Chapter 11 · Little Women

Copywork

While Hannah and I did your work, you got on pretty well, though I don’t think you were very happy or amiable; so I thought, as a little lesson, I would show you what happens when everyone thinks only of herself. Don’t you feel that it is pleasanter to help one another, to have daily duties which make leisure sweet when it comes, and to bear and forbear, that home may be comfortable and lovely to us all?”

Read your copy aloud. Why does Marmee say the girls got on pretty well when she also says they were unhappy?

Discussion

Narration Retell the week in order: the vacation plans, the lazy days, Saturday morning, the dinner party, the funeral, and the talk on the porch.

Each sister plans her holiday, and by Friday each is glad the week is nearly done. What goes wrong with all that free time? Inference
Marmee says nothing and quietly does the girls' work with Hannah all week. What do you make of that choice? Moral reasoning
When Saturday comes, the dinner fails in one dish after another, yet the meal ends gayly “with bread and butter, olives and fun.” How does Alcott want us to feel about it? Tone
Beth says “I forgot him,” and Jo says “Pip has had the worst of the experiment.” Who or what is to blame for Pip's death? Character
Marmee's closing talk names shared duty and warns against working like slaves, but does not mention Pip. Why might Alcott leave him out? Author's choice

Make a Connection Tell about a time a plan taught you something different from what the person who made it meant.

Vocabulary

amiable: you were very happy or amiable; Friendly and pleasant.
forbear: and to bear and forbear, that home may be comfortable To hold back patiently.
experiment: “You may try your experiment for a week, A trial made to find something out.
dismay: cried Jo, staring about her in dismay. Sudden alarm and distress.
chagrin: great the chagrin of the head cook Embarrassment at a failure.
ennui: it keeps us from ennui and mischief, Boredom and restless weariness.
deception: a motherly little deception, A trick that hides the truth.
assuaged: she found her grief much assuaged Eased; made less painful.

Critical thinking

Jo runs from Aunt March's carriage in the opening scene. Using two pieces of evidence, explain how she feels about her aunt.
Marmee receives the girls' bad breakfast with thanks. Using two pieces of evidence, explain what she is doing.
After Saturday, each sister makes a resolution. Using two pieces of evidence, explain which resolution seems most likely to last.