CliffsNotes on

The Education of Henry Adams

Search this CliffsNote

About the Author

Personal Background
Selected Writings and Reputation

About the Novel

Introduction
A Brief Synopsis
List of Characters
Character Map

Summaries and Commentaries

Chapter I (Quincy)
Chapter II (Boston)
Chapter III (Washington)
Chapter IV (Harvard College)
Chapter V (Berlin)
Chapter VI (Rome)
Chapter VII (Treason)
Chapter VIII (Diplomacy)
Chapter IX (Foes or Friends)
Chapter X (Political Morality)
Chapter XI (The Battle of the Rams)
Chapter XII (Eccentricity) and Chapter XIII (The Perfection of Human Society)
Chapter XIV (Dilettantism)
Chapter XV (Darwinism)
Chapter XVI (The Press)
Chapter XVII (President Grant)
Chapter XVIII (Free Fight)
Chapter XIX (Chaos)
Chapter XX (Failure)
Chapter XXI (Twenty Years After)
Chapter XXII (Chicago)
Chapter XXIII (Silence) and Chapter XXIV (Indian Summer)
Chapter XXV (The Dynamo and the Virgin)
Chapter XXVI (Twilight) and Chapter XXVII (Teufelsdröckh)
Chapter XXVIII (The Height of Knowledge)
Chapter XXIX (The Abyss of Ignorance)
Chapter XXX (Vis Inertiae)
Chapter XXXI (The Grammar of Science)
Chapter XXXII (Vis Nova)
Chapter XXXIII (A Dynamic Theory of History) and Chapter XXXIV (A Law of Acceleration)
Chapter XXXV (Nunc Age)

Character Analyses

Henry Adams
John Hay
Charles Francis Adams
Clarence King

Critical Essay

The Education Of Henry Adams as Experimental Literature

Study Help

Quiz
Identify the Quote
Essay Questions
Practice Projects

Cite this Literature Note

Win an iPod touch! Enter now

Has coverage of the Democratic National Convention changed your opinions?

It made me like Obama more.
It made me like Obama less.
It didn't change anything.

View Results

Summaries and Commentaries

Chapter III (Washington)

blackguard  scoundrel, villain.

immolation  sacrifice, destruction.

John Marshall  (1755–1835) Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court (1801–1835), developing the court’s role as interpreter of the Constitution.

cant  special words or phrases used by those in a particular occupation.

casuistry  the application of general principles of ethics to specific issues.

conclave  a private or secret meeting.

Previous page
Next page
Resources

Tools & Resources

Ask Cliff

Read More About

Study Guides To-Go!
Get the complete text from CliffsNotes guides on your video iPod®.
Learn more!
cover
Learn the Words You Should Know
Vocabulary Puzzles is the fun way to ace the SAT, ACT, GRE, LSAT & more!
The Ultimate Learning Experience!
WATCH the film and READ the lit note for a fast way to study!
Learn more!