Summary: The Quarrel
The Quarrel is an extract from the novel Little Women, adapted in the form of a play. The March
sisters Meg and Jo are getting ready to go out when their sister Amy comes in. She guesses they
are going to see a play with Laurie and she is upset that she has not been invited. Jo rudely tells
her not to poke herself where she is not wanted. Amy starts to cry and threatens to take
revenge against Jo.
At the play, Jo is unable to enjoy herself. She feels guilty about the fight she had with Amy.
When Meg and Jo get home, Amy is quiet. The next morning, Jo discovers that her little book of
stories is missing. She realises Amy has done something to it. She is furious and shakes Amy to
find out what she has done to her book. Amy is angry too and tells Jo that she has burned the
book. Jo is upset and swears never to forgive Amy.
When Mrs March comes home, she talks to Amy about her bad deed. Amy is at once sorry and
apologises to Jo, but Jo refuses to forgive her. The next day, Jo decides to go ice-skating with
Laurie. Amy runs after her to apologise. Laurie warns Jo to stay near the shore as the ice is thin
in the middle. Amy does not hear this warning. She skates towards the middle of the river and
the ice cracks. Amy falls into the water and is struggling.
Jo sees Amy but is frozen with fear. Laurie rushes to help Amy. He holds her hand as Jo brings a
pole to draw Amy out of the water. Laurie and Jo get Amy out and they carry her back home.
At home, Amy is fast asleep, rolled up in warm blankets, but Jo is upset. She thinks it is her fault
that Amy almost drowned. She was too angry with Amy to make sure she had heard Laurie’s
warning. She blames her quick temper for this. She cries to her mother about how she is unable
to cure her horrible temper. Mrs March comforts her and tells her to never give up trying. She
says that Jo must remember that day and make sure she does nothing like it ever again. Jo
swears that she will never be that wicked. At this point, Amy opens her eyes and the two sisters
kiss and forgive each other.
The Quarrel is a heartwarming tale of family, love and forgiveness. All relationships have their
ups and downs. Families do quarrel with each other, but they also love and forgive each other
for their mistakes. Family understands that people have their faults and that they should help
each other cure these faults.
Comprehension
A. 1. a 2. c 3. b 4. c 5. a
B. 1. a. Laurie says these words to Jo.
b. The speaker is trying to save Amy from drowning. He wants the pole to pull her out of the crack
in the ice. He manages to save her life.
c. Laurie displays bravery and a quick mind here.
2. a. Mother said these words.
b. Jo thinks it is impossible to cure her faults because she has tried many times to control her
temper but has not succeeded.
c. It is not easy to cure one’s faults. We must remember them and make a promise to ourselves to
never stop trying to improve. If we make a strong effort along with the help of someone who
loves us, we can cure our faults.
C. 1. When Jo sees Amy falling into the water, it is like one of her worst nightmares come true. For a few seconds she is unable to realise that it is not a dream but reality. She is terrified that her sister may die. Her mind goes blank and she does not know what she can do to help Amy.
2. When Mrs March finds out what Amy did to Jo’s book, she does not yell at her or punish her. She
quietly teaches Amy that what she did was wrong. She explains to Amy how hard Jo worked on
her stories and how much she loved her book. She teaches her compassion. When Jo is crying to
Mrs March after Amy has been rescued, Mrs March is warm and loving. She comforts her daughter
without telling her what she did wrong. She praises her actions. She also listens to Jo cry about her
temper carefully and teaches her a lesson on how to work at curing one’s faults. She is wise, patient
and loving.
D. Introduction: Amy, Jo and Meg are introduced. Amy learns that Meg and Jo are going to watch
The Seven Castles without her. She begs to come along, but Jo refuses rudely. Amy swears to take
revenge.
Problem: Amy takes her revenge by burning Jo’s book of stories. Jo is furious and swears never to
forgive Amy. Amy apologises but Jo refuses to accept the apology.
Action: Jo goes ice-skating with Laurie. Amy also joins them so she can apologise to Jo. Laurie warns
them that the ice is thin at the centre. Amy does not hear this and skates on thin ice and crashes into
the water. Laurie and Jo rescue her.
Resolution: Jo blames her temper for Amy’s accident. Mrs March helps her resolve to work at curing
her quick temper. Amy wakes up and she and Jo hug and make up.
