. As Mattie tries to process this loss, her mother frets about her health and makes it clear that she does not want Mattie to go anywhere near the Logan house in case she also falls ill. Mattie is very angry that she will not be allowed to attend the funeral of her friend. Matilda Cook, also known as Mattie, is the 14 year old daughter of Lucille Cook, also known as Mother, and the granddaughter of Captain William Farnsworth Cook, also known as Grandfather. Matilda knows what it's like to be alone in the world, and this feeling helps her give aid to others. Definitions and examples of 136 literary terms and devices. As the story moves along, this fever begins to create a devastating mess in the city of Philadelphia, They say bodies are piling up like firewood (64). She did regular chores around the house and considered herself an unpaid slave. She looked at me the way Mama would have, (Kingsolver 252). She becomes an integral part of Eliza's family, learning to share and to put others before herself. Set in Philadelphia after the American war for independence, this is a story of a young woman, her mother, grandfather and their closest friends and co-workers trying to survive the Yellow Fever pandemic that swept through the city of brotherly love in the earliest days of American independence. Mattie then, after getting up for a second time, decides to clean her face later or, perhaps next December,(3). She doesn't appreciate all of her mother's unceasing hard work, and she resents any restrictions on her freedom. It's late summer 1793, and the streets of Philadelphia are abuzz with mosquitoes and rumors of fever. Mattie, the main protagonist, had a strange battle with herself. Give three ways Mattie is acting like a mature adult. A more scathing critique of American consumerism you're unlikely to find on the big screen. (including. the longer she puts it off the harder it will be. They had many reasons for acting the way they did. While both Mrs. Cook and Eliza lead very independent lives, they are able to do so because they work as a team and support each other. Captain William Farnsworth Cook (Grandfather). Mrs. Cook chose her life because she loved Mattie's father; as a result, she's had an unconventional life that has required her to be adaptable and resilient. The readers are able to see this when grandfather is left ill and she goes out to look for food. She selflessly assumes guardianship of the orphan Nell. Next Section Symbols, Allegory and Motifs Previous Section Chapters 19-24 Summary and Analysis Buy Study Guide Cite this page 14-year-old Mattie is the first person narrator of Fever 1793. Ethan is also isolated as well. Mrs. Cook has had to adapt to life as a widowed mother, and business owner. class of the city, they don't have a lot of money or people to help, but they still do this. Copyright 1999 - 2023 GradeSaver LLC. In 1793, Philadelphia, PA was the largest city in the established colonies. They wanted her to help them with the patients since she was now immune to the fever. Big enough for. In the midst of the chaos, Mattie has to re-evaluate her priorities and take control of her growth . Ive got some peanut butter crackers, Mattie said leaning over Turtle. Mattie begrudgingly begins the household chores, only to learn shocking news from her mother: Polly Logan has not arrived because she fell ill with fever, and died suddenly. Fever 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson . Mattie, This is challenging Mattie because she has a choice, act back our keep it inside her and be the more mature one. Fever, 1793 is Laurie Halse Anderson's second novel for young adults and was published in 2000. What does Mattie use to try to catch fish? The original text plus a side-by-side modern translation of. Or that said epidemic killed 10 percent of the city's population in 3 months? Fever 1793 Quiz. However, Mattie's father died in an accident shortly after the business opened. At the same time, Mrs. Cook's protective impulse shows that she is clearly a loving and cautious mother. What falls from the sky as Eliza and Mattie are walking home? Needless to say, these experiences cause Matilda intense pain and suffering on a deep and personal level. Mattie took her in and she had been her special person for a while. Confusion disturbed her, because the things that people are telling her are not the words that she is ready or willing to hear. 43 terms. Espaol 1 - Vocabulario: Para Empezar. And then she's completely alone. Then her mother falls ill. And then she herself comes down with a case of yellow fever! She faced trying to take care of Nell and herself. And there are zombies! What odd ingredient are the people of Philadelphia putting in their bread? Well that was the case with the book "Fever 1793". Why is it difficult for farmers to come to Philadelphia to sell food? More books than SparkNotes. in 1785. I dropped the bucket into the well to fill it with water, then turned the handle to bring it back up again. When Matilda was younger her father fell off a ladder and died 2 months before the Coffeehouse opened. . This unsettled and disunified atmosphere was particularly tense given that it had only been a few decades since a war had been waged on U.S soil over political disagreements. The unusual multigenerational and multiracial family in which Mattie grows up hints at the importance community and interconnected relationships will play throughout the novel. Such painful choices faced many people in the aftermath of