Summary of the Story
Maggie and Tom are siblings visiting their Aunt Glegg, who is very critical and demanding. Aunt Glegg criticises Maggie's hair, suggesting it should be cut shorter for health reasons. Feeling frustrated and wanting to stop the criticism, Maggie cuts her own hair in a bold act of defiance, even getting Tom to help her.
When Maggie goes downstairs for dinner, her family is shocked and amused by her new look. Mrs Tulliver, her mother, is upset and worried about what others will think. Maggie feels embarrassed and hurt by their reactions, especially when Tom laughs at her. However, her father, Mr Tulliver, comforts her and tells her she was right to cut her hair if it bothered her. This kindness contrasts with the criticism from the rest of the family, making Maggie feel somewhat better.
In the end, Maggie and Tom are allowed to leave the table and play outside, giving Maggie a chance to escape the uncomfortable situation.
List of Difficult Words with Definitions
- Handsome - Good-looking.
- Comely - Attractive and pleasant to look at.
- Gell - Girl (an old-fashioned way of saying "girl").
- Emphatic - Speaking or acting in a forceful way.
- Boarding school - A school where students live during the term.
- Declined - Refused or said no.
- Plague - To bother or annoy.
- Locks - Strands or pieces of hair.
- Snip - A quick cut with scissors.
- Queer - Strange or unusual.
- Flush - To become red in the face, often from excitement or anger.
- Irrevocable - Impossible to change or undo.
- Reproach - Blame or criticism.
- Defiance - Open resistance or bold disobedience.
- Feeble - Weak.
- Soothe - To comfort or calm someone.
- Capstrings - Strings on a cap or bonnet.
- Resignation - Accepting something unpleasant that cannot be changed.
- Dessert - Sweet food eaten at the end of a meal.
- Empathetic - Understanding and sharing the feelings of others.
- Concern - Worry or care about something important.
LET'S INFER
Would you say Maggie and Tom were fond of their aunt?
- ANSWER: No, Maggie and Tom were not fond of their aunt. They thought she was ugly and did not like the way she spoke to them.
Why did Maggie cut off her hair?
- ANSWER: Maggie cut off her hair because her aunt and mother were always criticizing it, and she wanted to stop them from finding fault with her.
How did Maggie react when Tom exclaimed '... what a queer thing you look!'?
- ANSWER: Maggie felt hurt and started to cry because Tom laughed at her and called her an idiot.
Describe what happened when Maggie went down for dinner.
- ANSWER: When Maggie went down for dinner, her mother screamed, everyone looked at her, and they laughed and criticized her. Maggie felt embarrassed and ran to her father, who comforted her.
'Delicious words of tenderness!' Whose words are being referred to here?
- ANSWER: These words refer to Mr. Tulliver's comforting words to Maggie when he told her it was okay to cut her hair and that he would take her side.
How is Maggie's relationship with her father different from her relationship with the other members of her family?
- ANSWER: Maggie's father is kind and supportive towards her, unlike the other family members, who often criticize and laugh at her. He comforts her and makes her feel better.
LET'S DISCUSS
In what other ways could Maggie have expressed her sense of defiance?
- ANSWER: Maggie could have talked to her mother or aunt about how their comments made her feel. She could have also tried to prove she was a good and clever girl in other ways, like by doing well in school or helping at home.
Was Mrs. Tulliver empathetic to Maggie's dilemmas? What do you think her main concerns were?
- ANSWER: Mrs. Tulliver was not very empathetic to Maggie's dilemmas. She was more concerned about what others thought and wanted Maggie to look neat and presentable rather than understanding how Maggie felt about her hair.
