Little Women

1. Little Women • Background information • Characters • Content • My understanding of the story

2. Background information • Little Women is a novel written by American author Louisa May Alcott, and is closely based on the author’s experiences with her three sisters. • The film focuses on the March sisters- Meg ,Jo, Beth, and Amy - growing up in Concord, Massachusetts during and after the American Civil War. With their father away fighting in the war, the girls struggle with major and minor problems under the guidance of their strong-willed mother. As a means of escaping some of their problems, the sisters revel in performing in romantic plays written by Jo in their attic theater.

3. Characters • Meg: At sixteen, she is the oldest sister. She is considered the beauty of the March household and she is well-mannered. Meg runs the household when her mother is absent. She fell in love with Mr. John Brooke, and had two children in the end. • Jo: Jo March is a very boyish, hot-tempered, fifteen-year-old girl. She loves activity and can't bear to be left on the sidelines. She thinks about going and fighting in the Civil War alongside her father quite a lot but can’t. Jo also loves literature. She composes plays for her sisters to perform and writes stories that she eventually gets published. Jo hopes to do something great when she grows up, although she's not sure what that might be – perhaps writing a great novel. Whatever it is, it's not going to involve getting married; Jo hates the idea of romance, because marriage might break up her family and separate her from the sisters she adores.

4. Beth: Beth is very shy and timid. She loves playing piano so much but dare not play in public. All she wants is to remain at home with her parents. But unfortunately she got a serious disease and died. Amy: She is the youngest so somewhat selfish. She often argues with Jo who particularly dislikes it when Amy uses big words ,mispronouncing them or using them incorrectly when they are acting. Finally they made it up after experiencing some difficulties together.

5. Plot • As the Christmas approaching, the four March sisters decided to be good young girls. No more anger, no more laziness, and no more selfishness. • The Christmas came. On Christmas night, when they were playing a drama, a boy was watching they closely through the window. That is Laurie-their rich neighbor. • Jo soon got acquainted with Laurie. They became good friends. Later Laurie had a party in his splendid house. It’s amazing that Laurie’s grandfather who is very serious and strict loved the four lovely sisters. • The grandfather sent his beloved granddaught’s piano to Beth, which made the March family appreciated so much. Day after day, the two families got even closer.

6. Meg was secretly out with John Brooke several times, which contributed to some gossip. Some said it wasn’t proper for a girl from such a ordinary family to marry a rich gentleman like John. • One October afternoon, Jo caught a bus into the town and stopped outside in the streets. To her great amusement, a young man was watching her from the opposite side of the road. It turned out to be Laurie and he said he was waiting Jo home. They shared secrets and it seemed that Laurie was going to show his love for Jo, suddenly Jo runned home with a blushed face.

7. A telegram came , saying that their father was seriously ill in the hospital. So Mrs March left home right away, leaving all the housework to the sisters. More unfortunately Beth got a infectious disease while taking care of their neighbor’s baby. Finally the mother returned and Beth got recovered. • One day Mr March came home, making all his daughters overjoyed.

8. Meg got married with John. While Jo still couldn’t accept Laurie’s affection. In order to escape she went to Mew York to work as a tutor there she met Friedrich Bhaer a German professor who challenged and stimulated her on writing more better true stories. • Laurie went to Europe，there he met Amy and her aunt. Then Laurie and Amy got closer and closer with each other. • The ending: Jo got married with Friedrich Bhaer , while Laurie with Amy. The family lived happily except that Beth died in the end.

9. My understanding of the story • Just like Jo tried her best to protect her home, home is the warmest and most reliable shelter in the world. All of us ought to love our family. • Although poor, we should still be positive and optimistic. Like the March sisters, they never gave up dreaming or trying. • Have the belief to be better for we don’t known when luck will come to us.

10. Thank you!