She had cherished her anger till it grew strong, and took possession of her,Held onto and cared for, as if precious.
Little Women
Chapter 8
Louisa May Alcott · Trailblazers 4th–6th
Copywork
Jo heard Amy panting after her run, stamping her feet and blowing her fingers, as she tried to put her skates on; but Jo never turned, and went slowly zigzagging down the river, taking a bitter, unhappy sort of satisfaction in her sister’s troubles. She had cherished her anger till it grew strong, and took possession of her, as evil thoughts and feelings always do, unless cast out at once.
Read your copy aloud. The first sentence tells what Jo hears and what she does; the second tells what has happened inside her. Which words show the anger growing, and what does the narrator say should have been done with it?
Discussion
Narration Retell the days in order: the theatre, the burnt book, the evening at home, the skating, and Marmee's talk by Amy's bed.
- Amy burns Jo's book and says she told Jo she'd “make you pay for being so cross yesterday.” What do you make of that reason? Character
- Jo's book was the loving work of several years, and Amy says she is “very, very sorry.” How much should an apology weigh against a loss like that? Moral reasoning
- Jo wants to cry on Marmee's shoulder, but says gruffly that Amy “don’t deserve to be forgiven.” Why might she say that instead? Inference
- Marmee says she has tried to cure her temper for forty years and is still angry nearly every day. Does that comfort Jo, discourage her, or both? Theme
- Laurie shouts, “Keep near the shore; it isn’t safe in the middle.” Jo hears it and Amy does not. Why might Alcott arrange it that way? Author's choice
Make a Connection Tell about a time you were angry at someone and did not want to forgive them.
Vocabulary
- cherished
- possession
She had cherished her anger till it grew strong, and took possession of her,
Control or hold over something.- calamity
to Jo it was a dreadful calamity,
A disaster; a terrible loss.- overtures
Amy was much offended that her overtures of peace had been repulsed,
First moves toward making peace.- resentment
softened Jo’s resentment, and healed the breach.
Lasting anger over a hurt.- treacherous
might have been swept away from her sight forever under the treacherous ice.
Dangerous while seeming safe.- penitent
in a passion of penitent tears,
Deeply sorry for a wrong.- harboring
Jo glanced over her shoulder, and the little demon she was harboring said in her ear—
Keeping and sheltering, as a hidden guest.- remorsefully
whispered Jo, looking remorsefully at the golden head,
With deep regret for having done wrong.- humility
The patience and the humility of the face she loved so well was a better lesson to Jo than the wisest lecture, the sharpest reproof.
Honest modesty about one's own faults.
Critical thinking
- Jo and Meg will not take Amy to the theatre. Using two pieces of evidence, explain whether Amy had a fair complaint.
- Nobody speaks of the burnt book that evening. Using two pieces of evidence, explain what the evening shows about how one sister's anger reaches the family.
- Marmee says her husband and her daughters helped her with her own temper. Using two pieces of evidence, explain how.