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. Mattie finds that its very difficult to get the heart and reason to fully align. Yellow Fever Fact SheetInformative fact sheet on yellow fever from the World Health Organization. 97 terms. Mattie, This is challenging Mattie because she has a choice, act back our keep it inside her and be the more mature one. Captain William Farnsworth Cook (Grandfather). Presumably, Mrs. Cook feels a bond with Eliza because she recognizes that they are both women who have lived unusual lives and suffered significant loss. she felt they did not care about the suffering they had endured. Nevertheless, by far these are some of the most inspiring words that I have ever heard. [Mattie] kept his books for him(keeping the books means keeping track of the money) said Mattie when she was explaining why she knew how much money her father had (Portis 15). It was called the yellow fever. 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. in 1785. Why does Polly Logan often visit the blacksmith's shop? When the story starts to pick up Mattie finds herself in a situation causing her to become more like a mother figure. At this point, Mattie can idly dream about traveling and seeing the world, but later, her vision of a future for herself will become much more focused on staying alive. Contagion: Historical Views of Diseases and EpidemicsA website from Harvard that provides information on the 1793 fever, plus links to lots of primary sources. During the summer of 1793, Mattie Cook lives above the family coffee shop with her widowed mother and grandfather. Mrs. Cook has proved to be a very competent woman even though she grew up in a more privileged family. How has the population of Philadelphia changed since August of 1793? 43 terms. Ethan is also isolated as well. She already has maternal (or sisterly) feelings toward Nell that cant simply be quashed. This is zombie movie territory, most definitely. Mattie's family runs the Cook Coffeehouse, and the household consists of Mattie, her mother, her paternal grandfather, and Eliza, their employee. You'll be able to access your notes and highlights, make requests, and get updates on new titles. As often happens in the story, Mattie is jolted from her daydream by harsh realityher city is no longer familiar to her. Mattie hates this idea; fortunately, her grandfather also objects. What happens on the way? 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. What does Joseph bring the boys and Nell when he comes to visit? always seem to strike the initiates greatest weakness: [her] poorest skills [Her] most vulnerable emotions (Harris and Thompson 51). Mattie is a seventy-eight year old widow with two middle-aged children. More books than SparkNotes. Nathaniel asks Mattie to come fishing with him, but the pair is distracted by church bells tolling out the news that more people have died. Fourteen-year-old Matilda "Mattie" Cook is the teenage protagonist of a young adult novel. When I first started to read this book I thought here we go again another boring book, why are doing this to me? What odd ingredient are the people of Philadelphia putting in their bread? 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. Upset, Ethan did not know what to do . In 190719071907, Rudyard Kipling of Great Britain won the Nobel Prize for Literature. Before dying, Matties mom made Mattie promise to stay with her family and the farm, making her do endless work, leaving no time for writing. An example of how Philadelphia showed charity and good will. Little Mattie, indeed. I think that these problems that Mattie has faced have helped mature her into an adult, I stood so quickly that the seams under my arms ripped open with a snarl. There is tension between Mattie and her mother because Mrs. Cook often compares her daughter to herself. Before everyone around her starts dying, Matilda is pretty self-absorbed. Mrs. Bowles is older than Mother and has kind eyes and laughter lines. 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. Copyright 2023 IPL.org All rights reserved. I was big enough to be ordered around like an unpaid servant. 86 terms. It's also a darn smart book. Our, "Sooo much more helpful thanSparkNotes. Fever, 1793 Summary. That's right. "My students can't get enough of your charts and their results have gone through the roof." When people go insane overnight because of the fever, it affects peoples mentality. The story starts off by Matilda being bitten by a mosquito on the ear. Yup. Fever, 1793 is Laurie Halse Anderson's second novel for young adults and was published in 2000. . Imagine being in the FBI, playing a game of cat and mouse chase with a murder. Mattie Cook is a 14 year old growing up helping her mom out in the coffeehouse. Mattie's stubbornness and ambition will later give her motivation to survive when her circumstances become much more difficult. For, At the beginning of the story, Mattie is a normal girl living in the glorious city of Philadelphia. Why can't Mattie's mother come with them? A more scathing critique of American consumerism you're unlikely to find on the big screen. This is a story about survival and over coming all odds. Copyright 1999 - 2023 GradeSaver LLC. She then learned that the little girls name was Nell. While Mattie is visiting the market, she runs into Nathaniel Benson, the boy to whom she is attracted. I know Laurie Halse Anderson for her great contemporary YA novels - "Wintergirls," "Catalyst," "Twisted," and "Speak." Soon a fever outbreak appears and starts to frighten the people of the capitol. There is just not enough character development or conflict