery and they part on ambiguous terms |
| 25 | The narrator describes Sergeant Troy's character: he lives only in the present, lies to women, is well-educated but lacks direction, and is skilled at flattery. | To explain Troy's nature and psychology | His lack of moral direction and his reliance on flattery create potential for harm | Troy is revealed as a charming but dangerous man who will pursue Bathsheba |
| 26 | Sergeant Troy charms Bathsheba in a hayfield, flatters her beauty, and gives her a valuable gold watch with a family crest, beginning her infatuation with him. | Troy seeks Bathsheba's forgiveness and affection; Bathsheba tries to maintain distance | Troy's bold flattery and persistence wear down Bathsheba's resistance; she is drawn to him despite herself | Bathsheba accepts Troy's company and his gift of the watch, though conflicted |
| 27 | While hiving bees in her garden, Bathsheba encounters Troy again; he helps her and persuades her to watch him perform sword-exercise. | Bathsheba wants to hive the bees; Troy wants to assist and spend time with her | Bathsheba is flustered by Troy's sudden appearance and tries to maintain composure | Troy helps with the bees and arranges to show Bathsheba his sword-exercise in secret |
| 28 | In a hidden hollow among the ferns at dusk, Troy performs an extraordinary sword-exercise near Bathsheba's body, then kisses her, leaving her overwhelmed with emotion. | Troy wants to impress Bathsheba with his sword skill and win her affection; Bathsheba wants to witness the display | Troy's dangerous performance terrifies and thrills Bathsheba; she struggles between fear and fascination | Troy performs brilliantly, cuts a lock of her hair, kills a caterpillar on her bodice, and kisses her |
| 29 | Gabriel Oak confronts Bathsheba about her infatuation with Troy, warning her of his unworthiness, but she defends Troy passionately and dismisses Oak's concerns. | Oak wants to warn Bathsheba away from Troy; Bathsheba wants to defend her feelings | Oak's criticism of Troy angers Bathsheba; she refuses to listen to his warnings | Bathsheba becomes emotional and defensive; Oak remains but their relationship is strained |
| 30 | Bathsheba writes to reject Boldwood, then overhears servants gossiping about her and Troy; she confesses her love for Troy to Liddy in an emotional outburst. | Bathsheba wants to settle her affairs with Boldwood and keep her feelings private | Servants' gossip forces Bathsheba to confront her true feelings; she cannot maintain her denial | Bathsheba admits her love for Troy to Liddy and becomes emotionally vulnerable |
| 31 | Bathsheba encounters Boldwood on the road and he confronts her about Troy, revealing his anguish and threatening to horsewhip the sergeant. | Boldwood wants Bathsheba to reconsider; Bathsheba wants to escape the confrontation | Boldwood's passionate despair and anger overwhelm Bathsheba; she cannot comfort him | Boldwood learns of Troy's kiss and threatens violent revenge; Bathsheba fears for Troy's safety |
| 32 | Bathsheba secretly takes her horse and gig at night to drive to Bath to intercept Troy before he returns to Weatherbury; Gabriel and Coggan pursue her, thinking the horse is stolen. | Bathsheba wants to reach Troy in Bath before he returns; Gabriel wants to recover the stolen horse | Gabriel and Coggan chase Bathsheba through the night, not knowing it is her | They catch her at the turnpike gate; she explains she was going to Bath on urgent business |
| 33 | Two weeks pass with no word from Bathsheba; Cain Ball returns from Bath and reports seeing her and Troy together, walking arm-in-arm and appearing intimate. | The harvesters want news of Bathsheba; Cain wants to share his Bath experiences | Cain's coughing and rambling narrative makes it hard to extract the important information | Gabriel learns that Bathsheba and Troy were seen together in Bath, appearing as lovers |
| 34 | Troy returns to Weatherbury and Boldwood attempts to bribe him to marry Fanny instead of pursuing Bathsheba, but discovers Troy is already married to her. | Boldwood wants Troy to abandon Bathsheba and marry Fanny Robin for money | Troy reveals he is already married to Bathsheba, making Boldwood's scheme impossible | Boldwood is devastated; Troy mocks him and throws the money back |
