PART TWO: CHAPTER THIRTY - FOUR - A Friend Practice Quiz — Little Women
by Louisa May Alcott — tap or click to flip
Practice Quiz: PART TWO: CHAPTER THIRTY - FOUR - A Friend
What kind of writing does Jo secretly pursue in New York?
Sensation stories — thrilling tales featuring banditti, counts, gypsies, nuns, and duchesses, published anonymously in tabloid newspapers.
What is the name of the newspaper Jo writes for?
The Weekly Volcano, edited by Mr. Dashwood.
What does Mr. Dashwood require Jo to remove from her first story?
All the moral reflections. He tells her "morals don't sell nowadays" and that readers "want to be amused, not preached at."
How much does Jo earn per story from the Weekly Volcano?
Between twenty-five and thirty dollars per story, paid upon publication.
Why does Jo keep her sensation writing secret from her family?
She has a feeling that her father and mother would not approve, so she prefers to "have her own way first, and beg pardon afterward."
What pretense does Jo use when submitting her manuscript to Mr. Dashwood?
She claims the story was written by "a friend," but her blushes and slips of the tongue quickly reveal the truth.
What is Professor Bhaer's background before coming to America?
He was an honored professor in Berlin, esteemed for his learning and integrity, though he never speaks of it himself.
How does Alcott describe Professor Bhaer's appeal?
He is "as attractive as a genial fire" — poor yet always giving, a stranger yet everyone's friend, plain yet beautiful to many. His charm comes from genuine benevolence.
What happens at the literary symposium Jo attends?
Jo is disillusioned when famous literary figures prove petty and ordinary. Professor Bhaer then courageously defends religion against philosophers who argue for dismantling traditional beliefs.
What does Bhaer compare sensation stories to?
Poison in a sugarplum — and whisky, saying that just because there is demand does not make selling it right. He says writers "haf no right to put poison in the sugarplum, and let the small ones eat it."
What is the "cocked hat" incident?
Bhaer arrives for Jo's lesson wearing a paper soldier cap that little Tina placed on his head. When he unfolds the newspaper hat, he sees a sensational illustration and condemns such publications, unknowingly shaming Jo.
What does Jo do after Bhaer condemns sensation stories?
She rereads all her stories through "the Professor's mental or moral spectacles," recognizes them as trash, and burns the entire collection in her stove.
What realization does Jo reach about character versus money?
She comes to see that "character is a better possession than money, rank, intellect, or beauty" and that true greatness consists of "truth, reverence, and good will."
How does Bhaer know Jo has stopped writing sensation stories?
He notices that the second finger of her right hand is no longer inky, she spends evenings downstairs instead of writing, and she is no longer seen at newspaper offices.
What does Jo try writing after burning her sensation stories?
She first writes an intensely moral tale ("an essay or a sermon") that no one will buy, then tries a children's story, but refuses to make it preachy enough for the publisher. She finally decides to wait until she knows more before trying again.
How does Bhaer react when Jo mentions Laurie's graduation?
His tone changes and he declines to visit, suggesting quiet jealousy. Later that evening, he sits alone and says "It is not for me, I must not hope it now."
What does Bhaer give Jo when he sees her off at the train station?
A bunch of violets to keep her company on her solitary journey home.
What is Jo's final assessment of her time in New York?
"The winter's gone, and I've written no books, earned no fortune, but I've made a friend worth having and I'll try to keep him all my life."
What extended metaphor does Alcott use to describe Jo's literary career?
Jack and the Beanstalk — Jo climbs the beanstalk, tumbles, and climbs again, learning that the real treasure is not the moneybags but moral growth.
What does the fire imagery symbolize in this chapter?
Fire represents both warmth and purification — Bhaer is described as a "genial fire" that draws people to him, and the blaze that consumes Jo's manuscripts symbolizes her moral cleansing.