epidemic; even if someones heart was willing, it didnt necessarily mean they were prepared to offer the resources needed. Eliza respects Matties ability to make this decision, offering only her support. You'll be able to access your notes and highlights, make requests, and get updates on new titles. This is a story about survival and over coming all odds. Mattie's grandfather decides it is time to flee the city. Creating notes and highlights requires a free LitCharts account. What do Mattie and her grandfather encounter as they return home from the printer? Reading Comprehension Questions. Let's take a look at Matilda's development over the course of yellow fever outbreak. Matilda also begins working with Eliza and the Free African Society to nurse the citizens of Philadelphia back to health. How does Matilda get the men to allow a prayer to be said before burying her grandfather? Would you only help your own family, or would you, like Mattie, try your best to help everyone the human family? Nell whispers No there broken . Nell Not only was Nell stuck alone but with no home. 97 terms. Mattie Michael grew up in Tennessee with her family and the father of her child, Butch Fuller. As the novel closes, Matilda has partnered with Eliza to run the coffeehouse. But fourteen-year-old Mattie Cook doesn't get a moment to mourn the passing of her childhood playmate. What future does Mattie dream of for herself? Mattie helps care for Elizas nephews and Nell. She must also fight the tide of panic and fear raging in the city and within herself. 5. The blood and the gore? The next day, Grandfather salutes a tearful Mrs. Flagg as he and Mattie depart in a wagon filled with fever orphans. Why is it significant that mattie is bitten by a mosquito in the opening chapter? This is a great historical fiction for middle school through adults. There were also limited ways to share news and information, which led to gossip and hearsay quickly taking over. As it turns out, however, outside circumstances might have decided things for MattieNell is far from the only child orphaned or abandoned. From the creators of SparkNotes, something better. After gathering pears, Mattie heads back to Grandfather. The color of the eyes is brown. Mrs. Cook grew up in a wealthy family during the American Revolutionary War (1775-1783) and learned to work very hard. Grandfather (Captain William Farnsworth Cook). What does Dr. Kerr insist is the only way to save Mattie's mother? Teachers and parents! You have no business ordering these men around. (b) In what ways is the city unlike the world the speaker has known-the world of his home? Grandfather (Captain William Farnsworth Cook). I held out the doll to her. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for FEVER 1793 (SEEDS OF AMERICA TRILOGY) By Laurie Halse Anderson - Hardcover Mint at the best online prices at eBay! At the beginning of the novel, Mattie is somewhat willful and spoiled. Nell was a little girl that had lost her mother and whole rest of her family due to yellow fever. Not affiliated with Harvard College. This quote was found near the end of the book that signified Mattie looking at Taylor and Taylor observing that look and thinking that it is similar to her real mothers. Down near the docks, many have taken ill, and the fatalities are mounting. because he believes they cannot get the fever and this is a chance for them to prove themselves to be as good and important as white people. For some reason I'm drawn to books about epidemics, particularly historical fictions and Fever1793 did not disappoint. She dreams of traveling to France and bringing back goods to sell . But when the fever begins to strike closer to home, Mattie's struggle to build a new life must give way to a new fightthe fight to stay alive. He opposes society mainly because he cannot be with the one he loves and he doesnt want to ruin his marriage to Zeena as well. In the story she seems to be heavily conflicted over what to do and scolds herself for doing certain things. In the book, it teaches that during tough times, it is important to step up and take charge. Mattie's initial portrayal shows both how far she has to go to become the sort of person who can survive the brutal circumstances of the epidemic, but it also hints at some of the personal characteristics that may help Mattie to survive later in the novel. Mattie picked up a doll off the floor and asked the little girl if that was her doll. Yes, yes, and more yes. Mattie goes downstairs to the kitchen where her mother continues to scold her for being lazy. When Mattie finds Nell, Nell is in a house alone as her mother lays dead on the bed. Anywhere that Mattie went she faced challenges as how the heros journeys writes, Whichever direction the voyage takes [she] puts [herself] more and more at risk, emotionally and physically. Her mother slowly doesnt let Matilda have as much freedom as she had because she wants to protect her daughter. No one comes outside or enjoys themselves. Mattie and her family are works of fiction, but the fever outbreak did indeed strike Philadelphia in the late summer of 1793. As Dracula is put through multiple situations where he can no longer restrain himself is then put to show his true image of himself. Where does Mattie think Polly is? Big time. . In fact, growing up becomes a matter of life and death. Once known for its brotherly love, Philadelphia is transformed into a nightmare of orphaned children, unscrupulous thieves, and mass unmarked graves. The