to interest an adult. Why is Mattie so against calling a doctor to help the children? It is the story of Matilda Cook (Mattie) and her family, and the hardships they go through in the time period when Yellow Fever had struck. At this time, there was a lack of proper medical information that made it hard to understand how diseases spread and how to effectively prevent them. It details the life of Maddie's family who own a successful coffeehouse and employ a couple of servants - one being Eliza, a former slave, and the other a girl Maddie's age who was formerly her friend. In the beginning of the book, the author portrays Mattie as a typical child wanting to go back to sleep and ignore her chores. Matties dramatic changes causes her to realize, In the beginning of the book Mattie is always being told what to do, when to wake up, how to do her chores, etc. Fever 1793 essays are academic essays for citation. Every day more towns prohibited travel to or from Philadelphia. Between 1790 and 1800, Philadelphia served as the temporary capital of the United States, so at this point in time, President George Washington is living in the city, not far from the coffeehouse. When Fever, 1793 begins, fourteen-year-old Mattie Cook is a teenager from head to toe. Now they include Polly, the serving girl at the Cook Coffeehouse. She was a perfect girl. Find related themes, quotes, symbols, characters, and more. Mattie's mother and Eliza have a close bond because Eliza also lost her husband several years ago. Analysis. Mrs. Cook has had to adapt to life as a widowed mother, and business owner. Mattie is very happy to Polly Logan is a serving girl at the Cooks coffeehouse and one of the first victims of yellow fever. The way the content is organized, LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in. Instant downloads of all 1699 LitChart PDFs 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. Laurie Halse Anderson FAQEverything you ever wanted to know about Laurie Halse Anderson, but were afraid to ask! Or that there was a Free African Society that helped citizens of Philadelphia in the epidemic regardless of race or class. this book is one to remember. How does Mattie find water for her and her grandfather? 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. Mattie is not asking the sheriff to find the man and bring him to, In the book Mattie is definitely a strong character. The narrator, Mattie, is woken by her mother, who is annoyed that her daughter is still sleeping. At this time in history, this type of marriage would have been very controversial, and Mrs. Cook has paid a steep price because she no longer has contact with her family and has had to live a life of hard work rather than pampered leisure. I had just saved her precious quilt from disaster, but would she appreciate it? Where does Mattie think Polly is? Now they include Polly, the serving girl at the Cook Coffeehouse. Note: Take a look at the picture of a lady who looks like a doll, has a pretty small face and quite big and not narrow eyes. In the beginning Grandfather refuses to believe there is a fever until it hit them mother falls ill and they are forced to flee Mattie trys to stay but mother and grandfather and Eliza force her to go this kills Mattie. Shes also not used to being seen as capable in an adults eyes, which throws her off guard. Get your sniveling self. 5. No one comes outside or enjoys themselves. Grandfather sits up front with the driver while Mattie sits in back with the children and a Quaker woman named Mrs. Bowles. She's kind of mean to her mother, she sleeps in late, and while she has some responsibilities, she usually has to be badgered into performing them. Fever 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson . This illustrates the nervous fear of the. The bite seems innocent enough but foreshadows something much more sinister. What event sparks a massive return to the city for all the remaining people in the country? Chairs was a National Book Award finalist. She acted as a mother figure to Turtle because she fed her and gave her more food when Turtle hinted for it. Mattie is helping out at Eliza's house, acting more like an adult with each passing day. that she is alive and has headed to the farm to look for Mattie. Tengo (3) boligrafo, (4) goma de borrar y (5) carpeta. 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. Teachers and parents! Mattie asks her if she has her mom or dad around. (5). Mattie will always be a visionary and someone with an adventurous spirit, but by the end of the novel, she has the maturity to use those qualities to make a life for herself and the people she cares about. From the creators of SparkNotes, something better. People refused to take money for helping strangers. The story is definitely written for pre-teen children, not young adults. Though, Mattie gets through all of this and finds herself in the grace of Ms. Eva who shelters her. It was that good, I couldn't even stop reading it! Sensible people have turned mad overnight. Really horrible stuff, right? Over the course of the novel, Mattie will experience intense personal loss and come face-to-face with death. The Finch family goes through a rough time dealing with many disapprovements from other people in Maycomb because. The truly adventurous may want to investigate Charles Brockden Brown's eighteenth-century novel set during the epidemic. JavaScript seems to be disabled in your browser. As anxieties rise, Mrs. Cook turns to a traditional practice of evacuating individuals to countryside regions, where infection rates would often be lower. Big enough for mother to grumble about finding me a husband. She doesn't appreciate all of her mother's unceasing hard work, and she resents any restrictions on her freedom. 