八年级下册第八单元预习素材

Little WomenIn 1868, Louisa May Alcott wrote the book Little Women. It is a story of four girls who overcome plenty of trouble in their life and become mature. She wrote the story to the request of Thomas Niles, Louisas publisher, who wanted a girls story. This novel was published in 1869, and more than 13,000 copies were sold immediately. The novel was based on her own experiences. Louisa May Alcott was born on November 29, 1832 in Germantown, Pennsylvania. She has three sisters Anna, Elizabeth, and May were all educated by their father Bronson Alcott. Louisa was the second daughter of Abigail, and Bronson. Bronson was a teacher and was raised by a Christian family.She started taking on many jobs when she was a young teen. Louisa had great success with Little Women .Louisa May Louisa May Alcott ended up dying at the age of 56, leaving a large amount of literature books to all.Little Women is a story based on the fact of the authors life. It tells a story of the March sisters: Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy. Their father is away fighting in the war, they live with their mother. Mrs. March is the authority of the family. She attaches importance to the education of the girl teaches them many precious virtues. Although they are poor, she still helps people who are poorer. For instance, in chapter one, she tells her children there is a family who is starving and asks girls if they can give their breakfast as presents to the poor family.Meg is the eldest one in the family, she has a sweet and pious nature, which unconsciously influenced her sisters, especially Jo, who loved her very tenderly, and obeyed her because her advice was so gently given. But she also has small vanities, at last she corrects it and marries a man who is not rich but loves her very much. In chapter nine, Meg goes to vanity fair. Meg leaves the family for a fortnight and stays with the Moffats. While staying with these girls Meg is introduced into the life of a young lady. She attends dinners, goes to the theater and tries on many new airs. Meg, however, is ashamed that her family is poor and that she cannot afford a new dress like the other girls. The Moffats dress Meg up for a ball and Meg places herself on display. Laurie attends the party and is not pleased with Megs appearance or behavior. When Meg returns home she confesses to her mother that she was made to look foolish and that many gossipy things were said about her and her family. Mrs. March tells Meg to never mind the gossip and to be true to herself by not pretending to be something that she is not. Meg has a lesson and promises that she will not be vain any more.Amy is a fair lady, she always wants to marry a rich man, and regard her successful marriage as her obligation to her family. She thinks she is selfish, and she fights for the shortcoming all the time. She uses her all money to buy a big bottle as the Christmas present for her mother because she is truly trying not to be selfish. And in the end, she refused Fred and married Laurie who is not as rich as Fred. She knows she will not make a name in painting, she thinks she need to help people who are talented but poor.Beth is shy, kind, sensitive and very gentle. She never minds making sacrifice for others. She is fond of music. Unfortunately she died when she was very young. Jo, clearly is the main character of the story, she was a tomboy and hated all the prim and proper ways of the ladies. Jo was very blunt and always said exactly what was on her mind. Jo was the one who first had enough courage to go over to the frightening house next door and talk with the Laurence Boy. Jo has an uncontrollable temper that can erupt at any time. This is quite evident one day when Amy burns one of Jos most precious books that she wrote stories in and had for years. She is so outraged that she cannot even look Amy in the face and storms out of the house. Jo then watches as Amy follows her and Laurie outside to a pond to go ice-skating. Laurie warns Jo that the ice is very thin in the middle, but Amy does not hear him and proceeds to skate into the center. Jo does nothing to stop her. Amy almost died that day, and Jo realized that her selfishness and anger almost cost her own sister. Mrs. March then teaches Jo how to control her temper, and that was one of the most valuable lessons she ever learned. She likes reading very much, the library of aunt March and Mr. Laurence is the places she often goes to. Plenty of reading is useful to her writing. When her father is wounded, she cuts her hair and sells them to raise money for her mother. Jo has the ability to see things as they are. She cares about her family and does whatever she can to help her families to live better lives. Their neighbor Laurie is lonely and shy. Jo makes friends with him and makes him happy and outgoing. When he asks Jo to marry him, Jo does not accept him just because he is rich, she analyses every aspect of hers and his, thinking that they are not matchable.Such similar things temper girls volition, they are well