fictional novel Fever 1793 written by Laurie Halse Anderson is narrated through the protagonist, Matilda "Mattie" Cook. But just a like a Romero film, Fever, 1793, isn't all horror and gore. This is zombie movie territory, most definitely. My students love how organized the handouts are and enjoy tracking the themes as a class., Requesting a new guide requires a free LitCharts account. This is reflected in her conflicted response to Mrs. Bowless offer. Matilda "Mattie" Cook is a fourteen-year-old girl living above a coffeehouse in Philadelphia with her mother, grandfather (a former military man), a parrot named King George, and an orange cat named Silas. It took Matildas grAndfather, many friends and 5 thousand plus individuals from that area in 3 months. Mattie gave some money to Taylor for the trip and Taylor refused to take it, so Mattie said that it was for everyone in the car and gave her the look that reminded Taylor of her biological mother. Matilda fins out she that her friend Polly who worked with them at the shop has. She wishes to own an entire city block with stores that carried fine fabrics. Detailed quotes explanations with page numbers for every important quote on the site. Dr. Benjamin Rush, PhysicianCheck out this portrait of the doctor by Thomas Sully. This is a great little YA book that delves into the Yellow Fever epidemic of 1793 in Philadelphia. During the summer of 1793, Mattie Cook lives above the family coffee shop with her widowed mother and grandfather. Harsh. Big enough for mother to grumble about finding me a husband. 11, which demonstrates that they think of her as a child. The yellow fever epidemic affected a large chunk of the country and deeply impacted an entire generation of Philadelphians, including many famous historical figures such as Dr. Benjamin Rush, President George Washington (heard of the guy? Why? This means that over the course of Fever, 1793 she's going to be coming of age, searching for her identity, and learning what it means to be an adult. Mattie might not be equipped to care for a small child, and delaying the inevitable might indeed be selfish. What is Mattie relieved to find hidden under the stair? The story starts off with the sudden death of this girl so we are never formally introduced to her character. Nenia I yeet my books back and forth Campbell, Scarlett Readz and Runz.Through Novel Time & Distance, The American Plague: The Untold Story of Yellow Fever the Epidemic that Shaped Our History. What might that mosquito bite foreshadow. You know, the one where zombies attack a group of people who lock themselves in a shopping mall? This quote is interesting because it exhibits the amount of responsibility that was put upon her even at a young age. WLX Spanish Greetings & Goodbyes. 2. The masses of dead? Copyright 2023 IPL.org All rights reserved. Mattie struggle with, In the book, Mattie starts out as a lazy teenager who needs to be told what to do by her over controlling mother, but throughout the story, she becomes more responsible and adult-like. Not affiliated with Harvard College. As often happens in the story, Mattie is jolted from her daydream by harsh realityher city is no longer familiar to her. The bite seems innocent enough but foreshadows something much more sinister. She has made Nell an official part of her family, and incorporated her sweetheart Nathaniel into her business venture. Along the way Mattie discovers a little toddler name Nell. This was the situation in the book The Naturals, where Cassie, Dean, and Michael are trying to crack cold cases and they came across Cassies mothers case. In Fever 1793 the setting, plot, and characters all revolved around one summer in Philadelphia in the year 1793. A series of events happen, which forces her to grow up quickly and go through struggles to keep her . LitCharts Teacher Editions. After walking for awhile under the blazing sun, Mattie comes upon a man hoeing in a field of potatoes . Mattie lives in a room above the family coffee house. She only wakes up to the sound of Mother yelling at her.Throughout the first few chapters she refuses to do most things around the coffeehouse even though she saids she would like to be treated more like an adult. Sometimes, individuals might feel disconnected from a significant threat if it does not directly impact them or someone they know, but because Polly is one of the first victims of the fever, Mattie is immediately personally impacted. She wanted to free Ethan from the terrible society he lived in. George Romero's Dawn of the Dead. They mainly behaved this way, because of the disease. Matilda stated And so I left home in a manner quite unpredicted. - page 77. Will she eat peanut butter?, (Kingsolver 252). As the reader can see at the time Mattie isnt capable nor willing to care for herself, she expects other people to do that for her. She's confronted with a series of illnesses and deaths in the novel, each bringing her more and more pain. Analysis. I was big enough to be ordered around like an unpaid servant. Laurie Halse Anderson's historical fiction book, Fever 1793, takes place in the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Set in the 1790s and based on true events, we discover along with Mattie, the harsh realities of growing up in that time, without modern medicine, trying to survive the yellow fever. Captain William Farnsworth Cook (Grandfather). Mattie may not be gaining much, Mattie Rigsbee is the main character in Clyde Edgerton's southern style novel, Walking