Howards End Lesson Plan

After reading this first section, what do you think the book's epigraph, "Only connect," might mean?

Students should note that, in this section at least, all of the characters are struggling to connect with each other due to various forces and influences—social, economic, political, etc. All of the characters are separated at some level due to these factors. Mrs. Munt struggles to connect with her nieces and nephew because she is suspicious of their foreignness and believes wholeheartedly in "Englishness." The Wilcoxes and Schlegels disagree on many fundamental beliefs (e.g. women's rights) and also are at odds in their approaches to life. The Schegels are more romantic...