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Little Women
Trailblazers · 4th–6th
Amy resolves to be a lamb for a turquoise ring, prays alone for Beth where no one sees, and wills away her curls though it will spoil her looks, so can goodness that begins with a reward in view become real, and what in this chapter counts for it or against it?
The tension The chapter refuses to sort Amy's motives for her. Aunt March credits her own training; Esther's hint about the ring produces a model of obedience overnight; the narrator calls the private chapel very sincere and admits Amy is a young pilgrim with a heavy burden. Her will is generous and vain in the same breath, giving away treasures while worrying about ill-feeling over her tomb and how she will be remembered. The codicil comes only after Laurie reports what Beth wanted to give, and the curls are named her greatest sacrifice. The last line weighs a million rings against one sister and finds them nothing.
Notice what moves Amy toward goodness in this chapter and what she gives up as she goes.
Amy is unhappy at Aunt March's, where she has chores, a mischievous parrot, and long stories. Esther the maid shows her the jewels, hints that the turquoise ring might be hers, and sets up a little chapel. Amy becomes a model of obedience and writes her will. After Laurie tells her about Beth, she adds a codicil leaving her curls to her friends.
Start with the turquoise ring and ask the student what a person might do to earn something they really wanted.
Retell The student tells Amy's weeks back in order: the chores, Esther and the jewels, the ring, the chapel, the will, and the codicil.
Imitate the author After copying the passage, the student writes two sentences in the same pattern about a first effort at being good, and what it cost.
Debate Take sides on the big question: can goodness that begins with a reward in view become real? Each side must use at least one quote from the chapter.
Purpose Close by asking why Alcott does not tell us whether Amy's motives are mixed or pure.
Easier Talk through discussion questions 2 and 3 only, with the ring and the chapel as the two pictures to hold.
On level Talk through all five discussion questions, then have the student write one critical-thinking answer with two pieces of evidence.
Harder Ask the student to find one more place where Amy's goodness and her vanity are in the same sentence, and to add it to a critical-thinking answer.
1. Aunt March teaches Amy the way she herself was taught sixty years ago, and Amy feels like a fly in a spider's web. Whose fault is that?Character
What it asks It asks the student to weigh Aunt March's good intentions against the effect she has on Amy.
It is not quite Aunt March's fault. She means to be kind, and she has a soft place for her nephew's little girls.
she meant to be kind, for the well-behaved little girl pleased her very much
She really did her best to make Amy happy, but, dear me, what mistakes she made!
She lacks a gift other old people have, and she does not see Amy as she is.
But Aunt March had not this gift, and she worried Amy very much with her rules and orders, her prim ways, and long, prosy talks.
taught her as she herself had been taught sixty years ago
A strong answer The narrator says Aunt March meant to be kind and had a soft place in her old heart for her nephew's little girls. She also says she lacked the gift of sympathizing with the little cares and joys of the young, and that she taught Amy as she herself had been taught sixty years ago. A strong answer says where the failure lies, in her intention or in her way, and uses the narrator's words.
2. Esther hints that Amy may get the turquoise ring for good behavior, and Amy says, “Oh, I’ll be a lamb.” How does that promise sound to you?Tone
What it asks It asks the student to hear Amy's promise and decide whether it is funny, honest, or worrying, and what the narrator does with it.
It is comic. Amy trades goodness for a ring, and the old lady is fooled by the result.
Oh, I’ll be a lamb, if I can only have that lovely ring!
From that day she was a model of obedience, and the old lady complacently admired the success of her training.
It is honest. Amy says plainly what she wants, and the narrator does not mock her for it.
a delighted face, and a firm resolve to earn it
I do like Aunt March, after all
A strong answer Amy's promise is open and a little comic: she will be a lamb if she can only have the lovely ring. The next sentences show her a model of obedience and Aunt March complacently admiring her own training. The narrator does not scold Amy, and Amy herself says she likes Aunt March after all. A strong answer says how the tone of the sentence makes us feel about Amy, and what it leaves unsaid.
3. Amy prays for Beth alone in a little closet where no one sees, and the narrator calls her very sincere. What do you notice about why she goes there?Inference
What it asks It asks the student to notice what sends Amy to the closet, using what the narrator tells us about her loneliness and her prayers.
The prayers are about Beth and her own loneliness, which has nothing to do with the ring.
The little girl was very sincere in all this, for, being left alone outside the safe home-nest, she felt the need of some kind hand to hold by so sorely
prayed for Beth, with streaming tears and an aching heart
She can be sincere and mixed at once, since being good can start as a wish for a reward.
She tried to forget herself, to keep cheerful, and be satisfied with doing right, though no one saw or praised her for it.
From that day she was a model of obedience
A strong answer The narrator says Amy was very sincere in the closet: she felt alone, she missed her mother's help, and she prayed for Beth with streaming tears. The ring belongs to the days of obedience, not to the prayers. A strong answer says how the two sit together in one girl, and uses the narrator's own statement that she is a young pilgrim.