Across Egypt. So good you didn't want to put the book down. Check out this site.) Find related themes, quotes, symbols, characters, and more. Oct 1, 1793. She starts out a child in what was then the capitol of the United States and emerges as her tough mother's daughter with a strength she didn't know she had. Matilda hits a number of stages, each important to her developmental arc (um, that means her process of growing up). Mattie Cook is a 14 year old growing up helping her mom out in the coffeehouse. One more example of this is, Jeannine saw my dilemma, picked up the plate, and passed it in the opposite direction to her mother(49). Mattie somewhat adopted Nell into her. Refine any search. At the beginning of the novel, Mattie is shown as being immature. In the novel Fever 1793 written by Laurie Halse Anderson, a fever has struck in Philadelphia, and people are slowly dying. Matilda's also always got her head in the clouds, and she dreams of floating out of the prison of her family, much like Blanchard does in his hot air balloon (1.28). Mattie's mother and Eliza have a close bond because Eliza also lost her husband several years ago. So she stays and helps, still looking for money to get there, asking her wealthy Aunt Josie to give her money to get to New York, which Aunt Josie flatly denies. it has ben reduced by half to 20,000 people. The genre is known for doling out the social commentary; that is, zombie films often become a way of dramatizing larger fears and anxieties in our culture and commenting upon them. Because the Doctor believes grandfather has the fever so they are thrown from the wagon onto the street. You'll also get updates on new titles we publish and the ability to save highlights and notes. Butch clearly tells her about how he he lives his life, and his issue with staying, yet, Mattie makes the mistake of getting herself involved which leads to her being impregnated by him. ROD1216. That aside, "Fever 1793" is a good book to introduce children to this part of American history. So good you read it from day to night. During the summer of 1793,Mattie Cook lives above the family coffie shopwith her widowed mother and grandfather.Mattie spends her days of advoiding chores and making plans to turn the family business into the finest Philadelphia. How does Mattie find water for her and her grandfather? The novel begins on a hot August morning in 1793. His father moved in and has lived there ever since, helping Mrs. Cook to run the business. To sum up the quote Mattie gets offended and deals with it in an immature way, which leads to her standing up and yelling across the table. The anecdote illustrates that mother-daughter conflict is common in all kinds of households, and that the epidemic has brought many buried tensions to the forefront. Matty is bitten by the insect in order to foreshadow later events, for the deadly fever that strikes Philadelphia is spread by mosquito bites. Instant downloads of all 1699 LitChart PDFs 86 terms. This book has history, happiness, and heartache. When people go insane overnight because of the fever, it affects peoples mentality. Teach your students to analyze literature like LitCharts does. The story takes the reader into the life of Matilda Cook, a 14 year old girl, living with her mother and paternal grandfather. this book is one to remember. Fever, 1793 Summary. Everything about its barren, apocalyptic appearance shows how yellow fever has challenged the soul of the community. Or that there was a Free African Society that helped citizens of Philadelphia in the epidemic regardless of race or class. The metal box with the pence and shillings. Fever 1793 Quiz. We mean, come on - that's just what teenagers in young adult novels do! In the beginning of the book, the author portrays Mattie as a typical child wanting to go back to sleep and ignore her chores. You'll also get updates on new titles we publish and the ability to save highlights and notes. The representation of Mattie's personality at the start of the novel highlights how much she will mature over the plot, and how much she will be changed by the impact of the epidemic. It is August and the relentless heat pours into the modest bedchamber. She is a very caring person with many friends and a family that loves her dearly. Mattie has regained a measure of family life after the loss of her grandfather and her separation from her mother. Laurie Halse Anderson's Fever, 1793 is a novel about a fourteen-year-old girl named Matilda "Mattie" Cook who comes of age during the infamous yellow fever epidemic in Philadelphia in 1793. tops for the boys and a small doll for Nell. I need to take Nell to the orphan house . "Fever 1793 Chapters 1-5 Summary and Analysis". Mrs. Bowles also has a realistic outlook on the fevers effects on peopleit showcases both the best and worst in human nature. To win the battle, Mattie has to muster every ounce of her courage, strength, and morality. . Mattie finds some comic relief in hearing what happened after Colette Ogilvies infamous collapse. