Smarr Publishers
English
for
Classical Studies
A Student’s Companion to
The Vicar of
Wakefield
by Robert W. Watson
Copyright © Watson Educational Services, Inc., 2006
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The Vicar of Wakefield / 1
W
Introduction to The Vicar of Wakefield
HEN speaking of Oliver Goldsmith, Horace
Walpole (The Castle of Otranto) called this writer
of the 18th-century an “inspired idiot.” Even one
of his closest associates, Samuel Johnson, said of Goldsmith:
“He seldom comes where he is not more ignorant than any one
else.” Goldsmith was a vain man, and his quirks were
numerous. Yet, surprisingly, Goldsmith has the rare distinction
among writers of having a novel (The Vicar of Wakefield), a
play (She Stoops to Conquer), and a poem (The Deserted
Village) to achieve permanence by becoming classics.
However, it was his four-volume History of England (1771)
that provided him with most of his income, which seemed to
vanish quickly.
Goldsmith began writing only after he failed as a physician. It
was the poem, The Traveler, that gave Goldsmith a measure of
fame. Soon, the doctor-turned-writer was seen in the company
of Samuel Johnson, Edmund Burke, and Joshua Reynolds,
thus becoming a member of Johnson’s “Literary Club.”
From Goldsmith’s writings, a reader can see that the focus centers on the simple agrarian life
style of the yeoman farmer. This focus would be natural, since Goldsmith was born and raised
in the rural culture of Ireland. Goldsmith and other pre-romantics had a cautious distrust for
industrialism, while the Romantics had developed later a strong aversion toward the destruction
of rural communities throughout England, Ireland, and Scotland. Even though The Deserted
Village has this clear theme of destruction, The Vicar of Wakefield offers a reflection about
something more terrible than farmers leaving the land for the cities. The Vicar of Wakefield
discusses the loss of nobility, faith, and innocence.
Oddly, The Vicar of Wakefield did not achieve any greatness until the 19th century. In his
advertisement about the book, Goldsmith states, “The hero of this piece unites in himself the
three greatest characters upon earth; he is a priest, an husbandman, and the father of a family.”
The protagonist is the sort of man that we can all admire. Through the character of Dr.
Primrose, the reader will watch a man of honor try to combat the decay of the society around
him by attempting to stay true to his own principles, even when he seems to fail to impress
these principles upon his own family, particularly his wife and daughters.
The novel is not without some criticism. The tone might be a little too sweet for modern tastes,
and the irony might be too deliberate. However, these are the charms that make The Vicar of
Wakefield worth the time to read time and time again. As you read this novel, give special
attention to the irony, which has perception and reality always in conflict.
Goldsmith does try to demonstrate to the reader that patience must be learned through suffering.
We will learn other lessons from The Vicar of Wakefield as well, which include knowing that
good must ultimately triumph over evil, that it is right to rely upon God, and that forgiveness
will bring happiness.
ROBERT W. WATSON
2 / The Vicar of Wakefield
The Vicar of Wakefield
Lesson One
1.1 Vocabulary Recognition
contrivance n.
vex v.
approbation n.
penury n.
1.2 Vocabulary Exercise
1. With each subsequent election, the voting process ___________ more citizens as they
perceive that their votes seem to offer little toward formulating public policy.
2. When the plan to build a tree fort received the _____________ of their parents, Charles and
Stanley began immediately to find a proper tree.
3. Before Jim crashed his _________________, I tried to tell my friend that his aircraft design
was bound to fail, because no one has ever successfully flown using only muscle power.
4. The young people were struck by the _______________ of the people who lived in the poor
neighborhood.
1.3 Reading Assignment: The Vicar of Wakefield, chapters 1–5
1.4 Recall Questions
1. What was the “great reputation” that the vicar states that he enjoyed?
2. According to the vicar, what was he “by nature an admirer of”?
3. What name did the vicar desire for a daughter, but never got a chance to use?
4. According to the vicar, what were the three “wants” in Wakefield?
5. Why was Mr. Wilmot not adverse to the proposed marriage of his daughter, Arabella, to
George?
6. Why did the vicar’s tract on monogamy prove to be offensive to Mr. Wilmot?
7. What news does the vicar receive that ends the hopes of George and Arabella’s getting
married?
8. When George gets ready to go to London, what book does the vicar give to him that is to be
his “comfort on the way”?
The Vicar of Wakefield / 3
9. What is the name of the “new companion” that travels with the Primroses?
10. What event happened that caused Mrs. Primrose to look more favorably upon the travelling
companion?
11. Why does the vicar have his son get a carriage as they start for church?
12. After the vicar gives reasons for his disliking Mr. Thornhill, what does the landlord do that
neutralizes his warnings?
1.5 Critical Thinking

Explain how the vicar learns that the temporal things of life are vanity. In your opinion, why
does it take a calamity in life before people realize that material things are not very
important?

Explain what changes were required in the Primrose’s lifestyle when the family had
embraced an agrarian way of life rather than one in the genteel manner.

Explain the following statement: “Virtue which requires to be ever guarded is scarce worth
the sentinel.” Do you agree? Why or why not?
1.6 Bonus Thoughts

Hebe: According to Greek mythology, Hebe is the daughter of Juno. The occupation of this
goddess is being the God’s cupbearer and has the title of the goddess of youth. However, in
order to be the wife of Hercules, Hebe resigned her office.

