# I: The Little Shop at New Romney explained — Kipps

> Chapter companion for Kipps by H. G. Wells.

## What happens

The chapter introduces Arthur Kipps' childhood at New Romney, living with his aunt and uncle after his mother's death. It describes his final days of school, his tentative first love for Ann Pornick, and his departure to become a draper's apprentice in Folkestone. The chapter ends with Ann chasing the bus to give him a half sixpence as a keepsake.

## Themes in this chapter

### Social Class and Mobility

Kipps' mother's desire to place him in a 'middle-class academy' and his subsequent apprenticeship as a draper highlight the class aspirations and constraints of the era.

### Love and Marriage

Kipps' first tentative romantic feelings for Ann Pornick and his resolution to kiss her at Christmas introduce the theme of youthful love.

### Education and Self-Improvement

The end of Kipps' schooling and his entry into the drapery trade mark a transition from formal education to vocational training, a common path for working-class youth.

## Character check-ins

### Arthur Kipps

Young Kipps, just finished school, experiences first romantic stirrings for Ann Pornick and prepares to leave for draper apprenticeship.

### Ann Pornick

Childhood friend and first love of Kipps; she gives him a half sixpence as he departs for Folkestone.

### Sid Pornick

Ann's brother and Kipps' friend; he is unable to meet Kipps due to his father's chores.

### Mrs. Kipps

Kipps' aunt and guardian, who oversees his upbringing and departure for apprenticeship.

### Mr. Shalford

The Folkestone draper to whom Kipps is bound as an apprentice; mentioned as wanting to 'shape the lad a bit' before the autumn sale.

### Woodrow

The anaemic schoolmaster whose cane Kipps splits on his last day of school.

## Key lines

> For in the last of his holidays, before the Moloch of Retail Trade got hold of him, Kipps made his first tentative essays at the mysterious shrine of Love.

In his final holiday before starting work as a draper, Kipps began to experience his first, hesitant feelings of love.

_This passage introduces Kipps' romantic awakening and the impending loss of his childhood freedom._

> He resolved that, come what might, when he came back to New Romney at Christmas, he would by hook or by crook kiss Ann. Then everything would be perfect and right, and he would be perfectly happy.

He decided that, no matter what, he would find a way to kiss Ann when he returned at Christmas, believing that would make everything perfect.

_This shows Kipps' naive belief that a single romantic act could resolve all his uncertainties._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/kipps_se/chapters/i-the-little-shop-at-new-romney
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/kipps_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/kipps_se/chapters