THE ELEPHANT MAN

CHAPTER SUMMARIES,
SETTING
&
CHARACTERS
SY
NO
PS
IS
The Elephant Man is based on a true
story. It is the story of the life of a
man named Joseph Merrick, who
lived in England in the 19th century.
The novel presents Merricks life
from the point where Dr Frederick
Treves discovers him until his death.
Merrick is not an ordinary man. He
suffers from a disease that causes
him to be deformed. He is called the
Elephant Man. People fear him but
they pay to look at him. Dr Treves
takes Merrick to the hospital where
he examines Merrick but is unable to
help. The Elephant Man disappears
He leads a happy and contented life
for three and a half years. Then, in
April 1890, he is found dead in his
bed. He broke his neck because he
was trying to sleep on his back like a
normal person.
CHAPTER 1
THE CREATURE IN THE SHOP
Dr Frederick Treves sees a strange picture of
a man in a shop window. The man looks
like an elephant.
He pays the shopkeeper, Simon Silcock, extra
money to see the deformed man of once.
Dr Treves meets Joseph Merrick the Elephant
Man in a cold dark room at the back of the shop.
The doctor studies the deformed mans
appearance.
He is surprised that the Elephant Mans left
hand is as beautiful as a womans.
Fascinated, he asks Silcock to let him take
Merrick to the London Hospital. He has to pay
Silcock a sum of money.
They discuss how to bring the Elephant Man to
the hospital without people seeing him.
CHAPTER 2
THE CARD
Early in the morning, Dr Treves brings a
cab to take Joseph Merrick to the hospital.
Merrick covers himself completely to avoid
being seen.
His misshapen body makes it difficult for
him to climb into the cab. The postman
stops to help.
Dr Treves quick thinking saves Merrick
from being discovered. He tells the
postman that Merrick is a lady and lets
him hold Merricks left hand which is like a
womans hand.
At the hospital, Dr Treves examines
Merrick and takes notes. There is nothing
else he can do as a doctor to help Merrick.
After that, he sends Merrick back to
the shop.
The next day, Dr Treves discovers
that the shop is empty.
Simon Silcock and Joseph Merrick
have left London.
CHAPTER 3
LETTER TO
THE TIMES
After two years, the police find Merrick abandoned
on the street. They find Treves card on him and
take him to the London Hospital.
The doctor wants to keep him in the hospital but
the hospital is meant for ill people and Merrick is
not ill.
Dr Treves ask the Chairman of the hospital, Mr Carr
Gomm, for help.
The Chairman write to the editor of The Times
Newspaper. The Chairman tells the story of
Merricks life from the time Dr Treves met him and
his misfortunes after that-being cheated and
abandoned by Simon Silcock. Merricks mother had
given him to Silcock along time ago.
The letter describes Merricks ugliness but also
explains that he is an interesting man, a good,
quiet man who can read and write and who think
a lot.
The letters asks the readers to help
give Merrick a home.
After a weeks, the hospital receives
fifty thousand pounds from king and
generous people.
The hospital is now able to give
Merrick a home for the rest of his
life.
CHAPTER 4
MERRICKS
FIRST
HOME
Merrick is given two rooms t the back of the
hospital.
Merricks physical condition improves.
Dr Treves visits him every day and talks to him. He
finds out Merrick likes reading and talking about
books.
Merrick is very happy although there are a few
occasions when he faces rejection from people in
the hospital such as the new nurse.
The new nurse did not know about his condition.
She brings food in one day, and is shocked and
frightened by his appearance. She drops the food
on the floor and runs out screaming. Merrick does
not say anything, but Dr Treves scolds the nurse.
Merrick expresses his wish to stay in a place that
is far way from people, such as a lighthouse or a
home for blind people, so that no one can see him.
He is sure he will not be able to stay
at the hospital for long as he has no
money. When Dr Treves tells him
about the donations from the public,
he is excited and even laughs from
happiness.
CHAPTER 5
AN
IMPORTANT
VISITOR
Dr Treves wants to help Merrick have a normal
life. He wants him to have a normal relationship
with women. He introduces Merrick to a beautiful
young woman friend.
When the woman meets Merrick and shake his
hand, he weeps. He is moved because no woman
has smiled at him like that other than his mother.
The young lady visits him again and even brings
a friend with her. Merrick is very happy to have
friends and no longer talks about living in a
lighthouse.
Merrick gets a lot of visitors once people learn
about him through the newspaper. These visitors
are important ladies and gentlemen. They treat
him like a human being, not a creature, and they
give him books and talk to him.
One day, he has a very important visitors. It is
Queen Alexandra. She talks to him and asks
him whether he is happy. He tells her that he
is very happy.
The Queen talks to him about his books. She
gives him a little book and some red flowers
before she leaves.
Merrick is so happy that he begins to sing all
day.
The queen visit him regularly. On Christmas,
she sends him a card with a picture of herself
as a gift.
Merrick writes to the queen-his first letter-
and tells her how happy and grateful he is.
CHAPTER 6
OUTSIDE THE
HOSPITAL
This chapter describes another stage in Merricks life.
He has a lot of friends now but he is like a child still
because he is not able to go out and learn new things.
Dr Treves takes him to the theatre to watch a childrens
Christmas play.
Merrick enjoys the play very much. He thinks that what is
acted out on stage is true. He asks questions about the
characters of the play as if they were real people.
Merrick longs to visit the countryside. One of his new
friends offers him her summer house in the country
(Apple Tree House in West Wickham). Dr Treves takes him
there, making sure no one sees him.
Merrick stays in the countryside for six weeks with no
one to disturb him. He enjoys being close to nature.
He writes to Dr Treves every week telling the doctor what
he has done.
CHAPTER 7
THE LAST
LETTER
Six months after his summer holiday in April
1890, Dr Treves finds Merrick dead in his bed.
Merrick normally slept sitting in bed with his
heavy head on his knees. That night, he
wanted to sleep on his back like a normal
person. When his heavy head slipped off the
bed, his neck broke.
The next day, the Chairman of the London
Hospital, Mr Carr Gomm, writes to the editor
of the newspaper again. He recounts what
happened three and a half years age when he
wrote about the sad story of the Elephant
man
He tells the editor about Merricks death. He
also informs the editor that money left over
will be given to the hospital.
SET
T ING
PLACE
The story is set in London, England