The Cruelty of Barbara Allan: This was a popular ballad in medieval times.
It was in and about the Martinmas time,
When the green leaves were a-falling,
That Sir John Graeme, in the West Country,
Fell in love with Barbara Allan.
He sent his men down through the town
To the place where she was dwelling:
“O haste and come to my master dear,
Gin ye be Barbara Allan.”
O slowly, slowly rose she up,
To the place where he was lying,
And when she drew the curtain by,
“Young man, I think you’re dying.”
“O it’s I’m sick, and very, very sick,
And it’s all for Barbara Allan”;
“O the better for me ye’s never be,
Though your heart’s blood were a-spilling.
4 / The Vicar of Wakefield
“O dinna ye mind, young man,” said she,
“When the red wine ye were fillin’,
That ye made the healths go round and round,
And slighted Barbara Allan!”
He turned his face unto the wall,
And death was with him dealing;
“Adieu, adieu, my dear friends all,
And be kind to Barbara Allan.”
And slowly, slowly raise she up,
And slowly, slowly left him,
And, sighing, said she could not stay,
Since death of life had reft him.
She had not gane a mile but twa,
When she heard the dead-bell ringing,
And every stroke that the dead-bell geid,”
It cried, “Woe to Barbara Allan!”
“O mother, mother, make my bed!
O make it soft and narrow!
Since my love died for me today,
I’ll die for him tomorrow.”
They buried her in the old churchyard,
And Sir John’s grave was nigh her.
And from his heart grew a red, red rose,
And from her heart a brier.
They grew to the top o’ the old church wall,
Till they could grow no higher,
Until they tied a true love’s knot—
The red rose and the brier.
The Vicar of Wakefield / 5
The Vicar of Wakefield
Lesson Two
2.1 Vocabulary Recognition
acrimony n.
confute v.
officious adj.
raillery n.
2.2 Vocabulary Exercise
1. Listening to the ______________ between Karen and Bill always makes me laugh; they are
so quick on their feet and show a lot of wit.
2. Sharon recalled that she began to doubt the validity of evolution when an evolutionist was
soundly ____________(ed) by a professor who supported creationism.
3. I was shocked that Jeff failed to understand the ____________ expressed when he called
Gloria a “mindless shrimp.”
4. Cousin John had only one year of business school; yet he made himself
_________________ in every way as he gave unsolicited advice to Mr. Hess, who had
operated a small business for years.
2.3 Reading Assignment: The Vicar of Wakefield, chapters 6–8
2.4 Recall Questions
1. According to the vicar, what is one of the first Christian virtues?
2. Why does the vicar dislike a “wash for the face”?
3. What was the result of Mrs. Primrose’s desire to entertain all of the Thornhill’s servants?
4. When the vicar states that no free-thinker will marry his daughter, what is the argument that
Moses offer to his father?
5. What was the one thing that the vicar disliked about Mr. Burchell?
6. What is the criticism that Mr. Burchell gives concerning the poetry of Gay and Ovid?
7. As Mr. Burchell finishes his ballad, what does Thornhill’s chaplain kill that upset the
Primrose family?
8. What was the purpose of the chaplain’s coming to the Primrose’s in the first place?
6 / The Vicar of Wakefield
2.5 Critical Thinking

When Thornhill “argues” with Moses, he makes fun of the boy, who sincerely wishes to
debate. At what point does making fun of someone become cruel and wicked?

.Do you agree with Moses that God judges only the actions of men, and not their thoughts?
What does the Bible say about the thoughts of man?

Is Mrs. Primrose’s argument that some girls have converted their free-thinking husbands a
good one? What does the Bible say about being unequally yoked together with unbelievers?
2.6 Bonus Thoughts

John Gay: As part of the inner circle of Steele, Addison, and Pope, John Gay is best known
for his play, The Beggar’s Opera. This play was a sensation in England. Scenes from the
play were put on ladies’ fans, playing cards, and decorative screens. Ministers preached
against the play, and newspapers wrote much about it, both for and against. As a satire of
Italian opera, The Beggar’s Opera is also a satire of class distinction and Whig politics. The
play portrays the vices of the middle class, which are greed and hypocrisy. However, the
play also reveals that while the middle class is hated by both the upper and lower classes,
these classes need the middle class in order to exploit.

Hierarchy of the Anglican Church: Dr. Primrose is a vicar in the Church of England. So,
where does this gentleman fit into the hierarchy of the church? At the head of the Church of
England is the monarch. This office was assumed by Henry VIII when he severed ties with
the Church of Rome and continues to be one of the offices of the kings and queens of
England. Ironically, it was the Pope who gave Henry the title, “Defender of the Faith,” for
his Defense of the Seven Sacraments (1521), an answer to Martin Luther.
After the monarch, the Archbishop of Canterbury is the most powerful churchman in the
Church of England. Under the Archbishop are the bishops, who oversee the ministry of
subordinates within an extended territory. Next are the Canons who minister in cathedrals.
A vicar is the minister of a local parish church, and a Deacon is a cleric just below the rank
of a vicar.

The Ballad Form: This poetic form is suitable for songs. The stanzas have four lines, with
the first and third lines having four iambs, and lines two and four having three iambs. Many
gospel songs use the ballad form. Just for fun, sing the poem (another ballad) on p. 82 of
your text to the tune of “The Ballad of Gilligan’s Island.”
The Vicar of Wakefield / 7
The Vicar of Wakefield
Lesson Three
3.1 Vocabulary Recognition
peremptory adj.
prolocutor n.
harangue v.
diffidence n.
3.2 Vocabulary Exercise
1. As a well-known ___________________, the Honorable Mr. Jenkins delivered a boring
speech about windmills.
2. Even though we three boys wanted to go on the camping trip, mother gave the
______________ vote that we had to go with her to see Aunt Doris.
3. Philip’s ______________ is to be expected when one attends a meeting with strangers.
4. The news commentator ________________ for several minutes about the apathy of
Americans regarding issues that he thought were important.
3.3 Reading Assignment: The Vicar of Wakefield, chapters 9–13
3.4 Recall Questions
1. What is ironic about the vicar’s statements regarding Thornhill that the Primrose family
“has been bred with as nice a sense of honour as you”?
2. In chapter nine, who suggests that the evening end with prayer?
3. According to the vicar, what is more pleasing than prospects “crowned with fruition”?
4. What does Mrs. Primrose suggest to the vicar concerning transportation to church on
Sunday?
5. What “rudeness” did Mr. Burchell show while the two ladies were gossiping at the
Flamborough’s home?
6. What employment does Mrs. Primrose request for her daughters?
7. Who was entrusted with selling the colt at the fair in order to return with a horse?
8. What was bought with the money from the sale of the colt?
8 / The Vicar of Wakefield
9. After Moses tells the story about the Giant and the Dwarf, the vicar gets ready to offer a
moral to the story. What stops him from doing so?
10. According to the vicar, how is the conscience described?
3.5 Critical Thinking

The vicar remarks that his family, while adjusting to their humble lifestyle, soon became
vain again. By using examples from the readings, explain how the kind of company one
keeps determines one’s attitude about life.

