# Endnotes explained — Anna of the Five Towns

> Chapter companion for Anna of the Five Towns by Arnold Bennett.

## What happens

This chapter provides explanatory notes on regional dialect, industrial terms, and local customs referenced in the main text, clarifying terms such as 'Tellwright,' 'Bank,' 'Biscuit,' 'Jacket-man,' 'Saggars,' 'Welly,' 'Meet,' and 'Cut.'

## Themes in this chapter

### Industrial Landscape and Provincial Life

The endnotes define terms like 'Bank' (manufactory) and 'Saggars' (clay receptacles for firing), grounding the story in the industrial pottery district.

### Class and Social Mobility

The term 'Jacket-man' satirizes non-laboring roles, reflecting class distinctions in the industrial setting.

## Key lines

> Tellwright : tile-wright, a name specially characteristic of, and possibly originating in, this clay-manufacturing district.

The surname Tellwright likely means 'tile-maker' and is typical of the pottery region.

_Explains the etymology of the Tellwright name._

> Jacket-man : the artisan’s satiric term for anyone who does not work in shirtsleeves, who is not actually a producer, such as a clerk or a pretentious foreman.

Workers mockingly call non-laborers 'jacket-men'—those who wear jackets instead of working in shirtsleeves.

_Highlights class tensions between laborers and supervisors._

> Meet : meet in class⁠—a gathering for the exchange of religious counsel and experience.

A 'meet' is a religious gathering where participants share spiritual advice and experiences.

_Defines a Methodist practice central to the novel's religious themes._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/anna_of_the_five_towns_se/chapters/endnotes
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/anna_of_the_five_towns_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/anna_of_the_five_towns_se/chapters