| 35 | Gabriel and Coggan discover Troy at Bathsheba's window the morning after the marriage, and Gabriel struggles with his grief while Boldwood appears broken. | Gabriel and Coggan go to work and discover the marriage is real | Gabriel must accept that Bathsheba is now Troy's wife and hide his pain | Gabriel greets Troy civilly; Boldwood passes by looking destroyed |
| 36 | A storm threatens the harvest while Troy holds a drunken celebration; Gabriel works alone through the night to save the ricks from ruin. | Gabriel must protect Bathsheba's grain from a coming storm | Troy gets the workers drunk and ignores Gabriel's warnings; Gabriel must work alone | Gabriel saves most of the crop through exhausting solo labour |
| 37 | During a violent storm, Gabriel and Bathsheba work together to protect the remaining ricks; Bathsheba confesses she was forced into marriage with Troy. | Gabriel and Bathsheba must finish thatching the barley stacks before the rain destroys them | A terrible lightning storm makes the work dangerous; Gabriel must protect himself while continuing | They complete the work; Bathsheba reveals the truth about her marriage |
| 38 | The rain comes and Gabriel finishes protecting the crops; he encounters Boldwood on the road and learns the farmer has neglected his own ricks. | Gabriel must complete the thatching before the rain destroys the barley | Heavy rain makes the work exhausting and dangerous | Gabriel finishes at dawn; discovers Boldwood has lost his entire crop |
| 39 | Troy and Bathsheba encounter a poor woman on the road who recognises Troy; he gives her money and arranges to meet her, revealing his connection to Fanny Robin. | Troy and Bathsheba travel home from market | A woman appears and recognises Troy; he must hide his connection to her from Bathsheba | Troy gives the woman money and arranges a secret meeting; Bathsheba grows suspicious |
| 40 | Fanny Robin, exhausted and ill, struggles through the night toward Casterbridge Union workhouse, aided by a mysterious dog. | Fanny must reach the Casterbridge Union workhouse before she collapses | She is weak, ill, and has no money; the distance seems impossible | A dog helps her reach the workhouse gate where she is admitted |
| 41 | Bathsheba discovers a lock of yellow hair in Troy's watch and confronts him; she learns Fanny Robin has died in the Union workhouse. | Bathsheba seeks the truth about Troy's mysterious woman and his money needs | Troy refuses to explain the hair or his financial needs; Bathsheba's suspicions grow | Bathsheba learns Fanny is dead and realises the woman on the road was Fanny |
| 42 | Joseph Poorgrass transports Fanny Robin's coffin from the workhouse to Weatherbury, but stops for drinks at Buck's Head inn and arrives too late for the funeral. | Joseph must deliver Fanny's body to the churchyard by a set time | Joseph's weakness for alcohol and the persuasion of Coggan and Clark delay him at the inn | Gabriel takes over the coffin and brings it to the farm instead; the funeral is postponed to the next morning |
| 43 | Bathsheba learns of Fanny's death and opens the coffin to discover that Fanny had a child; Troy returns and reveals his true feelings for Fanny, devastating Bathsheba. | Bathsheba seeks truth about Fanny's death and her connection to Troy | Bathsheba's suspicions, her pride, and her love for Troy war within her; she discovers the worst truth | Troy declares Fanny his true wife and rejects Bathsheba; she flees the house in despair |
| 44 | Bathsheba flees into the woods and spends the night in a fern brake; Liddy finds her the next morning and they return to the house, where Bathsheba resolves to stay and endure her situation. | Bathsheba seeks refuge and escape from her unbearable situation | Her despair and shame versus her pride and sense of duty; the harsh natural world | Bathsheba decides to remain at the farm and face her troubles rather than run away |
| 45 | Troy, learning of Fanny's death, purchases an elaborate marble tomb and spends the night planting flowers on her grave in a romantic gesture of remorse. | Troy seeks to honour Fanny's memory and atone for his past treatment of her | His remorse and new resolve versus his habitual indifference; lack of funds | Troy plants flowers on Fanny's grave through the night, exhausting his money on the tomb |
| 46 | A heavy rain causes the church gurgoyle to spout water directly into Fanny's grave, destroying Troy's carefully planted flowers; Troy discovers the ruin and, broken by this final blow, abandons his redemptive efforts and leaves the village. | The flowers on Fanny's grave are to be preserved and cherished | A natural disaster, the gurgoyle's water stream, destroys the grave and flowers | Troy, seeing his romantic gesture destroyed, loses all hope and flees Weatherbury |