Today’s readings show how far Christianity had deteriorated. Explain how simple faith in
the Bible had been replaced by worldliness, dreams, and superstitions.
3.6 Bonus Thoughts

Sibyl: The Sibyl is prominent in the Aeneid, as she guides Aeneas through the underworld.
We learn that the Sibyl rejected the love of Apollo, yet the god granted the Sibyl a wish.
She scooped up a handful of sand and stated she wished to live the same number of years as
the number of grains in her hand. Unfortunately, the Sibyl forgot to ask for unfailing youth
as well. The older she got, the smaller she became. Finally, all that was left was her voice.
When asked later, what did she now wish for, the Sibyl replied, “I wish that I may die.”

Michaelmas: This holiday is celebrated on September 29 in honor of Michael the
archangel.
The Vicar of Wakefield / 9
The Vicar of Wakefield
Lesson Four
4.1 Vocabulary Recognition
orthodoxy n.
draught [note pronunciation] n.
capacious adj.
sanguine adj.
4.2 Vocabulary Exercise
1. Anyone who argues for a strong, centralized government will be outside of conservative
___________________.
2. What a difference between our _________________ eighty acres of land and our old
apartment in the city!
3. After losing their final game, the team members were less than _______________, and no
one spoke on the way home.
4. It made my ears tingle just by watching Daniel drink a 20-ounce bottle of cola in one
____________.
4.3 Reading Assignment: The Vicar of Wakefield, chapters 14–16
4.4 Recall Questions
1. What did the Primrose family decide to sell in order to raise money for the girls?
2. What does the vicar accept in exchange for Blackberry?
3. Why were the girls not finally allowed to go to London with the ladies?
4. How does the Primrose family discover that Mr. Burchell was responsible for the girls’
misfortune?
5. What was the vicar’s explanation to Burchell’s lack of remorse after he was confronted with
the letter written to the ladies?
6. What was the problem with the painting as soon as it was finished?
4.5 Critical Thinking

On page 76, Goldsmith offers a discussion about “taste.” Was the painting of the Primrose
family done in good taste? Why or why not?
10 / The Vicar of Wakefield

What does the vicar mean when he says that Thornhill’s words “had more of love than
matrimony in them”? Did the vicar have a duty to warn his daughter of his suspicions? Why
or why not?
4.6 Bonus Thoughts

Touchstone: Formerly, a touchstone was a hard, black rock that was streaked by drawing
gold or silver over. In this way, the quality of the precious metals could be determined.
Today, a touchstone is a standard by which anything of value is measured.
The Vicar of Wakefield
Lesson Five
5.1 Vocabulary Recognition
assiduity n.
pique n.
perfidious adj.
aver v.
5.2 Vocabulary Exercise
1. When a citizen betrays his nation to its enemies, this ________________ act is the worst of
all possible crimes.
2. The ____________ arose between Tom and Mark, when Tom insisted that Mark had the
ugliest dog on the block.
3. Without the ______________ of the Thompson twins, we could never have mailed out so
many invitations for our fundraiser.
4. In spite of reports to the contrary, at the last meeting, the club’s president _____________
to all that he was pleased with the educational progress of the membership.
5.3 Reading Assignment: The Vicar of Wakefield, chapters 17–19
5.4 Recall Questions
1. What does the vicar convince Olivia to make public?
2. In “An Elegy on the Death of a Mad Dog,” what happens to the dog after he bites the “good
man”?
3. What news does Dick give the family after the vicar asks about Olivia?
4. Who does the vicar suspect is responsible for causing this new unhappiness to the Primrose
family, but later discovers that he was wrong?
The Vicar of Wakefield / 11
5. According to the vicar, good company upon the road provides what?
6. According to the actors whom the vicar meets on the road, what is the sole purpose for
people going to see the plays?
7. In chapter 19, the vicar’s “entertainer” asserts that he reverences the king, so long as the
king does what?
8. According to the vicar, what are the two sources of wealth that the rich enjoy and what is
the only source for the poor?
9. After the vicar delivers his “warm” speech about the role of monarchy, what does he
discover about his “entertainer”?
10. When the vicar goes to see a play, who turns out to be “Horatio”?
5.5 Critical Thinking

In your opinion, what truth is stated in “An Elegy on the Death of a Mad Dog”? Could the
poem be symbolic of Thornhill and the vicar? How?

Is the vicar correct when he states that “there must be tyrants”? Why or why not? Is there a
difference between the divine right of a king or the winner-takes-all attitude of a
democracy?
5.4 Bonus Thoughts

Politics: Today’s reading has an interesting discussion about politics. As a philosophical
discipline, politics is the study of what is the just state. Of course, this presupposes that a
state is necessary in the first place. Therefore, before any meaningful conclusions can be
drawn regarding politics, we must ask whether a society can exist without the state. Dr.
Primrose argues that a powerful individual should be the state, or “monarchy.” The butler
favored a state where individualism was paramount and expressed through “democracy.”
On the other hand, anyone who argues that the state is not necessary for governing the
affairs of society would espouse “anarchy.” However, do not confuse the doctrine of “no
state” with “no government.” There are other ways men govern themselves without
resorting to powerful centralized bureaucracies, such as in the case of most voluntary
associations and independent churches.