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. because the Dr will bleed them and she thinks it will kill them. Anne has delivered multiple quotes, these quotes could be titled as brave, whimsical, or indifferent. Talk about a role reversal. Why is Mother angry as she tries to awaken Matilda? Mother cannot come along because she has the fever and no town will let her in. Anderson teaches many lessons in her novel but among the most important is taught by showing the many steps Mattie took to reach full independence. kneeling beside grandfather praying that the morning would not come. From Whom? Tell whether the sentence is a declarative sentence or a polite command. Fourteen-year-old Matilda "Mattie" Cook is the teenage protagonist of a young adult novel. Eliza was born a slave and her husband saved up for years to purchase her freedom. She doesnt talk back, sulk, or take refuge in daydreams of escape. When the story starts to pick up Mattie finds herself in a situation causing her to become more like a mother figure. She acted as a mother figure to Turtle because she fed her and gave her more food when Turtle hinted for it. In the beginning of the book Polly the serving girl dies of an unknown plague leaving Philadelphia in shock. She gets up in the morning in her room above the Cook Coffeehouse and comes. Mattie is not asking the sheriff to find the man and bring him to, In the book Mattie is definitely a strong character. LitCharts Teacher Editions. The summer was met with a deadly disease with rising temperatures. Even now, newly recovered from the fever, impressing Mother is still at the top of Matties mind, showing how much she wants Lucille to take her seriously. Reverend Richard Allen, Founder of the Free African SocietyThe frontispiece to Daniel A. Payne's History of the African Methodist Episcopal Church (1891). This book had become interesting and it was like no other book that I had read before, which was a good thing. Upset, Ethan did not know what to do . All describe Mattie Cook, the main character of Fever 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson. What item does Mattie bury with her grandfather? to make the partnership between her and Eliza legal. Mattie experiences both the grief of a shockingly sudden loss and the frustration of not being able to enact rituals that typically help to mitigate grief. The novel makes us think about what we would do in such a state of disaster. But she must go. Youre a silly child. Matilda began the novel as a dreamer (and just maybe a little bit of a slacker), but by the end, she's realizing her dreams, and doing so with the people around her. The novel makes us think about things like our own society's fear of outsiders (remember how everyone is always blaming the refugees for the spread of the fever? The girl told Mattie that it was broken and that her Mother was broken too. Life in Starkfield is bleak and boring. One quote that fits with Matties dynamic change is on page 133 chapter 18 Mattie said Sprinkled parsley and sweet thyme into the waterWhile the soup cooked, I swept the kitchen floor clean of the broken crockery(Anderson 133). Her family was wealthy. So she faced the conflict type man versus self. An example of how Philadelphia felt terror and fear. Her older brother leaves soon after getting into an intense argument with Pa. She wants to go to New York for college, and write a lot more after receiving news that she has a scholarship at Bernard College. Her body is changing, she can't stand the sound of her mother's voice, and she has a mega crush on a cute painter guy named Nathaniel Benson. This is no place for you. This gives her the ability to really empathize with other people, and to relate to how they are feeling. Teachers and parents! On page 8 chapter 2, Mattie said She set a stack of coffee beans on the tableIm starving I said clutching my stomachAs usual she said with a smile Let me get you something quick(Anderson 8). When Mattie was walking down a street, she saw a little girl in the corner of a doorway crying. In the novel Dracula by Bram Stoker, Count Dracula is conflicted between the ability to control himself in his emotions and desires while having to keep his own idea of his abilities, appearances, and personality. A typical teenager, Mattie is always in the middle of daydreams . What does Mattie learn about her mother from Eliza? Again this is another chance where Mattie can either act out or keep her composure. Fever 1793. . When Taylor meets Mattie she is surprised. Eliza, a free black woman, is the coffeehouse cook. The close relationship between Mrs. Cook and Eliza shows that Mrs. Cook can see beyond racial divisions as well as class divisions. Although she always being pestered by her mother, Mattie loves her mother dearly and worries when her mother does not return home after going the the Luddingtons farm. In addition the fever epidemic has caused great discouragement to Mattie as grandfather and her return to the coffeehouse and Mattie sees the coffeehouse a mess after they have been robbed. What's the setting of Fever 1793? She takes care of the children, asks for extra chores, and helps fever victims. Matilda Cook is an adventurous and independence seeking 14-year old girl. This causes her to be unreliable as well as immature when she takes her anger out on her cat Silas. How do the Ogilvie daughters treat Mattie? In 1793, slavery was still legal in a significant portion of America, and even in places like Philadelphia where slavery was not legal, neighborhoods and businesses were usually quite segregated. As the fever starts taking its toll on Philadelphia, Matilda's life is changed for the worse. The fever really does bring out the best in Mattie, and she's no longer a victim of the fever epidemic. While the personal impacts of individual deaths play out, rising fear and panic also show the broader social impact of the disease and how it will draw the entire city into its orbit.