Chapter 20

• Who are the main characters growing closer in Chapter 20?

  Angel and Tess
• What does the serene beauty of Froom Vale symbolize in Tess and Angel's relationship?

  It reflects their burgeoning harmony
• What feeling does Tess experience despite the beauty around her?

  Guilt over her past
• What does the imagery of the red and yellow soil represent?

  Fertility and renewal
• How does Hardy use the landscape to contrast Tess's feelings?

  It juxtaposes her inner turmoil with natural harmony
• What does Angel's statement about the world being a psychological phenomenon suggest?

  His detachment from societal norms
• What does Angel's inability to apply his philosophy to Tess foreshadow?

  His later hypocrisy
• How does Hardy contrast the rural environment with Victorian society?

  By highlighting moral standards versus nature's impartiality
• What does the disparity between nature and human judgment signify in the context of the chapter?

  It highlights the rigid moral standards of society