The Invisible Man: Chapters 1–12 Review

Vocabulary flashcards covering characterization, figurative language, plot events, and types of conflict across Chapters 1–12 of H.G. Wells's The Invisible Man.

Setting of The Invisible Man (Opening)

The novel's action begins in the village of Iping during a snowy winter day in February.

The "Coach and Horses"

A quiet village inn where the stranger arrives heavily bundled and demands a fire and privacy, quickly drawing suspicion from everyone.

Exposition of the Stranger (Chapters 1–4)

Characterizes the stranger as a secretive, short-tempered scientist obsessed with his experiments who demands isolation, hides his face, and reacts with hostility to any disturbance.

Mrs. Hall

The innkeeper at the "Coach and Horses" who is eager to please her guest, takes pride in her service, and initially assumes an accident or operation disfigured the stranger's face.

Stated Purpose of Stay in Iping

The stranger claims to be an experimental investigator seeking solitude for his scientific work and recovering from an accident.

"Adverse Railway Signals" Simile

A figurative comparison in Chapter 2 describing firelight reflecting off the stranger's spectacles, suggesting glowing, warning, and unnatural eyes.

Teddy Henfrey's Visit

An event in Chapter 2 that advances the rising action by planting early suspicion about the stranger, who acts startlingly and evasively when confronted.

Mr. Fearenside's Discovery

In Chapter 3, after his dog bites the stranger, Fearenside notices that the stranger's leg appears black rather than flesh-colored where the trousers tore.

Mr. Cuss's Interview

A Chapter 4 meeting that deepens the mystery when Cuss glimpses evidence that the stranger's sleeve is completely empty.

"Angry Diving-Helmet" Simile

A figurative description in Chapter 4 used by the narrator to characterize the stranger's fully bandaged appearance.

The Burglary at the Vicarage

A crime in Chapter 5 where money is stolen from the vicarage, creating an external conflict that raises village suspicion about an invisible presence.

"The Furniture That Went Mad"

An unsettling event in Chapter 6 where parlour furniture appears to move and attack on its own, terrifying Mr. and Mrs. Hall.

Stranger's Raving ("Three hundred thousand…")

An outburst in Chapter 6 revealing internal conflict as the stranger struggles with frustration, self-doubt, and the enormous scale of his scientific task.

The Unveiling Scene (Chapter 7)

The dramatic moment when the stranger removes his bandages and clothing, revealing to the villagers and reader that he has no visible face or body beneath.

Conflict with Constable Jaffers

An external physical struggle in Chapter 7 between the Invisible Man and local law enforcement when Jaffers attempts to arrest him.

Mr. Thomas Marvel

Introduced in Chapter 9 as a scruffy, eccentric tramp who first encounters the Invisible Man's voice while sitting by a ditch along the road to Adderdean examining old boots.

Invisible Man's Internal Struggle (Chapter 12)

A psychological struggle where his anger overtakes his self-control, driving him to move from simply escaping to violently destroying property "for the mere satisfaction of hurting".

Chaos in Iping's Streets (Chapter 12)

An external conflict featuring the Invisible Man versus the entire village of Iping, marked by running villagers, slamming doors, and widespread destruction.

Chemical Supply Hyperbole

An exaggerated comparison stating that the stranger's collection of bottles was so large that "the chemist's shop in Bramblehurst could not boast half so many".