London, England in the 19th century

 PLACE KEY EVENTS

A shop near the Dr Frederick Treves

London Hospital sees a photo of the
Elephant Man in the
shop window.
He pays Simon
Silcock 12 pence to
see the Elephant
man.
The doctor meets
the Elephant Man,
Joseph Merrick, in a
back room of the
shop. The room is
The Dr Treves brings the Elephant
London man to the hospital and
Hospital examines him carefully. Before
sending him back to the shop,
Dr Treves gives him his card.
Two years after that, the polica
find the homeless Merrick and
bring him to the hospital.
Merrick stays in two rooms at
the back of the hospital. His
new home is paid for by the
donations from the readers of
The Times newspaper.
The Dr Treves takes Merrick to the
Theatre theatre to watch a childrens
Christmas play.
Merrick watches the play from
a box at the side of the
theatre, hidden from view
behind three nurses.
Merrick enjoys the play very
much. He thinks the play is
real.

A box in a theatre during the 19th

The house in A friend offers Merrick
country-Apple the country house to
Tree House in stay for the summer. The
West Wickham house is a quiet place
surrounded by trees,
flowers and a stream
nearby.
Merrick stays here for six
weeks. He enjoys being
close to nature and is
very happy here. He
makes friends with the
wild birds and a stray
dog.
Merrick writes to Dr
Treves every weeks to
TIME
The story in the novel takes place
between the time Dr Treves discovers
joseph Merrick in 1884 and Merricks
death in April, 1890.
This time frame is within the period known
as the Victorian era.
The Times was the most important
newspaper during this period.
England was a peaceful and wealthy
country.
Industry became more important than
agriculture.
During this time, the medical field was not
as advanced as today. The doctors did not
know what caused Joseph Merrick to become
so disfigured.

