To the Light House Short Questions l To the Lighthouse: Plot Overview l An introduction to To the Lighthouse

Where are James and his mother planning to take a trip? 

To the Lighthouse.

What is James' favorite hobby?

Cutting pictures out of catalogs.

Who says that the weather will not be nice enough for the trip? 

Mr. Ramsay.

What does James imagine doing to his father? 

To grab any weapon and gash a hole in his father's breast

What is Mrs. Ramsay bringing to the Lighthouse for the keeper's ailing son?

Knitted stockings.

What is the children's opinion of Mr. Tansley? 

He is a miserable, sarcastic brute.

Where does the novel take place?

The novel takes place at a beach house in the Hebrides (off the coast of Scotland).

Why is six-year-old James disappointed? 

James is disappointed because he wanted to sail to the Lighthouse the next day, but his father ruins his expectations, saying the weather won’t permit it.

How do Mr. and Mrs. Ramsay differ in their treatment of James?

She treats James with encouragement. while Mr. Ramsay ignores James’ feelings.

Why does Mrs. Ramsay suggest that Tansley accompany her to town? 

Mrs. Ramsay invites Tansley to accompany her because she is aware of his discomfort and wants to include him.

What explanation does Mrs. Ramsay give for Mr. Carmichael’s lack of success?

Mrs. Ramsay tells Tansley that Mr. Carmichael is not a success, because he had an “unfortunate marriage.”

What entertainment does Mrs. Ramsay suggest to Mr. Tansley?

The entertainment that Mrs. Ramsay proposes is to go to the circus.

What kind of Woolf’s writing style is? 

Her style is a stream of consciousness. She reveals her characters through recording the disconnectedness of their thoughts.

Why does Mrs. Ramsay feel an “impulse of terror”? 

Mrs. Ramsay suddenly notices the absence of household sounds. The sounds of her husband and Mr. Tansley and the children’s playing have stopped and the sound of the waves startle her. She is reminded of the ephemeral nature of life. The day is slipping by, as is life.

Why does Mrs. Ramsay feel Lily will probably never marry?
Lily’s “little Chinese eyes and her puckered-up face” seemed, at this moment, unattractive. She doesn’t take Lily or her painting very seriously.

What does Lily think of Mr. Ramsay?

Lily recognizes that Mr. Ramsay is ridiculous in all his strange posturing and shouting, but she also admires his intellectual honesty.

Who is Mrs. Ramsay knitting for? 

Mrs. Ramsay is knitting a stocking for the Lighthouse keeper’s son who has a tuberculous hip.

How does Mrs. Ramsay feel about the sea-side house? 

Mrs. Ramsay feels the house is shabby. She is frustrated by trying to keep the sea-dampness out of the house, by trying to get the family to cooperate to maintain the house.

Why does she speak sharply to her son? 

She speaks sharply to James because she has been thinking about the death of Marie’s father. She feels hopeless in the face of death.

How does Mr. Bankes feel about Mrs. Ramsay? 

Mr. Bankes is awed by Mrs. Ramsay’s beauty. He compares her to a Greek goddess.

How does James feel about his parents?

James feels rage towards his father and adoration of his mother.

Why does Mr. Ramsay say “Damn you” to Mrs. Ramsay?

Mr. Ramsay is frustrated by Mrs. Ramsay’s unwillingness to accept the fact the weather will not permit a trip to the Lighthouse. He feels that she, and all women, tell lies.

What are Mr. Ramsay’s thoughts as he paces through the garden?
Mr. Ramsay thinks about his intellectual ability and dramatizes passages from poetry.

Why is Mrs. Ramsay hurt by Mr. Carmichael’s reaction to her?
Mrs. Ramsay feels that people are attracted to her and she can’t understand why Mr. Carmichael seems to reject her. It makes her wonder if he sees something that others overlook.

What are Mr. Ramsay’s thoughts at the end of this section?
Mr. Ramsay looks at the sea and recognizes that, after all, human knowledge is very limited. It is his special gift to be able to see this so clearly.

What is William Bankes’ criticism of Mr. Ramsay? 

William Bankes feels Mr. Ramsay is a hypocrite. 

How does Mr. Bankes view Lily’s work? 

Bankes is interested in learning about Lily’s painting. He listens to her ideas thoughtfully.

Why does Mrs. Ramsay feel misunderstood? 