What is a civil war?: Civil wars are evil, because the established order is usually
overthrown. Dr. Primrose shows a great respect towards constitutional authority. This
regard for authority marks him as a conservative at variance with previous Puritan thinking.
The Puritan revolution against King Charles was a civil war in its truest sense. A civil war
always has two factions contending for control of one government. In the case of Charles I,
the Puritan parliament overthrew the constitutional government and executed the king for
treason.
12 / The Vicar of Wakefield
On the other hand, the so-called “American Revolution” was not a civil war, but was a war
of independence. The British colonies did not wish to control the government in London,
but only wanted to be left alone. Therefore, the Declaration of Independence is not a
document of revolution, but a document of secession.
Several years later, the Southern states followed the political precedent of their forefathers
and seceded from the uncontrollable centralized government of the United States by
forming a government under a constitution that reflected the spirit and intent of the framers
of the U.S. Constitution. It was the Southern states that honored the principles of the U.S.
Constitution, while industrialists and radicals in the Republican party wanted to eliminate
the restraints under this document. The War for Southern Independence was not a “civil
war,” because the South was not wanting to control the government of the United States, but
like the former British colonies, was only wanting to be left alone to make its own way and
map its own destiny among the world’s nations. With the defeat of the South, Abraham
Lincoln and the revolutionary Republican party changed the government of the United
States from a federation of independent sovereign republics to a unitary, centralized state,
where the states are nothing better than conquered provinces. Thus, the War between the
States was technically a war of conquest and a revolution when the U.S. Constitution was
replaced by “Manifest Destiny.”
The Vicar of Wakefield / 13
The Vicar of Wakefield
Lesson Six
6.1 Vocabulary Recognition
untractable adj.
venal adj.
artifice n.
intaglio n.
6.2 Vocabulary Exercise
1. The dispensing and withholding of public funds from particular districts is political
blackmail and encourages representatives to base their decisions on their ______________
behavior rather than on principle.
2. Many studies show that children who are raised by state “experts” are more likely to be
_____________ than those young people who enjoy the intimacy of parents.
3. After considering several submissions for the new memorial, the committee chose a simple
design that featured a(n) ___________.
4. The only reason that Mr. Goodman did not fall for the latest ___________ is that when he
was younger, he was tricked into participating in a similar Ponzi scheme.
6.3 Reading Assignment: The Vicar of Wakefield, chapters 20–21
6.4 Recall Questions
1. According to George, what is not the way to secure a fortune?
2. After his cousin talks him out of going to school, what does George decide to do?
3. When George was about to leave the employ of Mr. Thornhill, what did his “friend” ask
him to do?
4. What was the business of Mr. Cripse?
5. After realizing that he cannot teach English to the Dutch unless he knows the Dutch
language, George travels to a school in Louvain hoping to teach what language?
6. What “service” does Mr. Thornhill perform for George for a sum of £100?
7. Whom does the vicar discover in an inn just twenty miles from his home?
8. Whom does the vicar discover to be the seducer of his daughter Olivia?
14 / The Vicar of Wakefield
6.5 Critical Thinking

During his travels, George happens to meet with friends and relatives. In your opinion, do
these chance meetings seem convincing, or do they seem contrived?

When the vicar gives his benediction to his son on page 113, is Goldsmith showing satire?
In other words, explain how Goldsmith uses the vicar to show the ridiculousness of war.

Do you agree with the vicar when he states that Olivia should not break her word that she
would not reveal who the priest is? What is the Biblical principle that the vicar is
defending?

Reread the letter written by Mr. Burchell on page 70. How did the vicar’s preconceived
notions about Burchell result in the wrong interpretation of the letter?
6.6 Bonus Thoughts

Newgate Prison: This was the main prison in London and is often referred to in literature.
Charles Dickens’s Great Expectations has Newgate as one of the central settings in the
novel. The prison’s notoriety and bad reputation result from being the prison that held
condemned criminals who committed murder, arson, and forgery, and who were publicly
hanged in front of the prison. One of the more illustrious inmates of the prison was the
famous pirate, William Kidd. The reports about the prison reveal it to be a disgusting place.
Apparently, inmates slept two or three to a bed, and the lice crunched underfoot with every
step. Before they were allowed to appear in court, the inmates were so foul that they were
washed with vinegar. Others who attended court would hold nosegays of fresh flowers in
order to mask the smell. Even the United States has its own version of Newgate. Newgate
Prison of Connecticut began in the early eighteenth century as a copper mine. As the first
state prison in America, Newgate was used to imprison Tories and Loyalists during the War
for American Independence. Later, during the War for Southern Independence, the prison
held Confederate prisoners. Today Newgate Prison in Connecticut is a National Historic
Landmark.

The Duel: Today you read about George challenging Mr. Thornhill to a duel. The definition
of the word duel is an encounter between two or more individuals with equal numbers on
each side and this encounter results in combat where both parties are equally armed. The
reason for the duel is to satisfy a point of honor between the individuals. The duel was
strictly organized, and the rules are agreed upon before the combat began. Therefore, a duel
is much more than just a brawl. While there were judicial duels (trial by combat), the more
common ones were private affairs. Obviously, these duels were not announced. In the
seventeenth century, the duel had fallen into such disfavor that even the Catholic church
threatened to excommunicate those who participated in any duel. In addition to this, anyone
killed in a duel could not be buried in hallowed ground. The practice of the duel came to
America and perhaps the most famous duel was between Aaron Burr and Alexander
Hamilton, who was killed by Burr.
The Vicar of Wakefield / 15
The Vicar of Wakefield
Lesson Seven
7.1 Vocabulary Recognition
apace adv.
protract v.
imprecation n.
perquisite n.
7.2 Vocabulary Exercise
1. My cousin was expecting a nice tip from Senator Smith, but instead received a
____________ that would not even buy a cup of coffee.
2. My father reminded us of the story of old Mr. Collins who openly shook a fist towards
heaven, issued an ________________ against God, and died the next day of a spider bite.
3. Many citizens have began to wonder about the propriety of a legal system that
____________ the appeals of convicted murderers.
4. While growing up, I found that my brother excelled __________ and had no difficulty
making new friends, unlike myself.
7.3 Reading Assignment: The Vicar of Wakefield, chapters 22–25
7.4 Recall Questions
1. While he returned home with his daughter, according to the vicar, what two things are more
kind than people?
2. As the vicar arrived at his home, what does he discover?
3. In the story about the near execution of the French officer which the vicar told Olivia, who
did the executioner turn out to be?
4. According to the vicar, the good travelling through life is like what?
5. According to the vicar, the wicked travelling through life is like what?
6. What did the confiscated cattle sell for after Thornhill’s steward demanded the annual rent?
7. While the vicar is in jail, who offers him bedding for the night?
16 / The Vicar of Wakefield
7.5 Critical Thinking