A scene showing the lower and middle class on a busy street

in London in
the 19 th century.
SOCIAL
During the Victorian era:
people were divided according to their social class-
upper, middle and lower class
a lot of people moved to the city of London to
work in factories
more people became educated-doctors , lawyers
and engineers formed the middle class
people had the money and time to enjoy leisure
activities such as reading literature and going to
the theatre
people feared and made fun of those who were
different- e.g. little boys ran after Merrick and hit
his; he was arrested by the police because people
were afraid of his ugliness.
 CH
A RA
S CT ER
MAIN CHARACTERS
JOSEPH MERRICK
Also known as the Elephant Man-huge head with
very little hair; skin hanging down from the neck,
face and back; big red tooth sticks out of his mouth;
mouth and nose are like holes; right hand is like a
mans foot; left hand is beautiful; legs are big and
fat; back is crooked
Discovered by Dr Treves at 25 years old; dies at 31
Suffers from a disease that causes his body to be
deformed; is put on show for people who pay to see
him up close
Fears people and people fear him
Loves reading and talking about books
Persevering ang patient, friendly, simple-minded and
child-like, forgiving and grateful, loves nature, loyal
and loving, intelligent.
 Character Example of Textual Evidence
Traits
Preserving and - Has to bear with ill-treatment because
patient of his ugliness Simon Silcock shouts
at him and hits him (page 5);
people are afraid at him, the police
get angry and put him in prison
(page 7-8)
- Does not complain though most
things are difficult for me (page 12)
- Is not angry when the new nurse
screams and runs away know that
people fear him and dislike looking at
him I understand that. (page 18)
Friendly - Make friend easily with people and
animals
- Has many visitors who enjoy talking
with him Carr Gomm tells the editor
of The Times that Merrick has a lot of
friends who liked to talk to him (page
38)
 - Lots of birds little birds come near
me One
sat on my hand (page 34)
- I met a big dog It likes me now
(page 34)
Simple - Does what he is told without asking
minded and questions lets Dr Treves examine
child like him at the hospital without asking why
(page 13)
- Thinks that the characters in the
books he reads are real (page 19)
- As observed by Dr Teves He thought
and played like a child (page 30)
- Believes the story at the theater is
Forgiving and - Still
true keeps his mothers
and wonders picture
what the even
characters
grateful though
do aftershe
the gave him
play is away
over (pages
(page 31)
16,20)
- Thankful to Dr Treves and nurses
makes things with his hands and
gives them to the nurses because
they are kind to him
 - Happy that the doctors young woman
friend smiled at him and shook his
hand (page 24)
- Tells Queen Alexandra that he is
happy to have a home at hospital,
friends and his books Im happy
every hour of the day! (page 27)
- Writes a letter to thank the Queen for
her Christmas car
Loves nature - Likes flower
- When Dr Treves meets him in the dark
room in the shop, there is a dead
flower on the table in front of him
(page 3)
- There is a flower on the table on the
table in front of him. (page 20)
- He puts the red flowers Queen
Alexandra gives him on the table
- He puts lots of flowers in his room in
the country house (page 34)
- Spends most of his time with nature
Loyal and loving - Signs off his letters With all my love
to the Queen and With love from your
friend to Dr Treves
- Tells Dr Treves that he want to see the
doctor soon during his summer
holiday, meaning that he misses his
friend
- Enjoys his holiday but he is also happy
to be back with his friends and books
at the hospital (page 35
Intelligent - Was given away at a young age to
Silcock and probably did not have the
chance to go to school much, but is
able to write good letters and enjoy
books (page 16)
 DR FREDERICK TREVES
- A doctor at the London Hospital
- The narrator of the story
