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Little Women

Detailed Summary & Analysis

Part 1, Chapter 1Part 1, Chapter 2Part 1, Chapter 3Part 1, Chapter 4Part 1, Chapter 5Part 1, Chapter 6Part 1, Chapter 7Part 1, Chapter 8Part 1, Chapter 9Part 1, Chapter 10Part 1, Chapter 11Part 1, Chapter 12Part 1, Chapter 13Part 1, Chapter 14Part 1, Chapter 15Part 1, Chapter 16Part 1, Chapter 17Part 1, Chapter 18Part 1, Chapter 19Part 1, Chapter 20Part 1, Chapter 21Part 1, Chapter 22Part 1, Chapter 23Part 2, Chapter 24Part 2, Chapter 25Part 2, Chapter 26Part 2, Chapter 27Part 2, Chapter 28Part 2, Chapter 29Part 2, Chapter 30Part 2, Chapter 31Part 2, Chapter 32Part 2, Chapter 33Part 2, Chapter 34Part 2, Chapter 35Part 2, Chapter 36Part 2, Chapter 37Part 2, Chapter 38Part 2, Chapter 39Part 2, Chapter 40Part 2, Chapter 41Part 2, Chapter 42Part 2, Chapter 43Part 2, Chapter 44Part 2, Chapter 45Part 2, Chapter 46Part 2, Chapter 47

Quizzes

All QuizzesPart 1, Chapter 1: Playing Pilgrims QuizPart 1, Chapter 2: A Merry Christmas QuizPart 1, Chapter 3: The Laurence Boy QuizPart 1, Chapter 4: Burdens QuizPart 1, Chapter 5: Being Neighborly QuizPart 1, Chapter 6: Beth Finds the Palace Beautiful QuizPart 1, Chapter 7: Amy’s Valley of Humiliation QuizPart 1, Chapter 8: Jo Meets Apollyon QuizPart 1, Chapter 9: Meg Goes to Vanity Fair QuizPart 1, Chapter 10: The P.C. and P.O. QuizPart 1, Chapter 11: Experiments QuizPart 1, Chapter 12: Camp Laurence QuizPart 1, Chapter 13: Castles in the Air QuizPart 1, Chapter 14: Secrets QuizPart 1, Chapter 15: A Telegram QuizPart 1, Chapter 16: Letters QuizPart 1, Chapter 17: Little Faithful QuizPart 1, Chapter 18: Dark Days QuizPart 1, Chapter 19: Amy’s Will QuizPart 1, Chapter 20: Confidential QuizPart 1, Chapter 21: Laurie Makes Mischief, and Jo Makes Peace QuizPart 1, Chapter 22: Pleasant Meadows QuizPart 1, Chapter 23: Aunt March Settles the Question QuizPart 2, Chapter 24: Gossip QuizPart 2, Chapter 25: The First Wedding QuizPart 2, Chapter 26: Artistic Attempts QuizPart 2, Chapter 27: Literary Lessons QuizPart 2, Chapter 28: Domestic Experiences QuizPart 2, Chapter 29: Calls QuizPart 2, Chapter 30: Consequences QuizPart 2, Chapter 31: Our Foreign Correspondent QuizPart 2, Chapter 32: Tender Troubles QuizPart 2, Chapter 33: Jo’s Journal QuizPart 2, Chapter 34: Friend QuizPart 2, Chapter 35: Heartache QuizPart 2, Chapter 36: Beth’s Secret QuizPart 2, Chapter 37: New Impressions QuizPart 2, Chapter 38: On the Shelf QuizPart 2, Chapter 39: Lazy Laurence QuizPart 2, Chapter 40: The Valley of the Shadow QuizPart 2, Chapter 41: Learning to Forget QuizPart 2, Chapter 42: All Alone QuizPart 2, Chapter 43: Surprises QuizPart 2, Chapter 44: My Lord and Lady QuizPart 2, Chapter 45: Daisy and Demi QuizPart 2, Chapter 46: Under the Umbrella QuizPart 2, Chapter 47: Harvest Time Quiz

Little Women

by

Louisa May Alcott

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Daughter of Mr. and Mrs. March, and sister of Jo, Meg, and Amy. Beth is sickly, shy, and utterly pious. Too anxious to attend school and too humble to attempt work outside of the home, Beth spends her days making herself useful around the March household. Beth seems to intuitively understand what is right and wrong (something Jo admires in her). Beth harbors musical ambitions, something that kindles a friendship between her and Mr. Laurence. Beth nearly dies of scarlet fever in Part I. Her health is weakened as a result, and she dies toward the end of Part II. Beth is thirteen when the story begins.

Elizabeth "Beth" March Quotes in Little Women

The Little Women quotes below are all either spoken by Elizabeth "Beth" March or refer to Elizabeth "Beth" March. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:

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).

Part 1, Chapter 1Quotes

“Our burdens are here, our road is before us…Now, my little pilgrims, suppose you begin again, not in play, but in earnest, and see how far on you can get before Father comes home.”

Related Characters:Margaret "Marmee" March (speaker), Josephine "Jo" March, Margaret "Meg" March, Elizabeth "Beth" March, Amy Curtis March, Robert March

Related Literary Devices:

Page Number and Citation:16

Explanation and Analysis:

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Part 1, Chapter 18Quotes

“…she can’t love Bethy as I do, and she won’t miss her as I shall. Beth is my conscience, and I can’t give her up. I can’t! I can’t!”

Related Characters:Josephine "Jo" March (speaker), Elizabeth "Beth" March

Related Themes:

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LitCharts (25)

Related Literary Devices:

Page Number and Citation:190

Explanation and Analysis:

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Elizabeth "Beth" March Quotes in Little Women

The Little Women quotes below are all either spoken by Elizabeth "Beth" March or refer to Elizabeth "Beth" March. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:

LitCharts (29)

).

Part 1, Chapter 1Quotes

“Our burdens are here, our road is before us…Now, my little pilgrims, suppose you begin again, not in play, but in earnest, and see how far on you can get before Father comes home.”

Related Characters:Margaret "Marmee" March (speaker), Josephine "Jo" March, Margaret "Meg" March, Elizabeth "Beth" March, Amy Curtis March, Robert March

Related Themes:

LitCharts (30)

LitCharts (31)

Related Literary Devices:

Page Number and Citation:16

Explanation and Analysis:

LitCharts (32)

LitCharts (33)

Part 1, Chapter 18Quotes

“…she can’t love Bethy as I do, and she won’t miss her as I shall. Beth is my conscience, and I can’t give her up. I can’t! I can’t!”

Related Characters:Josephine "Jo" March (speaker), Elizabeth "Beth" March

Related Themes:

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LitCharts (35)

Related Literary Devices:

Page Number and Citation:190

Explanation and Analysis:

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LitCharts (37)

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