Little Women
Chapter 28 — Teaching Companion
Louisa May Alcott · Trailblazers 4th–6th
Coaching, not a script — and not an answer key: every question here has more than one defensible answer.
This chapter's big question
Meg and John each resolve to be "calm and kind, but firm" and to show the other their duty, and the silence nearly beats them, so what actually mends the two breaches in this chapter, and is it the same thing both times?
The tension The jelly quarrel is two fair grievances and one unlucky word: Meg has worked all day and is laughed at, John took her at her word about bringing friends home and is left in the lurch. Both plan to be firm; what ends it is Meg deciding to be first, at a cost the narrator names as pride hard to swallow, and John apologizing the moment she does. The silk quarrel is different in kind: a fifty-dollar secret, a confession, and a low sentence, "I'm tired of being poor," that wounds a man who has denied himself for her. No apology fixes that. What follows is a countermanded greatcoat, tears in its folds, a long talk, and Meg going to Sallie with her pride in her pocket. Marmee's advice about being first to ask pardon hangs over both, and fits one better than the other.
Today's focus
Follow the two quarrels in this chapter and notice what each person does to end them.
Two core ideas
- Both quarrels start in small, real grievances: a jelly that will not set and a silk bought too soon.
- Silence and pride make each harder, and in each case someone has to do something hard before it is over.
The shape at a glance
Meg tries to be a model housekeeper, and the jelly will not set the day John brings a friend home. They quarrel and sit in silence until Meg moves first. In the autumn she buys a silk she cannot afford, and a quieter quarrel follows. The chapter ends with the birth of the twins.
A way in
Start with the laugh over the word "quarrels." Ask what kind of couple laughs at that word, and what happens to the laugh.
Lesson plan
Retell The student tells the chapter back in order: the jelly, the quarrel, the silence, the silk, the greatcoat, and the twins.
Imitate the author After copying the passage, the student writes one sentence that moves from hesitation to a thought and then an act.
Debate Take sides on the jelly quarrel: whose complaint was fairer, Meg's or John's? Each side must use at least one quote from the chapter.
Purpose Close by asking why the author puts two quarrels and two babies in one chapter.
Easier Read the silent scene by the windows aloud together and talk through discussion questions 2 and 3 only.
On level Talk through all five discussion questions, then have the student write one critical-thinking answer with two pieces of evidence from the chapter.
Harder Ask the student to compare what John does in the two quarrels and to add it to a critical-thinking answer.
Discussion
- Meg and John agree never to trouble anyone with their private worries or quarrels, then laugh at that last word as "a most preposterous" idea. What does the laugh tell us?Inference
What it asks It asks what a joke about the word "quarrels" shows about how the young couple see themselves and their marriage.
One reading
They are newly married and sure a quarrel could never happen to them.
They had laughed over that last word as if the idea it suggested was a most preposterous one
At first they played keep-house, and frolicked over it like children
Another reading
They are good-humored and mean the plan, which they keep to.
but they had held to their resolve, and whenever they could get on without help they did so, and no one interfered, for Mrs. March had advised the plan
Listen for
- Says what the laugh is pushing away.
- Uses what happens to the plan later in the day.
If stuck
- What do John and Meg agree not to do, and whose advice was it?
- What does Meg long to do on the hot afternoon, and what stops her?
- Would they laugh at the word now?
A strong answer The laugh treats a quarrel as something that happens to other couples. It fits two people who are happy and a little proud of it. But the plan is also sensible, since they keep to it, and Meg does hold back from going to her mother. A strong answer says what the laugh shows about their confidence and uses one later moment to test it.
- Meg says John should have sent word. John says she always told him to bring friends home. Whose complaint is fairer?Moral reasoning
What it asks It asks the student to weigh two complaints that are each partly true, and to decide what makes one fairer.
One reading
Meg's is fairer: she was busy and he could have warned her.
You ought to have sent word, or told me this morning, and you ought to have remembered how busy I was
I hadn’t time to cook anything; I meant to dine at mother’s.