| 47 | Troy travels to the coast and, while bathing in a cove, is caught in a dangerous current; he is rescued by sailors from a brig and taken aboard their ship. | Troy seeks to escape his troubles by travelling to the sea | A strong current traps him while swimming; he nearly drowns | Sailors rescue him and take him aboard their vessel |
| 48 | News reaches Bathsheba that Troy has drowned while bathing; though she initially doubts it, she eventually accepts his death and enters a state of quiet resignation. | Bathsheba learns of Troy's presumed death and must accept her new status | Her doubt about the news versus mounting evidence of his drowning | Bathsheba accepts Troy's death and begins to wear mourning |
| 49 | Gabriel Oak is promoted to bailiff and given charge of both farms; Boldwood, still devoted to Bathsheba, learns from Liddy that she might remarry after seven years and begins to hope for a future with her. | Gabriel seeks to improve his position; Boldwood seeks to understand Bathsheba's intentions | Gabriel's modest nature versus his rising status; Boldwood's desperate hope versus his uncertainty | Gabriel becomes a man of some property and standing; Boldwood learns of a possible future opportunity |
| 50 | Troy appears as a circus performer at Greenhill Fair, sees Bathsheba in the audience, and steals a note meant to expose him to her. | Troy wants to perform without being recognized by his wife or others from Weatherbury | Bathsheba attends the show and Pennyways threatens to reveal Troy's presence to her | Troy performs silently, steals the incriminating note from Bathsheba's hand, and arranges to meet Pennyways in secret |
| 51 | Boldwood escorts Bathsheba home from the fair and presses her to promise marriage within six years, which she reluctantly agrees to do. | Boldwood wants Bathsheba to commit to marrying him in six years | Bathsheba is reluctant, uncertain of her feelings, and troubled by the moral implications | Bathsheba agrees to consider the promise by Christmas and later confides her distress to Gabriel Oak |
| 52 | Boldwood prepares his house for a Christmas party, intending it as a celebration of his engagement to Bathsheba. | Boldwood wants to host a grand Christmas party to celebrate his hopes | The party feels unnatural and forced, lacking genuine festive spirit | The house is decorated and prepared, but an atmosphere of gloom pervades the proceedings |
| 53 | Bathsheba dresses for Boldwood's party, troubled and anxious about the evening ahead. | Bathsheba must attend Boldwood's party despite her reluctance | She is agitated and fears the consequences of her promise to Boldwood | She dresses in black silk and prepares to attend, feeling trapped by obligation |
| 54 | Boldwood dresses for his party with unusual care and discusses his hopes with Gabriel Oak, revealing his expectation that Bathsheba will commit to marrying him. | Boldwood prepares himself and seeks reassurance about Bathsheba's promise | Oak expresses doubt and caution about trusting in Bathsheba's commitment | Boldwood remains hopeful despite Oak's warnings, convinced that Bathsheba will keep her word |
| 55 | Troy meets with Pennyways in Casterbridge to discuss his wife and plans his return to Weatherbury for the Christmas party. | Troy wants to understand Bathsheba's situation and decide whether to return home | Pennyways warns him of legal complications and suggests he remain abroad | Troy resolves to go to Boldwood's party that evening despite the risks |
| 56 | Bathsheba prepares for the party, feeling wretched and conflicted about attending. | Bathsheba must dress and attend Boldwood's Christmas party | She is emotionally distressed and fears what the evening will bring | She dresses and prepares to leave for the party |
| 57 | Boldwood offers Gabriel Oak an increased share in the farm and reveals his knowledge of Oak's love for Bathsheba, then prepares to receive his guests. | Boldwood wants to reward Oak and prepare for the party | Oak is uneasy about Boldwood's overconfidence and emotional state | Boldwood retrieves an engagement ring from a locked drawer and waits for Bathsheba's arrival |
