Chapter 42 · Little Women

Copywork

Now, if she had been the heroine of a moral storybook, she ought at this period of her life to have become quite saintly, renounced the world, and gone about doing good in a mortified bonnet, with tracts in her pocket. But, you see, Jo wasn’t a heroine; she was only a struggling human girl, like hundreds of others, and she just acted out her nature, being sad, cross, listless, or energetic, as the mood suggested.

Read your copy aloud. Find the heroine the narrator refuses to write and the phrase she uses for Jo instead. Then list the moods the narrator says Jo acted out.

Discussion

Narration Tell back Jo's hard months after Beth's death, who and what helped her, and what she finds in the garret at the end.

Jo thinks, “It was not fair,” because she tried harder than Amy and got no reward. Does Jo have a point? Moral reasoning
The narrator says her helpers “wore familiar shapes” and used “simple spells.” Why might the chapter choose a mother's arms and a father's study over something grander? Author's choice
The narrator says, “Jo wasn’t a heroine; she was only a struggling human girl.” Why might the author say that out loud? Tone
Jo's little story comes from “no thought of fame or money,” and it is a “great success.” How do you weigh what that shows? Theme
Jo says, “mine is so elastic, it never seems full now.” What do you think she is wanting, and why might her mother smile? Inference
The chapter ends with the note, “Wait for me, my friend,” and the question, “Was it all self-pity, loneliness, or low spirits?” Why might the author leave it open? Author's choice

Make a Connection Tell about something small that someone did that helped you through a sad time.

Vocabulary

mortified: and gone about doing good in a mortified bonnet, with tracts in her pocket. Made humble by self-denial; here, plain to the point of severity.
listless: like hundreds of others, and she just acted out her nature, being sad, cross, listless, Without energy or interest.
self-abnegation: It was easy to promise self-abnegation when self was wrapped up in another, Giving up one's own wishes for others.
humdrum: devoted to humdrum cares, a few small pleasures, Dull and ordinary.
unsubmissive: and when the sight of the little empty bed made her cry with the bitter cry of an unsubmissive sorrow, Refusing to yield or accept.
chastened: turning affliction to a blessing, which chastened grief and strengthened love. Made quieter and more humble.
despondency: were trying now to teach another to accept life without despondency or distrust, Loss of hope; low spirits.
pathos: “There is truth in it, Jo, that’s the secret; humor and pathos make it alive, A quality that stirs tender sadness.
confidante: you may trust me, I’m sober and sensible enough for anyone’s confidante now.” A person trusted with secrets.
elastic: I’d no idea hearts could take in so many; mine is so elastic, it never seems full now, Able to stretch and take in more.

Critical thinking

Jo hums Beth's songs while she works with the old brush. Using two pieces of evidence, explain how Hannah reads what Jo is doing.
Marmee admits she did not tell Jo her guess about Amy and Laurie. Using two pieces of evidence, explain why she kept quiet.
Amy writes that she has never been so happy and so humble. Using two pieces of evidence, explain what she says has changed her.