Class 3 :: English Literature :: Something Unexpected Happens - I - from Heidi by Johanna Spyri (Roots)
Something Unexpected Happens - I
- from Heidi
by Johanna Spyri (Roots)
Start Here
Have you ever been to the hills or mountains? Circle all that you will see there.
Comprehension
Read and answer
1. Read these sentences and put a tick (✓) if they are true and a cross (X) if they are false.
a. Peter was unhappy since Clara was not spending time with him. [✓]
b. The goats did not gather round Peter as usual. [✓]
c. Heidi pushed the wheelchair down the slope. [X]
d. Peter hid behind a large blackberry bush. [✓]
e. Grandfather decided to cancel the trip up the mountain. [X]
Reference to context
2. "Grandfather wheeled the chair out of the shed and went in to call the children."
a. Who are the 'children'?
= The 'children' are Heidi and her friend Clara.
b. Why did Grandfather bring out the wheelchair?
= Grandfather brought out the wheelchair because Clara needed the wheelchair as she could not walk of her own.
c. Why did Grandfather call the children?
= Grandfather called the children because all of them three were to go to the mountainside.
3. "She had not come out with the goats once this summer."
a. Who is 'she'?
= 'She' is Heidi.
b. Did she come out often with the goats before? Why?
= Yes, She came out often with the goats before.
She used to bring the goats out to graze.
c. What had changed this summer?
= This summer, Heidi was with her friend Clara. Clara has come to her house. So, Heidi is spending time with her. She has not come out with the goats once this summer.
4. "Peter ran up the mountain, not stopping till he was hiding behind a large blackberry bush."
a. What had Peter done just before this?
= Peter had pushed the wheelchair of Clara in the direction of the slope just before this.
b. Who was he hiding from? Why?
= He was hiding from Heidi's Grandfather as well as from Heidi and Clara.
Because he had pushed and broken the wheelchair of Clara.
c. What kind of a person do you think Peter is?
= I think Peter is very stubborn and possessive about his friends.
5. "He was sure Heidi's friend would go back home."
a. What made Peter feel sure that Heidi's friend would go home?
= Peter had broken the wheelchair of Clara. Clara can not move without the wheelchair. This made him feel sure that Heidi's friend would go home.
b. What did he think would happen after she went back home?
= After Clara went back home, Heidi would be alone again. She would talk to Peter as in the old days.
c. Do you think Peter was right in thinking this? Give reasons.
= I do not think Peter was right in thinking this.
A friend is a friend. The friend's another friend is also our friend. So it is very bad to harm a friend's friend. Peter had harmed Clara. If Heidi knew this she would get more upset and would never talk to Peter.
Reflect and answer
6. What do you think Peter should have done instead of pushing the wheelchair down the slope?
= I think instead of pushing the wheelchair down the slope, Peter would better have gone to Heidi's house and talk to her. He could have befriended Clara. Then he would have two friends to talk and spend good time with.
7. How do you know that Heidi and Clara are good friends? Give examples from the text to support your answer.
= Heidi and Clara are good friends. Clara has come to Heidi's house in that summer. Heidi is spending time with her. She is staying at home most of the time. She is not going out with the goats once that summer. She is not meeting or talking to Peter. She is all busy with Clara.
8. Your friend is planning to do something that might harm or hurt another person. What will you do?
= If any of my friend is planning to do something that might harm or hurt another person, I would never let him/her do that. I would try to make him/her understand that this is bad. That can be harmful for both of them. If he/she do not listen to me, I would surely take help from the adults.