In this article we will talk about the novel "Pollyanna." The summary will be considered in particular detail. This book has long entered the circle of teenage reading and is highly praised by critics. The novel was released back in 1913, but to this day has managed to maintain relevance and lively interest among readers of different ages.
About the writer
The author of the novel is E. Porter. "Pollyanna" (a brief summary is presented below) brought the reader real popularity and made her a cult writer.
Elionora was born in America in 1868, and began her literary career in 1892, starting to publish stories in magazines and newspapers. Her first creations were warmly received by the public. The first success, however, brought the story "Miss Billy." This book made Porter famous throughout America. It was Pollyanna who brought the world fame to the writer.
Elinor Porter, Pollyanna: Summary
Miss Polly, a lonely and very rich resident of a small town who owns the Harrington estate, suddenly receives a message that her own niece has remained an orphan.
A very long time ago, the elder sister of our heroine married a poor priest, although her parents opposed this marriage, and then went with him to live south. After that, the parents renounced her and stopped all relationships, forgetting about her second daughter. Since then, no one has seen a girl in the city. It turned out that she had died a long time ago, and a few weeks ago her husband followed her into the world. Now their only daughter Pollyanna, who was named after her mother’s sisters, was left alone, and her fate is being decided right now - she has no other relatives except her aunt, and her only father’s inheritance is several books.
Miss Polly is a gloomy stiff woman with a very severe and strict disposition. Over the years, she has become accustomed to being alone. However, a developed sense of duty did not allow her to leave the child to the mercy of fate, abandoning education and guardianship.
New house
And then she came to her distant relative Pollyanna. A brief summary can give an idea of ​​how it felt like a girl who had recently lost her parents was in an unfamiliar place among strangers.
The girl was settled in a stuffy room in the attic. Nancy, a servant in the house, was very indignant that her mistress had sent her native blood to live in the attic, having a huge house with expensive decoration and many rooms. However, how much she was surprised at the moment when Pollyanna began to admire her wretched room, claiming that she was completely pleased that she got this particular room. The girl said that she was very glad that there was no mirror in her home, because now she would not be able to see her freckles. A beautiful view from the window more than compensates for the lack of paintings. With her love of life and the ability to find good even in bad, Pollyanna began to amaze everyone around her.
It turned out that the girl plays one very entertaining game, which her father taught. Once upon a time, Pollyanna really wanted a doll. Then dad asked the woman collecting donations to send a toy for her daughter. But crutches were sent in response, since no one wanted to sacrifice dolls. And then the father told her daughter in comfort that she could be glad that she did not need crutches, because she was healthy. Since that time, Pollyanna began to play this game, looking for joy in everything.
Exciting game
I managed to portray a very attractive and cheerful heroine Porter. “Pollyanna” (short summary) is a story about how you cannot give up and despair. And then the girl soon began to teach all the inhabitants of the city their game. So, the old gardener began to rejoice at his hunched back, because he no longer had to bend down to look after the flowers; and the bed is big because she has beautiful hands and she knows how to knit; Nancy, who hated her name, was glad that she was not called even worse. She could find a reason to be glad in any situation, even the most hopeless. Although there were cases when it was difficult to come up with a reason for happiness, but from this the game only became more interesting.
This positive outlook on life has led Pollyanna to become more and more friends. However, the biggest changes happened with Aunt Polly. Her severe character softened, she ceased to be constantly angry with everyone around her. It even got to the point that she allowed the girl to keep homeless dogs and cats.
Tragedy
But not all the events of the book “Pollyanna” (summary) are not so rosy. An accident occurs, the main character is hit by a car. The girl goes to the hospital, and doctors say that she will never be able to walk. This becomes a turning point in the life of Pollyanna. She can no longer play her game and find joyful moments in life.
It soon turns out that there is a doctor who can put the girl on her feet. But there is one problem. First, this doctor must be invited to the house to examine the patient. But Aunt Polly refuses to do this, because she had met with a doctor for a long time and promised that she would marry him if she invited her to her.
Denouement
The Pollyanna book is drawing to a close; a summary is also being completed. But girl friend Jimmy explains to her aunt that the doctor can save her niece. Then Miss Polly overcomes her pride and invites her longtime lover.
The work ends with a letter to the heroine from the hospital, where she again takes her first steps. In it, Pollyanna thanks her aunt and the doctor for deciding to get married right in her room, so she was able to attend their wedding. The girl again begins to enjoy life and will soon return home.
So ends the novel "Pollyanna" (a summary of the book). However, to appreciate the beauty of this book, we recommend reading the original.