- Helps the Elephant Man to get a home
- Introduces Merrick to society and helps him to have
more normal life
- Curious, observant, polite, smart, kind-hearted and
understanding, helpful
 Character Example of Textual Evidence
Traits
Curious - Stops to look at the picture of the
Elephant Man in the shop window
(page 1)
- Willing to pay more to see the
Elephant Man immediately (page 2)
- Wants to look at the Elephant Man
more closely arranges to fetch him to
the hospital (page 7)
Observant - Notices everything about the Elephant
Man his appearance as well as
physical condition e.g. the cloth over
Polite - his head
Speak because ofeven
courteously the cold,
thoughthethe
difference
shopkeeper between the right
and Elephant Manand
areleft
rude
hand,
to himthe way the Elephant Man walks,
his bad
- he back
says (pages(pages
please 4-5) 2,6)
- thank you (page 5)
- Im sorry for not realising that the
Elephant
Man has a problem climbing into
Smart - Saves the Elephant Man from being
laughed at
when he is getting into the cab tells
the
postman that he is a lady who is ill
(pages 10-11)
- Closes the cab door quickly to prevent
the
curious boys from seeing the
Elephant Mans
face (page 11)
- Asks the Chairman of the hospital for
help with
Merrick (page 15)
- Fixes things so that Merrick can watch
the
Christmas play at the theatre and
also go to the
without being seen (pages 30, 32)
Kind- - Stops Silcock from making the
hearted and Elephant Man walk across the room
 - Visit Merrick every day and talks to
him (page 18) does not want Merrick
to feel lonely and he introduces his
young woman friend to him (page 23)
- Gets angry when people laugh at the
Elephant Man (page 30)
- Treats the poor ugly Elephant Man like
a normal person Merrick says You
are a kind man, Dr Treves (page 21)
Helpful - Finds a way to get the money to give
Merrick a home (page 18)
Makes arrangements for Merrick to
fulfill his wish to go to the country
(page 32)
 MINOR CHARACTERS
Simon - Collects money from people who want to see
Silcock the Elephant Man
- a dirty man in an old coat with a cigarette in
his mouth (page 2)
- Takes the Elephant Man all over the country
(page 6) to put him up for show
- Impatient and cruel speaks angrily to
Merrick for no reason, and hits him
- Rude rudely tells Treves to come back next
day: Well, you cant, he said. The shops
closing now (page 2); speaks rudely to
Merrick: Come on, quickly, move! (page 5)
- Greedy asks for 12 pence when Treves
insists on seeing the Elephant Man
immediately (page 2); he wants more money
to let Merrick go to the hospital (page 7)
- Dishonest He takes the 50 pounds Merrick
earns in Belgium, and abandons Merrick on
the street (page 15)
Carr - The Chairman of the London Hospital
Gomm - smart as soon as Dr Treves tells him about
the Elephant Man, Gomm writes a letter to
The Times newspaper to ask the readers for
help. In his letter, Gomm gives all the
important information about Merrick that will
touch the hearts of the readers, such as how
he was cheated by Silcock, how he still
remember his mother who abandoned him,
and what an interesting and good person he
is (pages 15-16)
- Responsible writes another letter to the
newspaper to inform them of Joseph
Merricks death and what will happen to the
money left from their donations (page 38)
Queen - The Queen of England, who takes an
Alexand interest in the Elephant Man
ra - Become friends with the Elephant Man
- Kind-hearted Willing to be friend the ugly
Elephant Man and treats Merrick with
respect like a normal person
- Thoughtful Sends Merrick a card and a
picture of herself as a gift, which makes
Merrick very happy
Beautif - Dr Treves friend, who willingly meets
ul Merrick
Young - Smiles at Merrick, kindly and shakes his
Woman hand for the first time, a woman treat him
kindly
- Continues to visit him and even brings her
friends along (page 24)
Postma - Helpful Stops to help Merrick climb into
n the cab (page 11)
MRS - Kind lady from the theatre
KENDAL - Helps arrange for Merrick to watch play at
the theatre