| 58 | Troy prepares to go to Boldwood's party, disguised in a heavy overcoat and travelling cap, and sets out for Weatherbury. | Troy wants to reach Boldwood's party and confront Bathsheba | Pennyways warns him of the dangers and suggests he remain abroad | Troy departs for Weatherbury, determined to arrive before nine o'clock |
| 59 | Troy arrives at Boldwood's party, Boldwood forces Bathsheba to accept an engagement ring, and Troy's sudden appearance triggers a violent confrontation in which Boldwood shoots Troy dead. | Boldwood wants Bathsheba to formalize their engagement; Troy wants to reclaim his wife | Troy's unexpected arrival shatters Boldwood's hopes and Bathsheba's composure | Boldwood shoots Troy in a moment of despair, then surrenders himself to the authorities |
| 60 | Boldwood surrenders himself to the authorities in Casterbridge, while Bathsheba demonstrates remarkable composure in caring for Troy's body before collapsing from the strain. | Boldwood seeks punishment; Bathsheba must cope with Troy's death | Bathsheba must manage the practical and emotional aftermath of the shooting | Boldwood enters the gaol; Bathsheba prepares Troy's body and then collapses |
| 61 | Boldwood is sentenced to death but a petition for clemency is submitted; the sentence is commuted to life imprisonment, and Bathsheba slowly begins to recover. | The community seeks to save Boldwood's life through a petition for clemency | The authorities must decide whether Boldwood was mentally responsible for his actions | Boldwood's sentence is commuted to life imprisonment due to evidence of insanity |
| 62 | Bathsheba visits Troy's grave, encounters Gabriel Oak, learns he plans to leave England, misunderstands his reasons, and eventually discovers he was leaving to protect her reputation from gossip about them. | Bathsheba seeks closure at Troy's grave; Oak tries to manage his feelings and protect Bathsheba's name | Misunderstanding and gossip about their relationship; Oak's apparent coldness and plan to emigrate | Oak reveals the truth; Bathsheba visits his cottage; they confess their feelings and agree to marry |
| 63 | Gabriel and Bathsheba marry in a secret, quiet ceremony at the church, and their friends celebrate with music and good wishes. | Oak and Bathsheba wish to marry privately without parish attention | Keeping the wedding secret from the village; Mrs. Tall's gossip; the need to arrange details quickly | They marry quietly with only Tall, Liddy, and the parson present; friends celebrate with cannon fire and music |
Setups and payoffs AI
Story and structure · lens A8 · compare across books
| Planted | Pays off | |
|---|---|---|
| Gabriel observes Bathsheba's vanity through the looking glass in Chapter 1. (Ch 1) | Bathsheba's vanity is confirmed through her behaviour and refusal of Gabriel's proposal in Chapter 4. (Ch 4) | |
| Gabriel's young dog is shown to be overeager in early chapters. (Ch 5) | The dog accidentally drives Gabriel's entire flock over a chalk pit, destroying his farm. (Ch 5) | |
| Bathsheba sends a valentine to Boldwood with the seal 'Marry Me' on impulse in Chapter 13. (Ch 13) | Boldwood becomes obsessed with the valentine and misinterprets it as a serious proposal, leading to his courtship. (Ch 14) | |
| Troy claims to enter church through an ivy-covered door in Chapter 29. (Ch 29) | Gabriel discovers the door has not been opened since Troy returned, proving Troy's lie about attending church. (Ch 29) | |
| Gabriel predicts a storm will come and threatens the harvest in Chapter 36. (Ch 36) | The storm arrives and Gabriel works through the night to save the ricks while Troy celebrates drunkenly. (Ch 37) | |
| Troy plants flowers on Fanny's grave as a romantic gesture in Chapter 45. (Ch 45) | A church gurgoyle spouts water directly into the grave, destroying the flowers and breaking Troy's redemptive effort. (Ch 46) | |
| Boldwood purchases an engagement ring for Bathsheba in Chapter 57. (Ch 57) | Boldwood forces the ring on Bathsheba at the Christmas party just before Troy appears. (Ch 59) | |
| Gabriel plans to leave England to protect Bathsheba's reputation in Chapter 62. (Ch 62) | Bathsheba discovers his plan and realises his true devotion, leading to their marriage. (Ch 63) |
I’ll make her my wife, or upon my soul I shall be good for nothing! (Ch 4, para 8)
Weatherbury! It was where Bathsheba had gone two months before. This information was like coming from night into noon. (Ch 6, para 29)
Forty, I should say—very handsome—rather stern-looking—and rich. (Ch 9, para 39)
Speech fingerprints Count
Dialogue and voice · lens C3 · compare across books
