Study Guide to Jude the Obscure by Thomas Hardy

A comprehensive study guide offering in-depth explanation, essay, and test prep for Thomas Hardy’s Jude the Obscure, the last novel written by Hardy before he moved his concentration to poetry.


As a satirical novel of the late nineteenth century, the themes of marriage and religion were perceived negatively. When the novel was published, Hardy’s contemporaries reacted bitterly, and a bishop ordered the text to be publicly burned. Moreover, Jude the Obscure is to be considered a tragedy, inspired by the great Greek dramatists, Aristotle and Aeschylus. This Bright Notes Study Guide explores the context and history of Hardy’s classic work, helping students to thoroughly explore the reasons it has stood the literary test of time. Each Bright Notes Study Guide contains:


- Introductions to the Author and the Work

- Character Summaries

- Plot Guides

- Section and Chapter Overviews

- Test Essay and Study Q&As


The Bright Notes Study Guide series offers an in-depth tour of more than 275 classic works of literature, exploring characters, critical commentary, historical background, plots, and themes. This set of study guides encourages readers to dig deeper in their understanding by including

essay questions and answers as well as topics for further research.