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Little Women
Trailblazers · 4th–6th
If she had not got the new idea into her head, she would have seen nothing unusual in the fact that Beth was very quiet, and Laurie very kind to her. But having given the rein to her lively fancy, it galloped away with her at a great pace; and common sense, being rather weakened by a long course of romance writing, did not come to the rescue.
Read your copy aloud. Find the sentence that tells you what Jo would have seen without the new idea, and the sentence that tells you what her fancy did instead. What does the narrator say weakened Jo's common sense?
Narration Tell back what Jo notices about Beth, what happens on the sofa with Laurie, and how her plan to leave comes about.
1. Beth smiles at a passerby, then "a tear lay shining on the window-ledge." What does Jo see there, and how else might you read it?Inference
2. On the sofa Jo slams down the pillow, scolds Laurie about flirting, and sends him off to sing. What might each of those do for Jo?Character
3. Jo believes she knows what troubles Beth, but only asks, "Does anything trouble you, deary?" Was holding back the right choice?Moral reasoning
4. The narrator tells us Jo's fancy "galloped away with her" before we watch Laurie and Beth through her eyes. Why tell us first?Author's choice
5. Marmee agrees Jo should go away "for Laurie's sake," but does not take "so romantic a view" of Beth. What might she see that Jo does not?Inference
Make a Connection Tell about a time you were sure you knew what someone was feeling.
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But having given the rein to her lively fancy, it galloped away with her at a great pace; and common sense,
But having given the rein to her lively fancy, it galloped away with her at a great pace; and common sense,
Mrs. March glanced at Jo as she spoke, but the face opposite seemed quite unconscious of any secret disquietude but Beth’s; and,
Sitting at the window, Beth’s work often dropped into her lap, and she leaned her head upon her hand, in a dejected attitude,
While apparently absorbed in her own affairs, Jo watched Beth; and, after many conflicting conjectures,
laughed less than usual, was a little absentminded, and settled the afghan over Beth’s feet with an assiduity that was really almost tender.
this repulsive pillow was her especial property, being used as a weapon of defence, a barricade, or a stern preventive of too much slumber.
when romping was allowed, and now frequently debarred by it from taking the seat he most coveted, next to Jo in the sofa corner.
Returning suddenly to her admonitory tone, she said, dropping her voice, “If you must have a ‘went,’ Teddy,
“That I’m not!” acquiesced Laurie, with an expression of humility quite new to him, as he dropped his eyes,
1. Jo tells her mother why she wants to go to New York. Using two pieces of evidence, explain what she says she hopes to get there.
2. The narrator says Jo "preferred imaginary heroes to real ones." Using two pieces of evidence, explain how Jo has treated Laurie's attempts at tender talk.
3. When Jo tells Laurie she is leaving, he takes it "very quietly," then whispers a warning at the last. Using two pieces of evidence, explain what he seems to be doing.