| Character | Share of attributed speech | Lines | Words a line | Questions per 100 lines | Exclaims per 100 | Pet words |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gabriel Oak | 21% | 291 | 9.8 | 15.8 | 14.1 | don't, that's, i'll, i've, everdene, there's |
| Bathsheba Everdene | 15% | 171 | 12.1 | 29.8 | 35.7 | don't, liddy, shall, tell, woman, give |
| Joseph Poorgrass | 13% | 95 | 18.8 | 6.3 | 21.1 | i've, shepherd, speak, true, blush, every |
| Jan Coggan | 11% | 114 | 13.1 | 16.7 | 20.2 | drink, don't, that's, i'll, joseph, poorgrass |
| Liddy Smallbury | 9% | 91 | 13.2 | 27.5 | 26.4 | don't, woman, poor, i'll, love, thing |
| Sergeant Frank Troy | 9% | 91 | 13.0 | 19.8 | 23.1 | want, i'll, suppose, give, can't, fanny |
| William Boldwood | 8% | 83 | 12.4 | 13.3 | 33.7 | don't, i'll, marry, shall, bathsheba, woman |
| Matthew Moon | 3% | 30 | 15.4 | 16.7 | 16.7 | he's, poor, shepherd, clever, wouldn't, worm |
| Laban Tall | 3% | 33 | 13.2 | 9.1 | 24.2 | quite, true, better, she's, shepherd, there's |
| Henry Fray | 3% | 28 | 14.4 | 25.0 | 17.9 | don't, shepherd, baily, believe, ever, speak |
We give a line to a speaker only when one cast name appears in the narration of that paragraph, so many lines stay unattributed. Treat the figures as a sample.
Sentence length per chapter Count
Pace · lens D2 · compare across books
Mean sentence 17.0 words, median 13. 37% of sentences are under 10 words and 15% over 30. In the last fifth of the book, chapters run at 55% and sentences at 92% of the earlier average.
Emotional arc shape Count
Pace · lens D7 · compare across books
Computed shape: Riches to rags (fall) (fit 0.78 on a scale of 0 to 1).
We score the mood of each paragraph with a standard word list, then average across 20 equal slices of the book and smooth it. It is a rough reading of word mood, not of plot, and old styles of English can fool it. Shapes follow Reagan and others (2016).
When the lead and the first dialogue arrive Count
Openings and endings · lens F3, F4 · compare across books
First line of dialogue: after 778 words (Ch 1, para 7), 0.6% into the book.
The lead, Gabriel Oak, is first named after 0 words (Ch 1, para 1).
Mystery clue list AI
Genre craft · lens G4 · compare across books
| Clue | Kind | Laid | Explained | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A mysterious poor girl hiding by a tree with a bundle, in poor health and seeking secrecy. | clue | Ch 7 | Ch 10 | |
| Fanny was seen leaving in only her indoor working gown, no bonnet, with a bundle. | clue | Ch 8 | Ch 10 | |
| Maryann mentions Fanny's young man lives in Casterbridge and is a soldier. | clue | Ch 8 | Ch 11 | |
| Boldwood asks Gabriel to identify the handwriting on the valentine. | clue | Ch 15 | Ch 15 | |
| A yellow lock of hair is kept in Troy's watch. | clue | Ch 26 | Ch 41 | |
| The coffin is marked with chalk writing naming Fanny Robin and a child. | clue | Ch 42 | Ch 43 | |
| Boldwood's locked closet contains dresses and jewellery all labelled 'Bathsheba Boldwood' with dates six years in advance. | clue | Ch 61 | Ch 61 |
Gabriel’s fingers alighted on the young woman’s wrist. It was beating with a throb of tragic intensity. (Ch 7, para 37)
That was to get you to stand still, and so make sure of your safety. The risk of injuring you through your moving was too great not to force me to tell you a fib to escape it (Ch 28, para 43)
And they sat there together for more than half-an-hour, talking moving things, and she once was crying a’most to death (Ch 33, para 38)
Antagonist AI
Character · lens B7 · compare across books
| Who | Sergeant Frank Troy |
|---|---|
| Goal | Troy seeks to seduce and control Bathsheba for his own pleasure and financial benefit, while maintaining his connection to Fanny Robin. |
| Methods | Troy uses charm, flattery, physical skill, and deception to win Bathsheba's affection; he lies about his past, his feelings, and his intentions. |
| Shows their hand | Ch 25 |
| Our note | Troy's true selfish and present-focused nature is revealed through the narrator's analysis of his character. |
Tension curve AI
Pace · lens D6 · compare across books
Tension score per chapter, 1 to 5 (our AI reading). The novel moves slowly through the early chapters establishing character and setting, accelerates through the middle section as Troy enters and complications multiply, and reaches a rapid climax in the final chapters. The pacing reflects the accumulation of consequences from earlier choices.