Defend the following statement: “If they cannot bring us to enjoy life, books will teach us to
endure it.”

The vicar tells Mr. Thornhill that he forgives Thornhill’s actions toward his family, but he
will forever hold the man in contempt. Is this attitude contradictory? Does forgiveness
require the absence of scorn?
7.6 Bonus Thoughts

Debtors’ Prison: Samuel Johnson wrote the following in his Idler No. 22 (September 16.
1758): “The confinement…of any man in the sloth and darkness of a prison, is a loss to the
nation, and no gain to the creditor. For, of the multitudes who are pining in those cells of
misery, a very small part is suspected of any fraudulent act by which they retain what
belongs to others. The rest are imprisoned by the wantonness of pride, the malignity of
revenge, or the acrimony of disappointed expectation….It is vain to continue an institution
which experience shows to be ineffectual. We have now imprisoned one generation of
debtors after another, but we do not find that their numbers lessen. We have now learned,
that rashness and imprudence will not be deterred from taking credit; let us try whether
fraud and avarice may be more easily restrained from giving it.”
The Vicar of Wakefield / 17
The Vicar of Wakefield
Lesson Eight
8.1 Vocabulary Recognition
execration n.
extricate v.
moroseness n.
licentiousness n.
8.2 Vocabulary Exercise
1. The levy was intended to be a blessing to stop the flooding; however, the man-made wall
turned out to be a(n )_____________ by trapping the rising waters behind it.
2. As Rome began to decline in morals and integrity, the citizens were given over to
________________, demanding more entertainment and government benefits.
3. The unexpected death of the beloved pastor caused a solemn ________________ to descend
upon the small, rural town.
4. The young fawn was tangled in the fence, but we were able to ________________ carefully
and watched it bound across the field.
8.3 Reading Assignment: The Vicar of Wakefield, chapters 26–28
8.4 Recall Questions
1. Even though the ladies were able to find lodging, where did the three Primrose boys have to
sleep?
2. According to the vicar as he preached to the inmates, what does a man gain by cursing?
3. When the vicar talks to Mr. Jenkinson, what is the one thing that would wound the vicar’s
happiness?
4. According to the vicar, even if his speaking to the prisoners does not do them any good,
whom will his efforts help?
5. According to the vicar, what is the better purpose of law than imposing severe punishment?
6. While capital punishment is just in the case of murder, why is it unjust in the case of theft?
7. According to the vicar, what two conditions helped produce more convicts in England than
in the rest of Europe?
8. What suggestion does Mr. Jenkinson make to the vicar about Mr. Thornhill’s uncle?
18 / The Vicar of Wakefield
9. With the death of Olivia, what does Mr. Jenkinson suggest the vicar should be concerned
about?
10. What news does Mrs. Primrose bring to the vicar about Sophia after he learns that Mr.
Thornhill will not release him from the jail?
11. When nothing could seem to get worse, who is brought into the jail in chains and what was
his crime?
8.5 Critical Thinking

Chapter 27 begins with the family trying to dissuade the vicar from pursuing the
reformation of the prisoners. What were their reasons? Are these reasons valid ones for not
presenting the gospel? Does this reluctance of the family offer further evidence of the
decline of religion during this time?

In that the vicar was to create a semblance of order out of disorder, does this suggest that
Goldsmith thinks that monarchy is better than democracy? Where else in this novel does
Goldsmith offer arguments for the superiority of monarchy?
8.6 Bonus Thoughts

Capital Punishment and the Bible: The principle for capital punishment is found in
Exodus 21:23. Even the Apostle Paul recognizes the justness of capital punishment in his
defense before Festus (Acts 25:10–11). In other words, the punishment must fit the crime.
The reader gets the impression that George will meet his fate with acceptance and honor.
However, one could argue that the crime was not a capital offense, because George did not
kill anyone. If this is true, the state has overreached its authority, which seems to be the case
in the novel. The law protected the upper class, while depriving the lower class of any
honorable avenue for redress against the rich and powerful. Therefore, if George were
executed even though he had not killed Mr. Thornhill, he would have suffered an injustice.
The biblical principle here is only concerned with the act and is not concerned with the
mental state of the criminal. Under Jewish law, the execution of the murderer was expected
whether the killer was a child or even insane. Indeed, a defense of insanity is relatively
recent, having been used first in England in 1843. By this time, man had become the
measure of all things, and the faith in man was such that it was argued that reasonable
people do not murder others. Thus, life imprisonment in a cage like an animal is considered
more humane. However, as Solomon notes, “the tender mercies of the wicked are
cruel” (Proverbs 12:10).
The Vicar of Wakefield / 19
The Vicar of Wakefield
Lesson Nine
9.1 Vocabulary Recognition
clemency n.
cordial n.
dissemble v.
vindicate v.
9.2 Vocabulary Exercise
1. Carolyn has always enjoyed the candies that her father brought from France; the
confectionery was chocolate with a _____________ center.
2. Even though it was ill-advised, the governor offered __________ to the mass murderer, who
happened to be his brother.
3. After enduring all of his calamities with patience, Dr. Primrose retained his integrity and
knew assuredly that God had ________________(ed) him and his family.
4. Even though the sponsors of the health bill did their best to _______________ its features,
the citizens realized that the plan was a scheme for socialized medicine.
9.3 Reading Assignment: The Vicar of Wakefield, chapters 29–30
9.4 Recall Questions
1. According to the vicar, while man cannot be completely blessed, he can however be
completely what?
2. While religion is kind to all men, to whom is it particularly kind?
3. According to vicar, as we grow older, what seems to happen to our days?
4. After the delivery of the message, who comes into the jail with Mr. Burchell?
5. What is the reward that the vicar gives to Mr. Burchell for his gallant deed?
6. Who does “Mr. Burchell” happen to be?
9.5 Critical Thinking

