A Little Princess: Book Summary, Characters, Video, and Study Guide - Book Summaries
Sara's journey from India to London is the beginning of A Little Princess.Before bidding her farewell, her doting father gives her extravagant gifts including custom-made clothes and a beautiful doll, which she names Emily.The father and daughter say goodbye to each other.Sara is able to survive on the strength of her imagination because she misses her father.She tells exciting stories that make her popular with her classmates, and she enjoys pretending that her doll, Emily, is capable of thinking and understanding her.Sara's new friends in this period include Ermengarde, a well-intentioned but dull classmate who looks up to her, and the youngest student at the school, who accepts Sara as a kind of surrogate mother.Sara's wealth increases her favor with the leadership of the school.Miss Minchin doesn't like Sara but she treats her well because she wants her family's money.Lavinia is jealous of Sara's wealth, but she is always kind and unspoiled.She goes out of her way to give food, toys, and resources to those in need.Sara imagines herself to be a princess who improves the lives of her subjects.Sara is the most popular and academically advanced student by her eleventh birthday.Since her father is going to invest in diamond mines, she expects to become even wealthier.
Sara's life comes crashing down during her eleventh birthday party.Miss Minchin was told that Sara's father had died with his finances in tatters, leaving her penniless.Miss Minchin took away Sara's living space, toys, and lessons.Sara is sent to live in an attic with a rat.She is asked to help younger students with lessons instead of seeing friends.She is supported by a mixture of loyal friends and imagination.She thinks of herself as a princess, a soldier, or a prisoner in the Bastille.A fantasy that the author playfully implies is accurate is that one of the rats in her attic is capable of human-like thoughts and feelings.The four of them remain close with Sara.Even though visiting her room is forbidden, they do their best to share food and books with her.
Sara's life begins to look miserable.Miss Minchin doesn't give her enough food.strangers notice how poor she is when she leaves school to run an errandSara gave away the little food she could afford to a poor child.A family who live next door to Sara debate if she is a beggar since her poverty contrasts with her upper-class mannerisms.Miss Minchin denied her any relief despite her obvious starvation.Miss Minchin threatened to punish all three girls when Ermengarde tried to deliver food to them.Sara doesn't know that people are interested in her well-being.A sickly, aging bachelor who has recently moved into the neighborhood from India is intriguing to the family who lives nearby.Mr. Carrisford brought his servant from India.Sara spoke to Ram Dass through a window in their attics.Ram Dass begins to leave Sara presents and food in her room after Carrisford's blessing.Sara doesn't know they come from Carrisford and Ram Dass.Carrisford is looking for the daughter of his old friend.He is not aware that the poor servant girl next door is the child he is looking for.
Sara goes to Carrisford's house to return the monkey that has been in her room.She casually mentions her upbringing in India.Carrisford realized that Sara was his missing daughter after Sara explained her story.He tells her that her father's fortune will be restored to her.The two become very close when he becomes Sara's guardian.Sara is allowed to remain friends with both Ermengarde and Lottie, as well as taking Becky in as her own personal servant.
The question and answer section is a great place to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel.
It is a strange way of doing things.Who said it and where it was said?