Subplot thread map Both
Story and structure · lens A7 · compare across books
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 | 37 | 38 | 39 | 40 | 41 | 42 | 43 | 44 | 45 | 46 | 47 | 48 | 49 | 50 | 51 | 52 | 53 | 54 | 55 | 56 | 57 | 58 | 59 | 60 | 61 | 62 | 63 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gabriel and Bathsheba's relationship | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fanny Robin's disappearance and fate | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Boldwood's obsession with Bathsheba | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Troy and Bathsheba's marriage | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The harvest and farm management | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Troy's disappearance and return |
- Gabriel and Bathsheba's relationship: Gabriel's unrequited love for Bathsheba evolves from rejection to patient devotion to eventual marriage.
- Fanny Robin's disappearance and fate: Fanny's mysterious absence is revealed to be her elopement with Troy, leading to her tragic death in the workhouse.
- Boldwood's obsession with Bathsheba: Boldwood's love grows from indifference to obsession, culminating in madness and murder.
- Troy and Bathsheba's marriage: Troy seduces and marries Bathsheba, but the marriage is destroyed by his love for Fanny and his recklessness.
- The harvest and farm management: Gabriel's skill and knowledge prove essential to the farm's survival through crises and storms.
- Troy's disappearance and return: Troy's presumed drowning is revealed to be false; he returns disguised to disrupt Boldwood's Christmas party.
Motif tracker AI
Theme and motif · lens J3 · compare across books
- Vanity and self-regard (Ch 1, 4, 12, 13, 17, 24, 26): Bathsheba's initial vanity and self-absorption lead her into dangerous situations and poor choices.
- The valentine and its consequences (Ch 13, 14, 15, 17, 19, 23): A thoughtless impulse to send a valentine with 'Marry Me' sets in motion Boldwood's obsession and eventual madness.
- Fire and destruction (Ch 6, 36, 37, 45, 46): Fire and water repeatedly threaten the farm and symbolise the destructive forces of passion and fate.
- Darkness and secrecy (Ch 2, 7, 24, 27, 28, 32, 44, 46): Many crucial events occur in darkness or secrecy, revealing hidden truths and forbidden desires.
- Loyalty and devotion (Ch 5, 6, 7, 15, 21, 36, 37, 62, 63): Gabriel's unwavering loyalty and devotion to Bathsheba and the farm prove to be his defining virtue.
- Nature's power and indifference (Ch 2, 5, 36, 37, 38, 40, 44, 45, 46): Nature operates according to its own laws, indifferent to human passion and suffering, teaching humility.
I never fuss about dirt in its pure state, and when I know what sort it is. (Ch 8, para 28)
She moved between them as a chaise between carts, was heard after them as a romance after sermons, was felt among them like a breeze among furnaces. (Ch 12, para 4)
It was Wisdom in the abstract facing Folly in the concrete. (Ch 13, para 12)
Marry me,” he said aloud. (Ch 14, para 10)
Signature words Count
Prose style · lens H3 · compare across books
Words this book uses far more than the other books on our shelf (log odds, at least 8 uses). Names often top the list.
Commercial facts card Research
Commercial facts · lens L1, L2, L4 · compare across books
| First published | 1874 |
|---|---|
| Author died | 1928 |
| Copyright | Public domain in the UK (author died 1928, so life plus 70 years has passed) and in the US (first published 1874, before 1931). |
| Length | 138,266 words in 63 chapters; about 9.2 hours to read |
| Genre | Romance |
| Sales and adaptations | Coming in a later phase, with sources. |
Method: counts come from a clean public domain plain text, split into chapters and paragraphs with stable IDs (for example c3p12 is chapter 3, paragraph 12, in reading order). Lenses marked AI are our AI reading of each chapter, made once and stored. Every quote shown was checked word for word against the text; 38 AI quotes for this book failed that check and were dropped.
Weekly email: coming soon
One short email a week on new AI tools for authors. Sign up opens soon.