Little Women
Chapter 3 — 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
Jo and Laurie each say "I’ll tell you how we can manage", and the party runs on hiding, Meg's tight slippers and concealed sprain on one side and Laurie's empty hall and "I always go early" on the other, so what separates the hiding that costs the hider pain from the hiding that spares someone else?
The tension The chapter sets two kinds of concealment side by side and lets both sisters enjoy the party anyway. Meg hides her burnt hair, her painful slippers, and finally her sprained ankle to protect the look of a real lady, and each hiding costs her more, though she says she had a good time "till I hurt myself." Jo confesses the burnt breadth to Laurie, and Laurie hides things too, but for someone else's ease: he does not laugh, he finds an empty hall, he claims he always goes early. The narrator mocks with "let us be elegant or die!" and then closes by siding with Jo, yet Jo still wishes for two neat gloves when she sees Laurie's pearl-colored ones.
Today's focus
Notice what Meg, Jo, and Laurie each keep out of sight at the party, and who it costs or spares.
Two core ideas
- Meg and Jo work to look like proper young ladies: the shared gloves, the hidden burn, and the tight slippers all belong to that effort.
- Laurie also holds something back, and his way of doing it is gentle: he does not laugh at Jo, he offers an empty hall, and he says he always goes early.
The shape at a glance
Meg and Jo are invited to a New-Year's dance and plan how to share their gloves. Jo burns Meg's hair with the tongs. At the party Meg dances in tight slippers while Jo hides in a curtained recess and meets the Laurence boy. Laurie leads her to an empty hall to dance, Meg sprains her ankle, and Laurie offers his grandfather's carriage for the ride home.
A way in
Start with Meg's slippers and ask what it takes to keep smiling on a foot that hurts.
Lesson plan
Retell The student tells the night back in order: the gloves, the burnt hair, the curtain, the empty hall, the sprained ankle, and the ride home.
Imitate the author After copying the passage, the student writes two sentences in Laurie's pattern: a gentle 'Never mind that' and a plan that solves a small problem.
Debate Sort the hiding in the chapter: which kinds cost the hider, and which spare someone else? Each side must use at least one quote from the chapter.
Purpose Close by asking why Alcott might set Meg's tight slippers beside Laurie's empty hall.
Easier Read the scene in the curtained recess aloud together and talk through discussion questions 1 and 2 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 find one more place where someone keeps something out of sight, and to add it to a critical-thinking answer.
Discussion
- Jo admits her scorched frock and says “You may laugh, if you want to.” Laurie does not laugh. What might he be thinking in that moment?Inference
What it asks It asks what Laurie's pause and his answer show about how he sees Jo's secret.
One reading
He sees she is embarrassed and wants to spare her, so he gently offers a plan.
But Laurie didn’t laugh; he only looked down a minute, and the expression of his face puzzled Jo, when he said very gently
Never mind that; I’ll tell you how we can manage: there’s a long hall out there, and we can dance grandly, and no one will see us. Please come?
Another reading
He knows what it is to feel out of place at a party, so he does not make fun of her.
Not a bit; I only came here because I don’t know many people, and felt rather strange at first, you know.
Laurie’s bashfulness soon wore off
Listen for
- Uses what Laurie says and does next, not only that he does not laugh.
- Notices what Jo has just trusted him with.
If stuck
- What does Jo tell Laurie right before he answers?
- What does Laurie do instead of laughing?
- Why did Laurie say he came to the recess in the first place?
A strong answer Jo has told a secret and even offered him a laugh. Laurie looks down for a minute and then gently makes a plan so she can dance. Perhaps he is sparing her embarrassment. Perhaps he remembers that he too came to the recess because he felt strange among so many people. Either way, he answers her with a plan and not a joke.
- Meg dances all evening in slippers that hurt, though she “would not own it.” What is she trying to protect?Character
What it asks It asks what Meg values enough to keep smiling through pain.
One reading
She is protecting how she looks: she wants to seem a proper young lady.
for a real lady is always known by neat boots, gloves, and handkerchief
Is my sash right? and does my hair look very bad?
Another reading
She is protecting her good time: she has longed for this party and is asked to dance at once.