Mrs. Ramsay feels misunderstood by those people who accuse her of being domineering. She feels that she’s only tyrannical about her social causes, for example, her hospital work.

How does Mrs. Ramsay view life?
Mrs. Ramsay feels life is terrible and hostile. She feels that there is no reason, or order, or justice—only suffering, death, and poverty.

What does Mrs. Ramsay believe about James’ disappointment with the postponed trip? 

Mrs. Ramsay believes that James will remember this day for the rest of his life.

Why does Mrs. Ramsay like to be alone? 

Mrs. Ramsay likes to be alone because she feels released from the strain of being and doing. She experiences a sense of infinite possibilities.

What does the Lighthouse represent to Mrs. Ramsay? 

Mrs. Ramsay endows the Lighthouse with a variety of symbolic attributes. The third stroke of the Lighthouse is “her stroke.” In one instance it focuses her random thoughts into a phrase, “Children don’t forget, children don’t forget.” At another moment, the light reminds her of the happiness she has known.

How does Mr. Ramsay feel about his wife’s preoccupations?

Mr. Ramsay notices his wife’s preoccupations and is disturbed by her sadness. Mrs. Ramsay senses her husband’s protectiveness as he has glanced at her, marveling at her beauty. She takes her shawl and joins him.

What do Mr. and Mrs. Ramsay talk about during their evening stroll? 

Mr. and Mrs. Ramsay talk about the garden, the children, and their houseguests.

What worry preoccupies Mrs. Ramsay? 

Mrs. Ramsay is preoccupied with the 50-pound bill for the greenhouse. She is also concerned about all aspects of the upkeep of the garden.

How do Mr. and Mrs. Ramsay feel about Prue? 

Mrs. Ramsay worries about Jasper shooting birds. Mr. Ramsay believes it is just a stage. Mrs. Ramsay believes Prue is a great beauty; Mr. Ramsay hasn’t noticed it. Mr. Ramsay worries about Andrew’s efforts to obtain a scholarship; Mrs. Ramsay doesn’t value this one way or the other.

What does Mr. Ramsay regret?
Mr. Ramsay laments the loss of his solitude, his ability to think his own thoughts without interruption.

How does Mr. Ramsay feel about his family?

Mr. Ramsay feels a deep devotion to his family and chastises himself for sometimes wishing they weren’t there (so he could work, uninterrupted).

What are Mrs. Ramsay’s feelings about her husband at this point? 

She admires his youthfulness. She marvels at his unusual mind, yet knows that he’s totally unaware of the world around him. She’s concerned about his talking to himself.

What does Mrs. Ramsay hope about Lily and Bankes? 

Mrs. Ramsay has a sudden insight that Lily and Bankes will marry.

What scene captures Lily’s attention? 

Lily is struck by the scene of Mr. and Mrs. Ramsay watching their children playing catch.

Why is this scene symbolical for her? 

Lily sees this scene as somehow representing what marriage is about: a man and a woman watching their children.

What does Lily realize about Mrs. Ramsay’s thoughts about her and William Bankes?

Lily suddenly realizes that Mrs. Ramsay will be thinking that she and Bankes should marry.

Why didn’t Nancy want to go on the walk? 

Nancy finds Minta too demanding. Nancy prefers to be alone.

What is Andrew interested in on the walk?

He is interested in collecting marine specimens.

What is Paul’s purpose in this excursion? 

Paul wants to ask Minta to marry him.

What personality characteristics does Minta exhibit?

Minta is emotional, somewhat rash, and a bit pushy.

What does Minta lose on the beach? 

Minta loses her grandmother’s brooch.

What does Paul promise to do? 

Paul promises to return at daybreak to find the brooch.

Rose and Jasper help Mrs. Ramsay to choose what?
They help her choose a necklace.

Why does Mrs. Ramsay allow Rose to select her jewels?
Mrs. Ramsay knows this ritual is important to her. She is in a stage of “mother worship.”

What creatures does Mrs. Ramsay talk to?
Mrs. Ramsay talks to the rooks who settle on the trees outside the window.

In what way does Mrs. Ramsay walk down the stairs?
Mrs. Ramsay walks down the stairs like a queen who silently accepts her subjects’ adoration.

Was Virginia a complete pessimist? why does she commit suicide? 

Yes, Virginia Woolf's views had always been dark and pessimistic. It is said that she killed herself because she knew she wasn't well, and she did not want to experience another complete breakdown.

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To the Light House Summary