In chapter 29, the vicar seems to argue that life is one of class conflict between the wealthy
and the poor. Do you agree that such a conflict exists? Why or why not?

Is the vicar’s “gospel” in chapter 29 based on the grace of God or on works?
20 / The Vicar of Wakefield
9.6 Bonus Thoughts

Samuel Johnson and The History of Rasselas: The beginning of chapter 29 is similar to
thoughts expressed in Rasselas. The theme of this short novel by Johnson is the search for
happiness. Even when Prince Rasselas was surrounded with beauty, having every appetite
satisfied, he finds his soul empty. Rasselas leaves the Happy Valley and wanders over the
earth, sampling the philosophies and pleasures of the world. At last, he decides to return to
the Happy Valley, knowing that the choice of life is secondary to the choice one must make
for eternity.
Johnson wrote his History of Rasselas in about a week in order to pay off the debts of his
mother after she had died. This work is the only novel that Johnson ever wrote, yet has
gained a place among the classics of the world.
The Vicar of Wakefield
Lesson Ten
10.1 Vocabulary Recognition
consummate v.
succour v.
art n.
celerity n.
10.2 Vocabulary Exercise
1. Having found a fifty-dollar bill on the ground in the vacant lot, Martha ran with all of the
____________ of a happy young girl.
2. After the tornado swept through the small village, the neighbors on the outskirts came to
____________ the victims with food, clothing, and shelter.
3. When he held the first volume of his book, the young author realized his dream was
________________(ed).
4. The _____________ of sly Brother Fox were never much of a match against the wiles of
Brother Rabbit.
10.3 Reading Assignment: The Vicar of Wakefield, chapters 31–32
10.4 Recall Questions
1. What was the role of Timothy Baxter in the kidnapping of Sophia?
2. When Sir William Thornhill asks to see Olivia, who enters the jail?
3. According to Mr. Thornhill, what was the reason for his wanting to marry Miss Wilmot?
4. What do we discover about the “marriage” between Mr. Thornhill and Olivia?
The Vicar of Wakefield / 21
5. Whom does Sir William Thornhill (Mr. Burchell) ask to marry him?
6. After his release from prison, the vicar learns of what news from George?
10.5 Critical Thinking