Meg was asked at once, and the tight slippers tripped about so briskly that none would have guessed the pain their wearer suffered smilingly.
I had a delicious redowa with him.
Listen for
- Names something Meg wants, not only that she is vain.
- Uses the moment the slippers are described, not only the later sprain.
If stuck
- What do Meg's slippers do to her feet?
- What does Meg say makes a real lady?
- What happens the moment the dancing begins?
A strong answer Meg's slippers are tight and hurt, but she will not admit it, and she dances so briskly that nobody guesses. She may be protecting her picture of a real lady, who is known by neat boots and gloves. She may just as well be protecting an evening she has looked forward to, since she is asked to dance at once. A strong answer names what she wants and notes that the chapter lets us see the pain she hides.
- Laurie offers his grandfather's carriage and says “I always go early.” Do you believe him, and does it matter?Moral reasoning
What it asks It asks whether Laurie's statement is a lie, a kindness, or both, and whether the truth of it matters.
One reading
He probably just wants to help, and the reason he gives is a way to make it easy for Jo to say yes.
It’s so early! You can’t mean to go yet?
Please let me take you home? It’s all on my way, you know, and it rains, they say.
Another reading
It may be true. He is new to parties and has told Jo he feels strange in company.
you see I’ve been abroad a good many years, and haven’t been into company enough yet to know how you do things here
offered his grandfather’s carriage, which had just come for him, he said
Listen for
- Gives a reason to believe or doubt him from the scene.
- Says what would be lost or gained if he is not telling the exact truth.
If stuck
- What does Jo say before Laurie answers?
- What does Laurie say about his other reasons for offering?
- What would happen if Laurie had not offered?
A strong answer The chapter says the carriage had just come for him, he said, which leaves room to wonder. Jo has just said it is early, and he answers by adding reasons: it is on his way, and it rains. A careful reader can doubt him and still call it kind, or can take him at his word because he says he is new to parties. A strong answer decides, gives the scene's reason, and says why it matters or does not.
- The narrator jokes “let us be elegant or die!” and ends by saying “I think Jo was quite right.” What does the narrator seem to feel about the sisters' efforts?Tone
What it asks It asks the student to hear the narrator's voice across two lines and notice how it changes from start to finish.
One reading
The narrator smiles at the sisters' efforts, gently teasing how much they put up with to look fine.
Meg’s high-heeled slippers were very tight, and hurt her, though she would not own it, and Jo’s nineteen hairpins all seemed stuck straight into her head, which was not exactly comfortable; but, dear me, let us be elegant or die!
Another reading
The narrator ends on the sisters' side, pleased that they can do without the finery.
I don’t believe fine young ladies enjoy themselves a bit more than we do, in spite of our burnt hair, old gowns, one glove apiece, and tight slippers that sprain our ankles when we are silly enough to wear them.
And I think Jo was quite right.
Listen for
- Hears the joke in the first line and the approval in the second.
- Says what the narrator's words add to what the sisters say.
If stuck
- What has just been described before the narrator says “let us be elegant or die!”?
- Whose words does the narrator agree with at the very end?
- Does the narrator sound serious or playful in the first line?
A strong answer The first line is playful: the narrator lists the pinching slippers and hairpins and then jokes that the sisters must be elegant or die. The last line is warm and plain: Jo says fine young ladies enjoy themselves no more than the Marches, and the narrator agrees. A strong answer hears teasing and approval in the same voice and says what the narrator wants the reader to take from the night.
- Jo and Meg share their gloves: each wears one good one and carries one stained one. How much do appearances matter to each sister at this party?Theme
What it asks It asks how much Meg and Jo each care about looking right, and whether that changes how the evening goes.
One reading
They matter a great deal to Meg, who sets the rules, and Jo goes along with them.
Gloves are more important than anything else; you can’t dance without them, and if you don’t I should be so mortified.
Now don’t forget to keep the bad breadth out of sight, Jo.
Another reading
They matter less than the sisters think: Jo is happiest once her dress is forgotten, and Meg enjoyed herself until she was hurt.
Jo was her merry self again, because her dress was forgotten, and nobody lifted their eyebrows at her.