4. Amy's will leaves Jo a plaster rabbit “because I am sorry I burnt up her story.” What does that line tell us about her?Moral reasoning
What it asks It asks what a small line in a funny document shows about Amy's conscience.
It shows she has been carrying the guilt and uses the will to try to make it right.
To Jo I leave my breastpin, the one mended with sealing wax, also my bronze inkstand—she lost the cover—and my most precious plaster rabbit, because I am sorry I burnt up her story.
And now having disposed of my most valuable property I hope all will be satisfied and not blame the dead. I forgive everyone
It shows the will is partly about how she will be remembered, since she calls the rabbit most precious and hopes not to be blamed.
I felt that I ought to do it, for life is uncertain and I don’t want any ill-feeling over my tomb.
the departed girl who thanks him for his favors to her family
A strong answer Amy tells Jo she is sorry for the burnt story and gives her the most precious rabbit she has. She also says she does not want any ill-feeling over her tomb, and hopes no one will blame the dead. So the will is an apology and a way of being remembered well. A strong answer says which matters more in that line, or that they cannot be pulled apart.
5. Amy adds a codicil that all her curls be cut off and given to her friends, though it will spoil her looks. Why do you think that is her “greatest sacrifice”?Theme
What it asks It asks what the curls mean to Amy and what giving them up shows about how far her goodness reaches.
The curls are her beauty, and giving them up costs her something real, which is what makes it a sacrifice.
I want it done, though it will spoil my looks.
Laurie added it, smiling at Amy’s last and greatest sacrifice.
She does it only after Laurie tells her what Beth wanted to give away, which suggests she is following Beth's example.
She felt so ill one day that she told Jo she wanted to give her piano to Meg, her cats to you, and the poor old doll to Jo
She was sorry she had so little to give, and left locks of hair to the rest of us
A strong answer The codicil comes right after Laurie tells Amy that Beth wanted to give away her piano, her cats, and locks of her hair. Amy says she wants her curls cut off and given to her friends, though it will spoil her looks, and a great tear falls on the paper. The narrator says Laurie smiled at Amy's last and greatest sacrifice. A strong answer says what makes it her greatest, and whether hearing about Beth is what moves her.
1. The parrot Polly is a trial to Amy. Using two pieces of evidence, explain why the narrator spends so much time on him.
What it asks It asks what Polly adds to the picture of Amy's exile, using two pieces of evidence.
He shows what Amy is up against in the house: a mischievous creature who torments her.
He pulled her hair whenever she came near him, upset his bread and milk to plague her when she had newly cleaned his cage
That bird is the trial of my life
He brings comedy to a grim house, and Amy cannot help laughing.
Come out and take a walk, my dear.
I couldn’t help laughing, which made Poll swear, and aunt woke up and scolded us both.
A strong answer Polly pulls Amy's hair and tips his bread and milk over when she has just cleaned his cage, and Amy calls him the trial of her life. But he also invites a spider to take a walk, then runs away frightened and scrambles up on the aunt's chair calling 'Catch her!' as Amy chases the spider, and Amy cannot help laughing. A strong answer uses one piece on each side and says what the parrot adds to the house.
2. Esther fits up a chapel for Amy and lends her a rosary. Using two pieces of evidence, explain how Esther treats Amy's faith.
What it asks It asks how Esther offers her own faith to Amy, and how Amy answers, using two pieces of evidence.
Esther offers help in earnest and out of kindness.
Esther was truly pious, and quite sincere in her advice; for she had an affectionate heart
I shall gladly arrange the little dressing-room for you if you like it.
She respects the limits of what Amy can take from it, and Amy makes her own choice.
Amy hung it up and did not use it, feeling doubtful as to its fitness for Protestant prayers
Say nothing to Madame, but when she sleeps go you and sit alone a while
A strong answer The narrator says Esther was truly pious and quite sincere, with an affectionate heart, and she offers to arrange the dressing-room as a chapel. Esther gives Amy a rosary, but Amy hangs it up and does not use it, doubtful about Protestant prayers. A strong answer uses one piece of Esther's kindness and one of Amy's choice, and says how the two fit together.
3. Amy's will gives something to nearly everyone. Using two pieces of evidence, explain what the will shows about how she sees each person.
What it asks It asks what the bequests show about Amy's eye for people, using two pieces of evidence.
She pays attention to each person's tastes and makes her gifts fit.
my bronze inkstand—she lost the cover—and my most precious plaster rabbit
my clay model of a horse though he did say it hadn’t any neck
She uses the will to make amends and to show affection she rarely says aloud.
I herewith also leave her my regret that I ever made fun of old Joanna.
I wish my favorite playmate Kitty Bryant to have the blue silk apron and my gold-bead ring with a kiss.
A strong answer Amy leaves Jo a bronze inkstand with its lost cover and a precious plaster rabbit, and she leaves Laurie a clay horse though he said it had no neck, so she remembers each person's quirks. She also leaves Beth her regret about making fun of old Joanna and sends Kitty a ring with a kiss. A strong answer uses one piece of detail and one of feeling, and says what the will shows about how Amy sees people.