The marriage between Mr. Thornhill and Olivia continues, in spite of the fact that they live
apart. No doubt, Olivia married Mr. Thornhill, because she loved him. However, that is not
the case at the end of the novel. Mr. Thornhill certainly did not love Olivia, and the feelings
Olivia had for Mr. Thornhill were badly alienated. What should be the standard for
marriage—one of love or one of honor? Is love necessary to have a successful marriage?
What is the Biblical teaching about marriage and the duty between husbands and wives?
22 / The Vicar of Wakefield
Glossary for The Vicar of Wakefield
acrimony (²k“r…-m½”n¶) n. Bitter, sharp, ill-natured animosity, especially as it is exhibited in
speech or behavior.
apace (…-p³s“) adv. At a rapid pace; swiftly; abreast.
approbation (²p”r…-b³“sh…n) n. An expression of warm approval; praise; official approval.
art (ärt) n. Stratagem or trick; contrivance; cunning.
artifice (är“t…-f¹s) n. Subtle but base deception; trickery; cleverness or skill; ingenuity.
assiduity (²s”¹-d›“¹-t¶) n. Persistent application or diligence; unflagging effort; constant
personal attention
aver (…-vûr“) v. To affirm positively; declare
capacious (k…-p³“sh…s) adj. Capable of containing a large quantity; spacious or roomy
celerity (s…-lμr“¹-t¶) n. Swiftness of action or motion; speed
clemency (klμm“…n-s¶) n. A disposition to show mercy, especially toward an offender or
enemy; a merciful, kind, or lenient act
confute (k…n-fy›t“) v. To prove to be wrong or in error; refute decisively
consummate (k¼n“s…-m³t”) .v. To bring to completion or fruition; to realize or achieve; fulfill
contrivance (k…n-trº“v…ns) n. The act of contriving; a mechanical device or a clever plan.
cordial (kôr“j…l) n. A stimulant; a tonic; a liqueur.
dissemble (d¹-sμm“b…l) v. To disguise or conceal behind a false appearance; to make a false
show of; feign
diffidence (d¹f“¹-d…ns) n. The quality or state of being timid or shy
draught (dräft) n. A gulp, a swallow, or an inhalation; the amount taken in by a single act of
drinking or inhaling
execration (μk”s¹-kr³“sh…n) n. A curse; something that is cursed or loathed
extricate (μk“str¹-k³t”) v. To release from an entanglement or difficulty; disengage
harangue (h…-r²ng“) v. To speak with a long speech that is angry or violent
imprecation (¹m”pr¹-k³“sh…n) n. The act of imprecating; a curse
intaglio (¹n-t²l“y½) n. A figure or design carved into or beneath the surface of hard metal or
stone
licentiousness (lº-sμn“sh…s-n¹s) n. Lacking moral discipline or ignoring legal restraint, especially
in sexual conduct; having no regard for accepted rules or standards
moroseness (m…-r½s“-n¹s) n. Sullen melancholy; gloom
officious (…-f¹sh“…s) adj. Marked by excessive eagerness in offering unwanted services or
advice to others
orthodoxy (ôr“th…-d¼k”s¶) n. Recognized or official practice, custom, or belief.
penury (pμn“y…-r¶) n. Extreme want or poverty; destitution; extreme dearth; barrenness or
insufficiency.
peremptory (p…-rμmp“t…-r¶) adj. Putting an end to all debate or action; not allowing
contradiction or refusal
perfidious (p…r-f¹d“-¶-…s) adj. Of, relating to, or marked by perfidy; treacherous
perquisite (pûr“kw¹-z¹t) n. A payment or profit received in addition to a regular wage or salary,
especially a benefit expected as one's due.
pique (p¶k) n. A state of vexation caused by a perceived slight or indignity; a feeling of
wounded pride; to cause to feel resentment or indignation.
prolocutor (pr½-l¼k“y…-t…r) n. One who lectures or offers discourse in public
The Vicar of Wakefield / 23
protract (pr½-tr²kt“) v. To draw out or lengthen in time; prolong
raillery (r³“l…-r¶) n. Good-natured teasing or ridicule; banter
sanguine (s²ng“gw¹n) adj. Cheerfully confident; optimistic
succour (s¾k“…r) v. To give assistance to in time of want, difficulty, or distress
untractable (¾n-tr²k“t…-b…l) adj. Difficult to manage or govern; stubborn; unruly
venal (v¶“n…l) adj. Open to bribery; mercenary; capable of betraying honor, duty, or scruples for
a price; corruptible; marked by corrupt dealings, especially bribery:
vex (vμks) v. To annoy, as with petty importunities; to annoy
vindicate (v¹n“d¹-k³t”) v. To clear of accusation, blame, suspicion, or doubt with supporting
arguments or proof; to provide justification or support for; to defend, maintain, or insist on
the recognition of one's rights
24 / The Vicar of Wakefield
The Vicar of Wakefield (Lessons 1–5)
Vocabulary Quiz #1
Instructions: Match the word with its definition.
A. contrivance
D. penury
G. officious
J. prolocutor
M. orthodoxy
P. sanguine
S. perfidious
B. vex
E. acrimony
H. raillery
K. harangue
N. draught
Q. assiduity
T. aver
C. approbation
F. confute
I. peremptory
L. diffidence
O. capacious
R. pique
1. _____ to speak with a long speech that is angry or violent
2. _____ an expression of warm approval; praise
3. _____ to cause to feel resentment or indignation
4. _____ putting an end to all debate or action; not allowing contradiction
5. _____ a gulp, a swallow, or an inhalation
6. _____ to prove to be wrong or in error; refute decisively
7. _____ to affirm positively
8. _____ persistent application or diligence
9. _____ a mechanical device or a clever plan
10. _____ quality or state of being timid or shy
11. _____ good-natured teasing or ridicule; banter
12. _____ cheerfully confident; optimistic
13. _____ bitter, sharp, ill-natured animosity, especially exhibited in speech
14. _____ recognized or official practice, custom, or belief
15. _____ marked by excessive eagerness in offering unwanted services
16. _____ treacherous
17. _____ to annoy, as with petty importunity
18. _____ one who lectures or offers discourse in public
19. _____ spacious or roomy
20. _____ extreme want or poverty; destitution
The Vicar of Wakefield (Lessons 6–10)
Vocabulary Quiz #2
Instructions: Match the word with its definition.
A. untractable
D. intaglio
G. imprecation
J. extricate
M. clemency
P. vindicate
S. art
B. venal
E. apace
H. perquisite
K. moroseness
N. cordial
Q. consummate
T. celerity
C. artifice
F. protract
I. execration
L. licentiousness
O. dissemble
R.succour
1. _____ at a rapid pace; swiftly
2. _____ stratagem or trick; contrivance; cunning
3. _____ sullen melancholy; gloom
4. _____ subtle but base deception; trickery
5. _____ to give assistance to in time of want, difficulty, or distress
6. _____ to release from an entanglement or difficulty
7. _____ capable of betraying honor, duty, or scruples for a price
8. _____ a merciful, kind, or lenient act
9. _____ a payment received in addition to one’s regular salary
10. _____ to bring to completion or fruition
11. _____ a design carved into or beneath the surface of hard metal or stone
12. _____ having no regard for accepted rules or standards
13. _____ to disguise or conceal behind a false appearance
14. _____ a curse
15. _____ swiftness of action or motion
16. _____ difficult to manage or govern
