I will start my blog by saying that I have never read Pippi Longstocking before and I loved it! My mother always called me Pippi whenever I was little and had my hair in the long braids with freckles on my nose but I never really knew who she was talking about. I feel like if I had known, I would have been so complimented!
I have a few things that I noticed while I was reading that I would like to shine light on. The first being that as I talked about earlier in my postings, the animal companion is relevant to this story as well as the other books that we have read. It is interesting that while Pippi did not have any family, Mr. Nilsson and her horse were essentially like her family. I know that we are focusing on the orphaned children in this section of the class but I would like to note that Pippi can be considered in the heroic classification as well. She does not have parents, she lives alone and is left to fend for herself, she is always involved in one scheme or another. She even has the two companions, Annika and Tommy. Although, I will say that they neither one were brave like Hermione or Ron!
I would also like to focus on how the reader views Pippi. It would be interesting to hear a child's point of view on her because while I was reading, I could not help but pitty her. While she was having a blast throughout the entire book, there is something so sad about a child left to her own means. To think of a child in that situation really breaks my heart. That is why I think it would be insightful to learn how a child feels about Pippi.
Purpose for Imaginative Literature
14 years ago
I think mentioning the animal companion is really important. I think a book about an orphaned child would be less liked if the child was really on their own. We all can become very attached to our animals and they can even become our best friends - the ones we can trust indefinitely and also the ones we know will always provide comfort. I feel as if the authors provide the orphans with at least some kind of companion (usually an animal) to comfort the readers. An orphaned child is a very sensitive subject, but as long as the readers know he or she has someone to provide her company, we are able to better enjoy the chronicles of his or her life.
ReplyDeleteI agree with both Callie and Lauren. There are similarities between the heroic nature of Pippi and her qualities. It's interesting to note that the author provides Pippi with animal companions as well. The animals she picked are also of note. A monkey, so comparable to humans and a horse, both a means of transportation as well as a loving companion.
ReplyDeleteI agree that Mr. Nelson is part of Pippi's family. Think back to the chapter with the burglars, they asked Pippi if she was all alone and her response of course not, Mr. Nelson is here. She didn't even consider herself to be an abandoned child. Pippi's confidence and self assurance gave her the capability to be independent. I feel like Pippi's horse gave her a underlining sense of responsibility and she loved how she could ride him whenever. It is funny to think of this book in a literal sense because no nine-year-old child could take care of a horse by herself!
ReplyDeleteI liked how you squeezed the part in there about Tommy and Annika could be seen as a Ron or Hermione in this book, though they are not near heroic. It made me chuckle.
ReplyDeleteBut I like how you brought up the fact that Pippi does have two human companions as well. This seems to be another constant theme throughout most of the novels we have been reading and definitely could contribute to the argument that Pippi is a hero, as we have definied heroes as having companions accompany them in their adventures.
I like that you brought up the point that you would like to see what a child thought about Pippi. I really loved Pippi and I thought it was interesting when someone in class said they never wanted to be Pippi because she didn't have any parents. This thought honestly never crossed my mind until that moment. The whole time I was reading, I never felt bad for Pippi because it seemed like she was always having fun. It's really interesting how your life experiences and your personality shape how you read a book and how you relate to the characters.
ReplyDeleteI have to agree that I somewhat pity Pippi while reading because she does not have any parents. But, I remember growing up watching the movie of Pippi Longstocking and longing for that kind of adventure as a child. I was more like the character of Annika, and because of this longed for a friend like Pippi. The companionship between Pippi, Tom, and Annika is special to me. It shows the importance of friendship to children. This is a theme throughout many of the novels we have read throughout the semester.
ReplyDeleteI did not pitty Pippi. She seemed to have an amazing life. Her parents never left her in spirit and she had everything she wanted. She had a horse and monkey, she was the strongest girl in the world, and she was real rich. She seemed to have it all. The only thing that was bad was that the grown ups thought she was crazy. Other than that her life seemed amazing. What other kid can say that they are going to be a pirate when they grow up. She was an amazing girl.
ReplyDeleteI also agree about what you said about Pippi and her animal companions. Like we have said i think it is very meaningful to have someone else to share in your experiences. Pippi has no parents, but she does in fact have a family. Her animals pose as her family and force her to have more resposibilities. This little girl has no parents to feed and take care of the animals so acts as a caregiver to them. They also act as her friends and confidents. I think it is a major theme we have seen in every book. I think it allows the reader to connect with the character more because every child has that innocence and love for animals.
ReplyDeleteCallie, I have also realized the animals in every novel we have read so far. I think that animals are the perfect companions for a child. because they are always there for you no matter what. For example, Pippi does not have family but she does have a monkey and a horse that keep her company.
ReplyDeletegreat blog, Callie! I agree.. her animals are like her family and she gets to be a caregiver for them, as they add some company and security to her life. I also pity Pippi, though she does lead a life most children only dream about, at the end of the day she has no one to provide and take care of her. I can't imagine having to spend one night alone as a young child in my house without my parents being there. It's good that Pippi has her animals and Tommy and Annika to provide some company and friendship.
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