Another reading
John's is fairer: she told him to bring friends and he had no time to send word.
John, dear, never stop to ask my leave, invite whom you please, and be sure of a welcome from me.
I didn’t know it this morning, and there was no time to send word, for I met him on the way out.
Listen for
- Uses what each person actually said, not only who shouted.
- Says what would make a complaint fair: who knew what, and when.
If stuck
- What did Meg say she would always do when John brought someone home?
- When did John meet his friend?
- What did John forget, by his own account?
A strong answer Both have something. Meg promised a welcome and had worked all day; John met his friend on the way out and had no time to send word. She did not cook the dinner he had ordered, and he did forget how busy she was. A strong answer names what each person knew and when, weighs the two complaints, and gives a reason for the choice.
- The narrator calls John's new-moon remark "singularly relevant" and Meg's reply "equally soothing." What is the tone, and what does it do to the silence?Tone
What it asks It asks how the narrator's voice treats two stubborn people, and whether it makes the standoff funny, sad or both.
One reading
The tone is gentle mockery: the narrator laughs at two people who are being silly on purpose.
We are going to have a new moon, my dear.
A few other topics of general interest were introduced by Mr. Brooke, and wet-blanketed by Mrs. Brooke
Another reading
The tone is sympathetic: under the comedy both are miserable.
Neither spoke; both looked quite “calm and firm,” and both felt desperately uncomfortable.
“Oh dear,” thought Meg, “married life is very trying
Listen for
- Names the tone in a word or phrase, not only what happens.
- Explains how a joke can make a silence feel longer or lighter.
If stuck
- What do "singularly relevant" and "equally soothing" mean if the words are really the opposite?
- What does each of them do at a window?
- How do they each feel, according to the narrator?
A strong answer The narrator praises remarks that are the opposite of relevant or soothing, so the tone is mock-solemn, and the small talk that gets wet-blanketed is funny. But the same sentence says both felt desperately uncomfortable, and Meg sits thinking that married life is very trying. A strong answer hears both the joke and the ache and says how the joke keeps the ache from turning heavy.
- Marmee warned Meg about John's "white, still anger." Do we see that anger in the jelly quarrel, or something milder?Character
What it asks It asks the student to test Marmee's portrait of John against what he actually does after the jelly scene.
One reading
Yes: he does not show it, but he keeps it inside and will not be the first to speak.
But John was angry, though he did not show it
He had fumed inwardly during the feast
Another reading
No: what he feels is milder, and it softens quickly toward Meg.
Poor little thing! it was hard upon her when she tried so heartily to please me.
a milder mood came over him
Listen for
- Compares Marmee's words with John's own thoughts.
- Notices what John does in front of Scott and what he thinks alone.
If stuck
- What does John say and do in front of his friend?
- What does he think as he walks home?
- What does he do when he gets there?
A strong answer Marmee describes an anger that is seldom stirred and hard to quench. John does feel angry and hides it from Scott, and he fumes inwardly. But on the walk home he softens, calls Meg a poor little thing and resolves to be patient. A strong answer uses one quote for the hidden anger and one for the softening and decides which is stronger.
- The chapter ends with Laurie's joke name for the twins, Demijohn. Why might the author end on a laugh?Author's choice
What it asks It asks why the author closes a chapter of quarrels and money worry with a scene of babies and jokes.
One reading
It is relief: after the strain, the chapter gives the family a burst of laughter.
Jo sat down on the floor and screamed
Laurie laughed till the tears ran down his cheeks
Another reading
It is a pattern: in this family a joke is how things get lived with, and this one lasts.
It’s the best joke of the season, isn’t it?
the babies were “Daisy” and “Demi” to the end of the chapter
Listen for
- Compares the last scene with the silent evenings earlier in the chapter.
- Says something about how laughter works in this house.
If stuck
- Who laughs in the last scene, and why?
- What happened the last time a joke was made in this chapter?
- Which name does the chapter say the babies kept?
