From Miss Minchin’s early comments and actions, What impression do you get of her?

What feelings did Sara experience just before and during Miss Minchin’s speech?

What do we learn about Sara’s character from this story?

According to Mr Barrow, how had Sara been made a pauper?

According to Mr Barrow, how had Sara been made a pauper?

Do you think Sara would have been able to handle life as a pauper? Give reasons for your answer.  

Which words, phrases and ideas in the story tell us that this was written a long time ago?

It really had not occurred to her to think of them in that light

1. Who is the ‘her’ in this statements and who is ‘them’?

2. What has been said about ‘them’ prior to this, and by whom?

3. What does she do and say after this?

‘The jungle fever might not have killed him if he had not been driven mad by the business troubles.’

1. Who is the speaker, and about whom is the comment made?

2. What are the business troubles referred to in the statement?

3. What is the consequence of this for:
   i. Sara
   ii. Miss Minchin

Explain what is meant by the italicized words in the following:

1. ‘Miss Minchin was betrayed into something like a small jump.’

2. ‘It really had not occurred to her to think of them in that light.’

3. ‘Becky, who was not expected to partake of refreshments, had the indiscretion to linger a moment to look at these beauties.’

4. 'Miss Minchin drew herself up even more rigidly.’

5. ‘Diamond mines spell ruin oftener than they spell wealth.’

6. ‘She heard Miss Minchin approaching, and, being smitten with terror at the thought of being accused of taking liberties, she rashly darted under the table.’

How was it said? use the following expressions in sentences of your own. Include the proper punctuation. For example: remarked
‘Quite an extraordinary affair,’ remarked Miss Minchin.
        a. remarked succinctly
        b. said stiffly
        c. answered snappishly
        d. ejaculated
        e. answered with jerky brusqueness
        f. approved

How would you react if you were to suffer the same fate as Sara? Think about this, then discuss what happens to people when their circumstances in life change. Write a short account of how you would deal with the change.

How do people in power or a ‘higher station’ in life treat others whom they consider of a ‘lower station’? Is their treatment always just or fair? Discuss this in class.

Becky went to her place, grinning. She did not care where she was sent.

a. Why was Becky sent to her place, and who sent her there?
b. What does her grinning and indifference suggest about her character and situation?

How did Lavinia and Sara's views about 'supposing' things differ?