17. _____ to defend, maintain, or insist on the recognition of one’s rights
18. _____ something that is cursed or loathed
19. _____ a stimulant; a tonic; a liqueur
20. _____ to draw out or lengthen in time; prolong
Answer Keys to The Vicar of Wakefield
Vocabulary Exercises, Lesson 1
1. vexes
2. approbation
3. contrivance
4. penury
Lesson 1
1. He had very good gooseberry wine.
2. The vicar was an admirer of happy human faces.
3. The name of “Grissel.”
4. The three wants were a parson wanting pride, young men wanting wives, and alehouses
wanting customers.
5. The vicar was financially well-to-do and could give a lot of money to his son.
6. Mr. Wilmot, who was also a minister, had been married three times and was courting a
fourth one.
7. The vicar had lost his fortune.
8. The vicar gives George a Bible.
9. His name is Mr. Burchell.
10. Mr. Burchell saves the life of Sophia.
11. The vicar’s wife and daughters wore the dresses of genteel society, and not of the sort for a
more humble life.
12. Mr. Thornhill gave the Primroses a side of venison.
Vocabulary Exercises, Lesson 2
1. raillery
2. confuted
3. acrimony
4. officious
Lesson 2
1. One of the first of Christian virtues is hospitality.
2. The vicar believed that the wash hurt the complexion rather than helping it.
3. The vicar stated that the family was “pinched” (did not have a lot of money or food) for
three weeks.
4. God does not judge men by their thoughts, but by their acts.
5. Mr. Burchell seemed to be forming an attachment with Sophia.
6. The poetry is nothing but a combination of images without plot or connection.
7. The chaplain kills one of the two blackbirds that were singing for the family.
8. The chaplain invited the family to a ball to be held at the Primrose home.
Vocabulary Exercises, Lesson 3
1. prolocutor
2. peremptory
1
3. diffidence
4. harangued
Lesson 3
1. The way Thornhill conducts himself suggests that he is a man without honor.
2. Thornhill asks the vicar to say prayers.
3. The better prospects are the ones that are anticipated (“prospects in view”).
4. The girls should ride their horses.
5. Burchell sits with his face toward the fire (shunning the ladies) and interjects the word
“fudge” several times during the conversation.
6. Mrs. Primrose requested that her daughters become the companions of Misses Blarney and
Skeggs.
7. Moses is sent to sell the colt.
8. Moses purchases a gross of green spectacles.
9. The vicar hears a quarrel between Mr. Burchell and Mrs. Primrose.
10. The conscience is a coward.
Vocabulary Exercises, Lesson 4
1. orthodoxy
2. capacious
3. sanguine
4. draught
Lesson 4
1. It is decided that the remaining old horse should be sold at the fair.
2. The vicar accepts a check (draught) payable by Mr. Flamborough.
3. Someone had told the ladies some malicious things about the Primrose family.
4. One of the Primrose boys finds Mr. Burchell’s letter case, and the family reads a copy of the
letter to the ladies.
5. The vicar is certain that bad men lack shame.
6. The painting is so large that there was no place to hang it in the house.
Vocabulary Exercise, Lesson 5
1. perfidious
2. pique
3. assiduity
4. averred
Lesson 5
1. Olivia sets the date when she will commit herself to Mr. Williams if Thornhill does not
propose to her.
2. The dog died.
3. Dick states that he saw Olivia leave in a carriage with two men.
4. The vicar suspects Thornhill.
5. Good company upon the road provides the shortest cut.
6. The audience cares not for dialogue or wit, but only wants to be amused.
2
7. The king is to be reverenced so long as he does what he is told by the people.
8. The rich control the external commerce and benefit from internal industry. The poor can
only accumulate wealth by internal industry.
9. The entertainer is merely a butler.
10. Horatio is played by the vicar’s son George.
Vocabulary Exercises, Lesson 6
1. venal
2. untractable
3. intaglio
4. artifice
Lesson 6
1. George says that travelling after fortune is not the way to secure it.
2. George decides to become a writer.
3. George is asked to fight a duel for Mr. Thornhill.
4. Mr. Cripse was in the business of securing slaves for America.
5. George goes to Louvain to teach Greek.
6. Mr. Thornhill buys an army commission for George who would then go to the West Indies.
7. The vicar finds Olivia.
8. Mr. Thornhill is the man.
Vocabulary Exercise, Lesson 7
1. perquisite
2. imprecation
3. protracts
4. apace
Lesson 7
1. The vicar states that nature and books were better companions than people.
2. The house is on fire.
3. The would-be executioner is the son of Matilda.
4. This is similar to going home.
5. Though they are perhaps happy at times, the wicked are travelling towards exile.
6. The cattle sells for half of their value.
7. The man that offers the vicar the bedding is Ephraim Jenkinson, the fellow who stole the
vicar’s horse at the fair.
Vocabulary Exercise, Lesson 8
1. execration
2. licentiousness
3. moroseness
4. extricate
3
Lesson 8
1. The boys had to stay with the vicar in the prison.
2. The vicar says that the man gains nothing who curses.
3. The vicar states that hurting his family would be that which would wound his happiness.
4. The vicar states that his lectures will help himself.
5. The law should direct the reformation of people.
6. In the case of murder, the murderer pays with his life; however, in the case of theft, no man
has the right to trade his life for personal property.
7. The vicar states that increased penal laws and licentiousness produce more convicts.
8. The vicar ought to write to the uncle and explain the circumstances of the vicar.
9. The vicar should forget his pride and recognize the upcoming marriage of Mr. Thornhill,
thus being able to be released from the jail.
10. Sophia is kidnapped.
11. George becomes a prisoner, because he challenged Mr. Thornhill to a duel.
Vocabulary Exercises, Lesson 9
1. cordial
2. clemency
3. vindicated
4. dissemble
Lesson 9
1. Man can be completely miserable.
2. Religion is kind to the unhappy.
3. The days seem to grow shorter.
4. Sophia returns with Mr. Burchell.
5. The vicar offers his daughter Sophia to be Mr. Burchell’s wife.
6. He is Sir William Thornhill, the uncle of Mr. Thornhill.
Vocabulary Exercise, Lesson 10
1. celerity
2. succour
3. consummated
4. art
Lesson 10
1. Baxter was to kidnap Sophia, take her to safe place, where Mr. Thornhill would “fight” with
Baxter, and thus win Sophia’s affections.
2. Miss Arabella Wilmot enters the jail.
3. Mr. Thornhill only wanted her money.
4. The marriage was legal, because the priest was a real one and so was the license.
5. Sir William Thornhill asks Sophia to marry him.
6. The merchant that had stolen the vicar’s money has been arrested.
4
Vicar of
Wakefield
Quiz #1
Vicar of
Wakefield
Quiz #2
1. K
2. C
3. R
4. I
5. N
6. F
7. T
8. Q
9. A
10. L
11. H
12. P
13. E
14. M
15. G
16. S
17. B
18. J
19. O
20. D
1. E
2. S
3. K
4. C
5. R
6. J
7. B
8. M
9. H
10. Q
11. D
12. L
13. O
14. G
15. T
16. A
17. P
18. I
19. N
20. F
5
6