A strong answer The last scene is loud with laughing: Laurie is staggered by two babies, Jo screams, and John marches up and down proudly. After the quiet and tears of the quarrels, it reads like a breath of air. It also fits a chapter where a joke can hurt, as the jelly did, and a joke can stick, as Demi does. A strong answer picks a reason and uses one image from the last scene to support it.
Critical thinking
- Sallie urges Meg to buy the silk and offers a loan. Using two pieces of evidence, explain how much of the silk trouble is Sallie's doing.
What it asks It asks the student to weigh what Sallie does against what Meg chooses, and to decide whose trouble the silk is.
One reading
A good part is Sallie's: she urges, offers money and exults when Meg gives in.
Sallie had urged her to do it, had offered to loan the money, and with the best intentions in life, had tempted Meg beyond her strength
Sallie had exulted
Another reading
Most is Meg's: she had said no before and chose this herself, for pride.
Sallie was very kind, and often offered her the coveted trifles; but Meg declined them, knowing that John wouldn’t like it
She answered, “I’ll take it;”
Listen for
- Two different pieces of evidence, not one told twice.
- Says what Sallie did and what Meg did, separately.
If stuck
- What does Sallie offer Meg?
- What had Meg done before when Sallie offered her pretty things?
- Who says "I'll take it"?
A strong answer Sallie does push: she urges Meg, offers a loan and exults at the sale, so the narrator says she tempted Meg beyond her strength. But Meg had turned down Sallie's gifts before, and in the shop she herself says "I'll take it." A strong answer gives Sallie a share and Meg a share and backs each with a different piece of evidence.
- John says, "I can't afford it, my dear," and cancels his greatcoat. Using two pieces of evidence, explain what this does to Meg and what it shows about John.
What it asks It asks what a plain sentence from John does to Meg, and what his quiet way of acting shows about him.
One reading
It is an honest fact, and he says it without a reproach.
He was very kind, forgave her readily, and did not utter one reproach
He had simply said, in answer to her surprised inquiries as to the change, “I can’t afford it, my dear.”
Another reading
It speaks louder than a scolding: John shows the cost by what he does, not by what he says.
John went on so quietly afterward, just as if nothing had happened, except that he stayed in town later, and worked at night
Meg said no more, but a few minutes after he found her in the hall, with her face buried in the old greatcoat, crying as if her heart would break.
Listen for
- Says what Meg does after hearing it.
- Uses what John does, not only what he says.
If stuck
- What does John do with his evenings after the silk?
- Where does Meg find herself crying?
- Does the narrator say John scolded her?
A strong answer John says it plainly and does not scold; the narrator says he did not utter one reproach. Yet he stays later in town and works at night, and the cancelled greatcoat sends Meg to cry into the old one. So the sentence is an honest fact and it also lands like a judgment, and a strong answer uses two different things John does to show what he is like, and what Meg feels.
- Meg puts "her pride in her pocket" and goes to Sallie. Using two pieces of evidence, explain what she has to set aside to do it.
What it asks It asks what stands in Meg's way: fear of being pitied, shame at what she did, or both.
One reading
She has to set aside her dread of being pitied as poor.
Meg didn’t like to be pitied and made to feel poor; it irritated her, but she was ashamed to confess it
went to Sallie, told the truth, and asked her to buy the silk as a favor
Another reading
She has to set aside her shame at the mistake and own it in front of the friend who urged it.
driven away, feeling as if she had stolen something, and the police were after her
she had laughed as if it were a thing of no consequence
Listen for
- Two separate pieces of evidence.
- Connects the first shop visit to the second.
If stuck
- How did Meg act in front of Sallie when she bought the silk?
- What does she tell Sallie this time?
- How does Sallie respond?
A strong answer Earlier Meg hid that she minded being pitied and laughed as if the silk were of no consequence. To go back she has to drop both, telling Sallie the truth and asking a favor. Sallie is good-natured and does it. A strong answer uses one moment from the first visit and one from the second and says what Meg gives up by going.