65 pages • 2 hours read
Patricia MacLachlanSarah, Plain and Tall
Fiction | Novel | Middle Grade | Published in 1985A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more. For select classroom titles, we also provide Teaching Guides with discussion and quiz questions to prompt student engagement.
Summary
Background
Chapter Summaries & Analyses
Character Analysis
Themes
Symbols & Motifs
Important Quotes
Essay Topics
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BetaEssay Topics
The novel is historical fiction, depicting life on the prairie in the late 19th century. What elements of the narrative are most different from contemporary life? How do these elements contribute to the work’s meaning?
Analyze Anna Whiting’s bitterness towards her brother. Discuss the restraint with which she manages her grief and the potential consequences of keeping it to herself.
Sarah Wheaton is quite transparent and forward in her letters. What external or internal factors causes her to be so open about herself to strangers?
Analyze the significance of animals in the novel. How do animals ease Sarah’s transition to prairie life? Why is she so drawn to the sheep?
Discuss Jacob Whiting’s character as a father and potential partner for Sarah. Analyze his decision to bring a stranger into his home to become his wife and a mother to his children.
The author chooses to leave out details about the exact date and location of the setting. Discuss why she might have made this choice.
Why does Sarah choose to describe herself as “plain and tall” (14)? In what way, if any, do these physical traits reflect her character?
Caleb Whiting has an interest in words and language. How does the author use his verbal proclivity within the narrative?
Which of Sarah’s personality traits makes her a good mother to Anna? To Caleb? How has her life in Maine prepared her for life on a prairie homestead?
The novel is the first in a series. In what ways does MacLachlan leave threads unresolved for a sequel? What do these threads suggest about likely themes or storylines in later works?