Grammar
A. 2. will go; loses
3. eat; will feel
4. does not improve; will not have
5. do not hurry; will miss
B. 1. If I had a pet, I would take great care of it.
2. I would go to the cinema if I had the time.
3. If Meena were here, she would sing you a song.
4. I would be grateful if you helped me carry my luggage.
5. If Mallika knew Lila, she would invite her home.
6. If I were in Chennai, I would visit my grandfather.
Vocabulary
A. 1. propose 2. snap 3. rant 4. whine 5. boast 6. blurt
B. 2. snapped 3. blurted 4. whined 5. ranted 6. proposed
Writing
I was in the parlour with Beth and Meg, reading. But I could not pay any attention to the book. I wondered anxiously whether Jo had figured out what I had done. When I heard her running down the stairs, I knew she’d found out. “Has anyone taken my book?” she asked breathlessly. Meg and Beth said no immediately but I remained quiet; I did not dare to turn and look at Jo. She looked at me and said excitedly, “Amy, you’ve got it!” I kept denying it but she did not believe me. She shook me so hard that I got furious. Everything she had said to me yesterday came back to me and I was glad I had burned her silly book! “Scold as much as you like, you’ll never see your silly old book again,” I cried, “I burned it!” Jo’s face turned very pale and she started to cry. “You wicked, wicked girl! I never can write it again. I’ll never forgive you as long as I live,” she swore and ran off to the attic. I started to feel a little bad about what I had done then. But what about how rude she had been to me? Wait till Mothercomes home, she will sort all this out.
THE QUARREL
A. Answer in brief.
1. Why was Jo not able to fully enjoy the play? What bothered her?
Ans: Amy, Jo’s sister wanted to go with her to the theatre. Jo and Meg refused to take her as their
tickets were reserved and Jo rudely brushed her off saying Amy should not force herself where
she was not wanted. Jo was later upset about her own fiery temper and was not able to fully enjoy
the play.
2. How did Amy punish Jo for her insolent behaviour?
Ans: Amy’s pride was hurt when Jo, not only refused to take her to the theatre but was also very
rude to her. Unable to control her anger and disappointment Amy burnt Jo’s cherished book just
to punish her for her insolence.
B. Answer in detail.
1. What happened when Jo and Laurie went ice skating?
Ans: Jo was terribly upset at Amy because she had burnt a very important book of hers. So just
to change her mood she went along with Laurie for ice skating. Amy followed her, wanting to
apologise for her misbehavior. Jo, still angry, ignored her and followed Laurie who warned her not
to skate in the middle. Amy didn’t hear the warning and did exactly that and with a crash of ice,
went down into the icy water. To her luck, Laurie came just in time and held Amy’s hand firmly. Jo
brought a long pole and together they calmly got her out. Fortunately Amy was not hurt much
though she was shocked and frightened.
2. Why was Jo guilty? What role did Mrs. March play in helping her daughter handle her guilt?
Ans: Jo was very sad and extremely guilty for having been rude to Amy and for ignoring her
when she followed her for skating. She felt she was responsible for Amy’s accident as she did not
warn her in time about the thin ice in the middle of the river. Mrs. March comforted Jo when she
was upset about her ill temper and her behaviour and said she could conquer her faults and her
temper if she tried hard. She assured her that she would always be by her side if Jo needed her
help. The support given by her mother was very valuable for Jo and she made a promise to herself
that she would never be wicked and would have full control over her anger.
C. Read the lines and answer the questions.
1. You will be sorry for this, Jo March, see if you aren’t.
a. Who speaks the above line?
b. Why does she warn Jo so?
c. How did Jo react to the warning?
Ans: a. Amy speaks the above line.
b. She was annoyed with Jo because she was going for the play leaving Amy at home and
also saying that she did not have a seat reserved for her.
c. Jo just ignored her and went her way.
2. You were sensible in covering her up and getting her home quickly.
a. Who speaks the above line to whom?
b. Why does the speaker say the person was sensible?
c. What would have happened if she had been careless?
Ans: a. Mrs. March, Jo’s mother speaks the above line to Jo.
b. Jo’s sister Amy had fallen into the icy water. Jo was sensible in bringing her home fully
covered in warm clothes.
c. If she hadn’t done so, Amy would have fallen dangerously ill.
D. Answer in brief. (Think and answer)
1. Fights and arguments are common among siblings. However, do you feel what Amy did was right?
[Free response] Suggested Ans: I do not approve of Amy’s behavior.When one’s pride is
severely hurt, one may want to do things which one may regret later. Amy burnt a book which
was very dear to Jo. Amy should have controlled her anger and should not have caused such
immense damage.
2. Why did Amy show her anger only on Jo and not on Meg?
[Free response] Suggested ans: Amy showed her anger more on Jo because Jo was curt and
rude with Amy. Meg apparently was more polite and tried to make Amy understand that she was
not invited for the play. Jo on the other hand was cross and impertinent and chided Amy for her
childish behaviour.
E. Answer in detail. (Think and answer)
What did Jo not like about herself? Do you have any quality that you would like to change? Elaborate.
Ans: Jo was very unhappy about her horrible temper. She was very upset that anger always got the
better of her. Though she rudely avoided her sister Amy before going to the play, she was constantly
thinking of her at the play. After rescuing her from the icy water, Jo could not pardon herself for
ignoring her sister while skating. All that happened only because Jo could not control her anger. Jo
wanted her mother to help her win over that terrible quality of hers.
Free response for the second part.
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