Henry Fielding's Tom Jones is a new adoption of Fielding's classic high spirited novel about a young man's misadventures and bawdy experiences in 18th-century England. This six-hour production filmed on location throughout England follows this young man from bedrooms of rural inns to London's dangerous streets. Cast out from his home and forbidden his true love, Tom Jones must overcome the charms of an older seductress and the sinister plot of a nefarious rival to win his lover's heart. The handsome hero and his infectious exploits sparkle like never before in this lavish adaption of Fielding's 1749 masterpiece.

Part II

The story continues with Tom's pursuit of Sophia Western for her hand in marriage. This quest is not an easy one. Tom has been thrust into battling the evil forces within the Allworthy household as well as confronting Squire Western's mission to marry Sophia off to one of the richest men in the country. Tom tries to fight for what he believes in but eventually loses. Squire Allworthy is ultimately convinced by others that Tom must be banished from Somersetshire. Recommended for high school courses on European History and Literature.

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1. What does Tom discover when he visits Molly at her home? Which characters does Fielding portray as hypocrites? Did Molly really deserve an apology from Tom? Why or why not?

2. How does Allworthy plan to distribute his estate to his 'loved ones' after he dies? Was the distribution of the estate fair? What does this say about the structure of social classes in 18th-century England?

3. How did Tom react to Blifil's remarks after finding out that Allworthy had recovered from his illness? How would you handle this situation differently?

4. What news does Lawyer Dowling share with Blifil? What does Blifil do to show his true feelings about the news he has just received?

5. What did Tom give to Sophia while she nursed his wounds? What do you think this object represented to Tom?

6. In which scene does Mrs. Western demonstrate a pretension to wisdom? Does she have experience in the subject discussed to be judging others? Why or why not?

7. Who did Squire Western and Mrs. Western order Sophia to marry? Why was this marriage so important to them? Has the institution of marriage changed through the years? In what ways is it similar/different? Explain.

8. Which scenes contribute to the downfall of Tom in Part II? What does Tom need to work on in order to bring happiness into his life?

1. Sophia's brooch of a bird was something that Tom had found that reminded him of how much Sophia meant to him. Do you have an object that reminds you of someone that is special to you? Bring this object into class or draw a picture of it. Write a short paragraph on the history behind this object.

2. Research the structure of social classes in 18th-century England. Create a collage, using materials of your choice, to illustrate what each social class may have worn or how they might have lived. Share your collage with your class.

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