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. 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. The fictional novel Fever 1793 written by Laurie Halse Anderson is narrated through the protagonist, Matilda "Mattie" Cook. This book has history, happiness, and heartache. 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). Zombie movies give us that awesome scare we crave, and get this: the films are also usually pretty smart. She clenched the man by his shirt and proclaimed that her grandfather was a great man and a captain in the Pennsylvania Fifth Regiment. Je de dmonter la tente quand il a commenc a\`{a}a pleuvoir. Throughout the novel, Mattie's sense of social responsibility matures through . Matty is bitten by the insect in order to foreshadow later events, for the deadly fever that strikes Philadelphia is spread by mosquito bites. One of those people affected by the fever is Mattie Cook. This is foreshadowing for what is to happen in the novel. Find related themes, quotes, symbols, characters, and more. There is nothing much I can say about this book except that it is just an OK read. Youd think shed be glad her daughter aint out there prancing around a May Pole getting the new clothes all dirty and sweaty and trying to act like a fairy or a flower or whatever youre supposed to be when you should be trying to be yourself.. (p. 32, lines 182-187), For the happy man prayer is only a jumble of words, until the day when sorrow comes to, In the novel, Fever 1793, by Laurie Halse Anderson, we follow our main character, Matilda or Mattie Cook, as she grows to maturity throughout the course of the novel. 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. Everyone who has ever been fourteen can relate to these angsty feelings, but of course, anyone over the age of fourteen also knows that Matilda has a very long way to go on her road to maturity. Harsh. This is a great historical fiction for middle school through adults. At the beginning of the novel, Mattie is shown as being immature. You'll also get updates on new titles we publish and the ability to save highlights and notes. He was the guy who went around telling people that the British were coming. 1. Broken, she said Mamas broken too (Anderson 162). The unusual multigenerational and multiracial family in which Mattie grows up hints at the importance community and interconnected relationships will play throughout the novel. This is Anderson's first historical fiction book which describes the worst epidemic of yellow fever in America. I just sped up the narration on the audiobook to finish this faster. Laurie Halse Anderson's historical fiction book, Fever 1793, takes place in the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. To win the battle, Mattie has to muster every ounce of her courage, strength, and morality. Teach your students to analyze literature like LitCharts does. --Dr. Adam Kuhn, Philadelphia, 1793. Her pulse is fast and strong, Have you or someone youve known ever been accused of false rumors? Infact, one of the first lines in the novel is Matties mother yelling at Mattie to wake up, and that shes quote, sleeping the day way.(1). Also, I learned a lot about life from Matties response to her grandfathers death. Fever, 1793 asks us to think about how our reactions to large-scale catastrophic events, and the horrors of human suffering, define who we are as a generation, as a country, and as human beings. In the beginning of the book Polly the serving girl dies of an unknown plague leaving Philadelphia in shock. The novel makes us think about what we would do in such a state of disaster. But fourteen-year-old Mattie Cook doesn't get a moment to mourn the passing of her childhood playmate. What do the workers at Bush Hill want Mattie to do once she is discharged? This demonstrates to the reader that Mattie isnt good with handling her problems. trick is to spit it out when the wedge is still firm Its hard, but you gotta spit it out right then, or you gonna find yourself chewing on nothin but straw in that last round (18). It's an extreme scenario, and in order to respond to it, Matilda has to grow up very, very quickly. Her own family disowned her when she married Mattie's father because he was not a wealthy man. Mattie's inability to attend the funeral of her friend shows that the epidemic will totally disrupt normal patterns of life, above and beyond the death it will cause. Trying to get out of doing her chores and playing adventures with her best friends Polly & Nathaniel. The masses of dead? When William, Robert and Nell come down with yellow fever, where do Mattie and Eliza take them? 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. Mattie seemed worried about Turtle and offered her something to eat. She watches him die on the floor of the ransacked coffeehouse. There were also limited ways to share news and information, which led to gossip and hearsay quickly taking over. Eliza respects Matties ability to make this decision, offering only her support. She discovers her identity and while her situation is out of the ordinary, she proves that aging and revealing your true personality can make the difference between life and death. She takes care of the children, asks for extra chores, and helps fever victims. Why is it significant that mattie is bitten by a mosquito in the opening chapter? You'll be able to access your notes and highlights, make requests, and get updates on new titles. Mattie helps care for Eliza's nephews and Nell.