Chapter 2

Little Women

Trailblazers · 4th–6th

Copywork

That was a very happy breakfast, though they didn’t get any of it; and when they went away, leaving comfort behind, I think there were not in all the city four merrier people than the hungry little girls who gave away their breakfasts and contented themselves with bread and milk on Christmas morning.

Read your copy aloud. The sentence calls the girls hungry and merry in the same breath. Which words tell you what they gave up, and which tell you what they got?

Discussion

Narration Retell Christmas day in order: the books under the pillows, the breakfast, the Hummels' room, the play, and the supper.

1. When Marmee asks for their breakfast, the girls are very hungry and for a minute no one speaks. What might be going on in that minute?Inference

2. Marmee asks whether the girls will give their breakfast away, rather than telling them to. Why might she choose to ask?Moral reasoning

3. Amy spends all her money on a bigger bottle of cologne and says she is trying not to be selfish, then says she is glad hers is the handsomest. How do you read Amy?Character

4. The narrator says there were “not in all the city four merrier people” than the hungry girls who gave away their breakfasts. Does that ring true, given what we see in the room?Tone

5. After the Hummels' room, Alcott gives pages to the girls' homemade play. Why might she let the play take up so much of this chapter?Author's choice

Make a Connection Tell about a time you gave something up for someone else, and how it felt afterward.

Vocabulary

Crossword

1

2	3


		4	5	6
				7
8

	9

		10

Across

Across 1. Satisfied with what one has.
Across 2. Suddenly and eagerly, without stopping to think.
Across 4. Modest; not proud or showy.
Across 7. Embarrassed and a little ashamed.
Across 8. Longing for something, with quiet sadness.
Across 9. Making something new when nothing ready exists.
Across 10. Bravely, like a hero making a sacrifice.

Down

Down 3. A group moving forward together in order.
Down 5. More cheerful and full of joy.
Down 6. Shy and easily embarrassed.

The words in the chapter

contented gave away their breakfasts and contented themselves with bread and milk
merrier I think there were not in all the city four merrier people than the hungry little girls
abashed looked rather abashed when she saw her sisters all waiting for her.
humble looked so earnest and humble in her little effort to forget herself
impetuously only a minute, for Jo exclaimed impetuously⁠—

heroically added Amy, heroically giving up the articles she most liked.
procession They were soon ready, and the procession set out.
wistful He looked so wistful as he went away,
bashful but he’s bashful, and Meg is so prim she won’t let me speak to him when we pass,
invention necessity being the mother of invention

Critical thinking

1. Marmee says Beth's roses are sweeter to her than the hothouse flowers. Using two pieces of evidence, explain what might make them sweeter.

2. Meg reads her new book first, and her sisters follow. Using two pieces of evidence, explain how Meg leads them.

3. In the Hummels' room, who does the most to help? Using two pieces of evidence, choose one person or group, and explain your choice.