Page 77 - Think 4. Teacher's Book B2

Unit 6
Better together Literature; Reading
Warmer Literature
Write the words strong female
characters on the board. Elicit or
give the meaning and ask students
to brainstorm all the strong female
characters that they can think of from
literature (or from film if students
are struggling). Discuss some of the
characters as a class.
1 Ask students to cover the extract
and just look at the pictures. Give
them a minute to discuss the
question in pairs.
2 6.06 Encourage students not
to focus on every word for now
but just to find the answer to the
question.
a (cabinet) piano
Culture notes
Louisa May Alcott was born in 1832
in Pennsylvania, USA. Educated by
her father, the family was usually
short of money and she took on
sewing and writing work to help to
support them. When the American
Civil War broke out in 1861, she
began to work as a volunteer army
nurse in a Union Hospital. Her first
book, Hospital Sketches (1863) was
written at this time, but it was the
publication of Little Women in 1868
that resulted in her becoming the
best-selling American author of
the century. Her work introduced
readers to educated, strong, female
heroines. As a result, her writing style
greatly impacted American literature.
Throughout her life, she suffered 62
greatly from ill health aggravated by
early deprivation and overwork. She
died in Boston in 1888.
T62 Better together | Unit 6
1 Look at the pictures and read the introduction to the extract.
What do you think Mr Laurence sent Beth as a gift?
2 6.06 Read and listen to the extract to check your ideas.
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
Little Women follows the lives of the four March sisters, Jo, Beth, Meg and
Amy, who grew up during and after the American Civil War (1861–1865).
Mr Laurence, a wealthy old gentleman who lives next door to the family,
is especially fond of Beth, as she reminds him of his little granddaughter.
In this extract, Mr Laurence has sent Beth a gift and the sisters and Hannah,
their only servant, are all very excited.
Beth hurried on in a flutter of suspense. At the door her flower, and these will always remind me of the gentle giver.
sisters seized and bore her to the parlor in a triumphal I like to pay my debts, so I know you will allow ‘the old
procession, all pointing and all saying at once, “Look gentleman’ to send you something which once belonged
there! Look there!” Beth did look, and turned pale with to the little granddaughter he lost. With hearty thanks and
delight and surprise, for there stood a little cabinet piano, best wishes, I remain ‘Your grateful friend and humble
with a letter lying on the glossy lid, directed like a sign servant, JAMES LAURENCE’”
board to “Miss Elizabeth March.”
“For me?” gasped Beth, holding onto Jo and feeling as if “There, Beth, that’s an honor to be proud of, I’m sure!
Laurie told me how fond Mr. Laurence used to be of
she should tumble down, it was such an overwhelming the child who died, and how he kept all her little things
carefully. Just think, he’s given you her piano. That comes
thing altogether.
“Yes, all for you, my precious! Isn’t it splendid of him? of having big blue eyes and loving music,” said Jo, trying
Don’t you think he’s the dearest old man in the world? to soothe Beth, who trembled and looked more excited
Here’s the key in the letter. We didn’t open it, but we are than she had ever been before.
dying to know what he says,” cried Jo, hugging her sister “See the cunning brackets to hold candles, and the nice
and offering the note. green silk, puckered up, with a gold rose in the middle,
“You read it! I can’t, I feel so queer! Oh, it is too lovely!” and the pretty rack and stool, all complete,” added Meg,
and Beth hid her face in Jo’s apron, quite upset by her opening the instrument and displaying its beauties.
present. “‘Your humble servant, James Laurence’. Only think of
Jo opened the paper and began to laugh, for the first
his writing that to you. I’ll tell the girls. They’ll think it’s
words she saw were … splendid,” said Amy, much impressed by the note.
“Miss March: “Try it, honey. Let’s hear the sound of the baby pianny,”
said Hannah, who always took a share in the family joys
“Dear Madam--”
“How nice it sounds! I wish someone would write to me and sorrows.
so!” said Amy, who thought the old-fashioned address So Beth tried it, and everyone pronounced it the most
remarkable piano ever heard. It had evidently been newly
very elegant.
“I have had many pairs of slippers in my life, but tuned and put in apple-pie order, but, perfect as it was,
I never had any that suited me so well as yours,” I think the real charm lay in the happiest of all happy
faces which leaned over it.
continues Jo. “Heartsease is my favorite