Yes, till I hurt myself.
Listen for
- Separates what Meg cares about from what Jo cares about.
- Uses a moment when Jo forgets how she looks.
If stuck
- What does Meg say about gloves?
- What does Jo say she will do without them?
- When does Jo seem to enjoy herself most?
A strong answer Meg says gloves are more important than anything else, and she sets rules for Jo: short steps, no winking. Jo says she does not care what people say, yet she still carries the stained glove and stays out of sight. Jo is merriest once her dress is forgotten, and Meg says she had a good time until she hurt herself. A strong answer compares the sisters and says how much the appearances really mattered to the evening.
Critical thinking
- Amy and Beth both comfort Meg after the burnt hair. Using two pieces of evidence, explain whose comfort helps Meg more.
What it asks It asks the student to compare two ways of comforting: giving a fix, or giving sympathy.
One reading
Amy helps more: she gives Meg something she can do about it.
It isn’t spoilt; just frizzle it, and tie your ribbon so the ends come on your forehead a bit, and it will look like the last fashion.
said Amy consolingly
Another reading
Beth helps more: she agrees with Meg's feeling and offers hope.
So do I, it was so smooth and pretty. But it will soon grow out again,
coming to kiss and comfort the shorn sheep
Listen for
- Two separate pieces of evidence, not one told twice.
- A reason that explains why one kind of comfort works better.
If stuck
- What does Amy tell Meg to do with the ribbon?
- How does Meg answer Amy?
- What does Beth do as well as speak?
A strong answer Amy offers a fix: frizzle it, tie the ribbon low, and it will look like the last fashion. Meg answers with a petulant wish that she had let her hair alone. Beth agrees that it was smooth and pretty, says it will grow out, and kisses her. A strong answer picks one and gives both pieces of evidence, and says whether Meg needs a plan or sympathy first.
- Jo and Laurie meet behind a curtain and soon feel like old acquaintances. Using two pieces of evidence, explain why they get on so easily.
What it asks It asks what the two share in the recess that makes talk easy so quickly.
One reading
They are both shy and out of place, so neither feels judged.
Not a bit; I only came here because I don’t know many people, and felt rather strange at first, you know.
So did I. Don’t go away, please, unless you’d rather.
Another reading
Jo's plain, funny manner puts Laurie at ease, and he is glad to be asked about himself.
Laurie’s bashfulness soon wore off; for Jo’s gentlemanly demeanor amused and set him at his ease
Jo’s eager questions soon set him going
Listen for
- Evidence from what they say and from what the narrator says.
- A reason that explains why the ease comes so fast.
If stuck
- Why does each of them say they came into the recess?
- What does Jo ask Laurie about?
A strong answer They begin by finding the same hiding place for the same reason: neither knows many people and both feel strange. Then Jo's gentlemanly manner and eager questions set Laurie at his ease. A strong answer uses one thing they say and one thing the narrator says, and explains why shared shyness makes it easy to talk.
- In the side-room, Meg sends Jo for coffee and Jo would rather stay. Using two pieces of evidence, explain how Jo shows she cares about Meg.
What it asks It asks how Jo's care shows itself in what she says and does when Meg is hurt.
One reading
Jo shows care by doing: she rubs the ankle, offers to go, and wants to stay.
answered Jo, softly rubbing the poor ankle as she spoke
They are going out to supper now. I’ll stay with you; I’d rather.
Another reading
Jo's care is honest and blunt, and she also obeys Meg's rules even when she would rather not.
I knew you’d hurt your feet with those silly shoes. I’m sorry.
Jo went blundering away to the dining-room
Listen for
- Evidence from what Jo does and from what she says.
- Notices that Jo follows Meg's wish and does not argue.
If stuck
- What does Jo do with Meg's foot while she talks?
- What does Jo offer to do for Meg?
- What does Meg ask for, and does Jo do it?
A strong answer Jo rubs the aching ankle, offers to go for the carriage, and says she would rather stay than go to supper. She also says plainly that she knew the silly shoes would hurt Meg, then says she is sorry. When Meg sends her for coffee, she goes. A strong answer uses one thing Jo does and one thing she says, and explains what kind of care the two show together.