Little Women Worksheets

Related ELA Standard: RL.6-8.10

Core Standard
Answer Keys Here

Louisa May Alcott wrote this classic modern drama that centers around the concept of sisterhood through the lives of four March sisters. This work was a complete reflection upon the authors upbringing. The work deals with social constraints that women faced in the nineteenth century. It follows the lives of the four women from childhood to adulthood. The emphasis is on how their expected homelife interferes with their opportunity and ability to grow. It explores the concept of gender equality and the importance of being unique and your own person during this time period. This series of worksheets will help students explore various portions and themes of the work Little Women.

Little Women Worksheets To Print:

Who Are the Little Women? - Name the four heroines of the novel. Draw a picture of each. Then briefly describe their personalities.

Who Said It? - Who said each quotation from the book? Explain what it means, in your own words.

Being Genuine - What is the novel's general position on the subject?

Poverty - Louisa May Alcott came from poverty, and she was not insensitive to the practical realities of life. What are some examples in the story of how Alcott dramatizes the realities of poverty?

The Author - Research the life of Louisa May Alcott to find answers to the questions below.

Gender Stereotypes - How does the character Laurie challenge traditional ideas of masculinity?

A Woman's Role - The novel dramatizes four different approaches to being a woman in the 19th century. Briefly explain how each March sister represent a different approach.

Anger - What kind of conflict is Jo experiencing at this point in the story?

Jo and Laurie - What does Jo think of Mr. Laurence’s boy before she meets him?

Symbols - We look at how two preeminent symbols that drive the story for a bit.

Motifs - Identify the main motifs in the novel and provide examples of each.

Character Development - Choose one of the main characters from Little Women. Identify their primary character traits. Write a brief description of the character.

Feminine Ideal - How do you think that the author, Louisa May Alcott, felt about the feminine ideals of her time? Explain your answer.

What Do You Think? - Choose one of the questions. Write a paragraph to answer it.

Themes - We work through the six main themes in the work and see if students understand where they come into play.

Quick Summary of the Book Little Women

Louisa May Alcott's Little Women revolves around the lives of four sisters – Amy, Beth, Meg, and Jo. The setting is New England during the American civil war. Published in two volumes in 1868 and 1869 respectively, it's a coming-of-age story of the siblings who all have their "character flaws" and learn various lessons while growing up.


The young ladies work hard to overcome weaknesses and achieve their goals over the course of the novel. With time, they have to come to terms with the fact that "happy endings" don't always work out as intended.

 

Plot & Summary

Many call it a highly complex piece of literature. However, at its core, Little Women is a simple but expertly crafted tale of love, loss, sacrifice, and the strength of family bonds. It all begins around Christmas when Mr March, the girls' father, is away at war, serving the Union Army as a chaplain.


Given the limited means, Mrs March and her four daughters are resigned to spending a "humble Christmas" with nothing but each other. To keep the March sisters' spirits up, their mother decides to perform a small activity. All the siblings are asked to name their "burden." The author uses the term to refer to the young ladies' "personality flaws."


Mrs. March asks the girls to complete the exercise and receive their Christmas presents. 16-year-old Meg, the eldest of the March sisters, admits her vanity. Jo, the second child who's a year younger than Meg, points out her hot-headedness. Third-born Beth (13 years old) refers to her shyness and the tendency to envy other girls. The youngest sibling Amy (12 years old) laments her greed.


As the story goes on, the March sisters face various challenges while growing up. They learn important lessons along the way before the girls eventually conquer their "burdens."

 

Little Women: How It All Started

Louisa May Alcott wrote Little Women in response to repeated requests from friends and family to create something for young girls. Originally printed in two volumes, it was published as a single novel with the current name in 1880.


Alcott's own life inspires the book. In particular, she based the character of Jo March on herself. Others in the story resemble the traits of the writer's various family members.


Little Women continues to be widely read by literature enthusiasts around the world. Its strong and ambitious female characters are believed to have significantly contributed to the rise of feminism in America during the 20th century.

 

About the Author

Born in Pennsylvania in 1832, Louisa May Alcott's family lived in New England (just like the March clan). A working-class household, Alcott's family deeply valued religion and had its share of financial challenges over time.


Like her characters, she was an intelligent and independent woman. Alcott worked as a teacher and domestic help before taking up writing to great effect. An active participant in the First Wave of Feminism, she was a staunch supporter of women's suffrage and the abolitionist movement.