Point of View

The novel "Good-bye, Mr. Chips" is written in the all-knowing, third person omniscient narrative allowing the reader to know the thoughts and motives of all characters. The author of Mr. Chips, James Hilton, was the son of a schoolmaster and attended various English boys' schools himself. In writing this story, he could, therefore, draw from his personal knowledge of life at an English boys' school—both from his own experiences and those of his father as a schoolmaster.

Most of the story is written from Mr. Chips' point of view. The reader is privy to Chips' thoughts—how uncertain he feels with his life and career as a young teacher through his evolution when he permits his emotions to override his pride and become unafraid to share love and laughter with others—particularly his beloved students.

The narrative point of view allows the...