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Copywork
About This Passage
This is the turning point of the chapter. Miss Minchin has insisted that Sara knows no French and would not let her explain, but the French master, Monsieur Dufarge, hears Sara speak and instantly understands the truth. His words are kind and precise, and the semicolon balances his two clauses, 'She has not learned French; she is French,' so the difference lands like a quiet correction. Copying this passage lets a student study how an author can overturn a whole misunderstanding in a single, elegant line.
“Ah, madame,” he said, “there is not much I can teach her. She has not learned French; she is French. Her accent is exquisite.”
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Discussion Questions
Narration Prompt
In your own words, tell the story of Chapter 2. Which moments matter most, from the girls watching Sara, through Miss Minchin's mistake about French, to Monsieur Dufarge's discovery, and how do you know they are the ones that matter most?
Discussion Questions
- Throughout the French lesson Miss Minchin corrects, doubts, and scolds Sara, yet Sara keeps trying to explain politely and refuses to be rude. What does Sara's behavior under this pressure suggest about her character, and why might it matter for how others come to see her? Use the chapter's details to explain.
- Burnett pauses the lesson to tell us privately that Miss Minchin cannot speak French and is anxious to hide it. How might knowing this secret change the way a reader judges Miss Minchin's behavior toward Sara, and why? Use the chapter's details to explain.
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Vocabulary
Item 1
Playfully fanciful or imaginative; full of odd, charming ideas.
Item 2
An opinion formed about someone or something before knowing the facts.
Item 3
Hiding something so it will not be seen or known.
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Critical Thinking
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