Heidi

by Johanna Spyri

Grades 4-8; Genre - Fiction; Lexile 800; AR pts: 16.0

Heidi, an orphan, builds a strong bond with her grandfather in the Swiss Alps. When she is sent into town to attend school and be a friend to a wealthy man's invalid daughter, Heidi becomes homesick for her Grandfather and home in the mountains.

Writing Prompts

Comprehension Questions

Part 1

Chapter 1

1. What’s the setting of this story? In the Alps during the summer p.9
2. Describe Heidi. 5 years old; mother and father died; Aunt was taken care of her; brave and happy; thinks for herself p.9
3. Why did Heidi have on so many layers of clothes? It was easier to have her wear them then to carry them p.9

Chapter 2

1. Share two examples that Heidi’s grandfather was impressed with her. When she made up her bed; when she set the table without being asked; when she guessed that he was making a stool for her p.21
2. What nurturing action did the grandfather take at the end of this chapter? He was worried Heidi would be afraid of the wind, so went to check on her p.26

Chapter 3

1. Why hadn’t Peter ever been able to say he had enough? His family was poor, and he didn’t get large portions to eat p.32
2. Give two examples of ways Heidi helped the goats and Peter in this chapter. She said she’d comfort Schneehopli on the mountain each day so she’s not alone; when Distelfinck almost jumped off the cliff, Heidi stopped him from fighting Peter by giving him some herbs; She stopped Peter from beating him and every other goat by giving her cheese and a good part of her bread everyday p.34

Chapter 4

1. How does Heidi help the grandmother? She brings her happiness when she visits; she brings her grandfather to fix up the hut p.49
2. Why does the grandmother make Heidi sad? She’s blind and there’s nothing anyone can do to fix it p.50

Chapter 5

1. What happened to Heidi in this chapter? Her aunt came to take her to Frankfurt to be a playmate for a girl who is lame and in a wheelchair p.54
2. How did grandfather feel about this? He didn’t want Heidi to go; he was sad p.54
3. How did Dete convince Heidi to go with her? She said she could buy soft rolls for grandmother and bring them back to her when she’d like p.57

Chapter 6

1. What’s Heidi original name and who is she named after? Adelheid; her mother p.61
2. Describe Fraulein Rottenmeier. She’s proper, mean, bossy, uptight, doesn’t like Heidi p.60

Chapter 7

1. What three names is Heidi called? Heidi, Adelheid, Mansell p.69
2. What view was Heidi expecting when she looked out the church tower? One of trees and mountains p.72
3. Should Heidi have brought the kittens home without asking? Why or why not? Listen to your child’s answer p.73

Chapter 8

1. Why did it give Sebastian pleasure to see Fraulein Rottenmeier in distress? It entertains him; he likes to tease her p.80
2. When Fraulein Rottenmeier is so strict with Heidi, who protects watches out for her? Sebastian and Klara p.84

Chapter 9

1. Describe Klara’s father? Busy with work; kind; cares about Klara; wealthy p.86
2. What charge did he give Fraulein Rottenmeier concerning Heidi? That she always be kind to her and not let Heidi’s peculiarities be treated as sins p.90

Chapter 10

1. How did the grandmamma change Heidi’s mind about reading? She told Heidi to believe her and not believe Peter when he said learning to read is too hard p.96
2. Why didn’t Heidi tell anyone she was homesick? She might look ungrateful for everything the Sesemann’s have done for her p.96
3. Who did Grandmamma teach Heidi will help her when she can’t talk to anyone else? God p.97

Chapter 11

1. Why couldn’t Heidi cry when she read books? Fraulein Rottenmeier will take the book away from her p.102
2. Give two examples of how Heidi’s struggling? She won’t eat and she’s getting thin; she covers her eyes, so she doesn’t see the sunlight and be reminded of Peter taking the goats up the Alm; she cries herself to sleep and cries when she wakes up p.102

Chapter 12

1. What’s convinced Herr Sesemann to send Heidi home? The doctor: she’s so homesick she’s sleep walking and isn’t eating p.111

Chapter 13

1. Why did Heidi thank the doctor when she left Frankfurt? He’s the reason why she’s going home p.117
2. Describe the reunion between Heidi and her loved ones on the Alm? She and they were all delighted to be together again p.126

Chapter 14

1. What did Heidi realize about her unanswered prayers? That God had blessed her by keeping her longer in Frankfurt than she had wanted p.132
2. What was the change grandfather experienced and what was the cause of it? He turned to God again and looked truly happy; Heidi helped him understand that he could always turn back to God p.134
3. What did the letter say at the end of this chapter? Klara and the grandmamma were going to come visit p.139

Part 2

Chapter 1

1. Why was the doctor hesitant to let Klara visit Heidi? She has been so sickly during the summer and knew it wouldn’t be good for her p.143
2. Why did Klara agree that the doctor should visit Heidi and how did she handle it? Because she was so sickly; Klara was so sad she couldn’t go, but knew her father was doing what was best for her p.145

Chapter 2

1. How did Heidi receive the doctor? She was disappointed that Klara didn’t come, but was happy to see him p.150
2. Why did the doctor the Alm would be good for Klara? The fresh air would give her an appetite and she would want to eat p.152

Chapter 3

1. Why did Peter clench his fists at the doctor? He was taking Heidi’s attention away from him p.160
2. Why did Peter stand on the hill with his hands open? To show he was repenting for being disrespectful to the doctor p.161

Chapter 4

1. What was Heidi missing at their home in Dorfli? She couldn’t hear the wind p.168
2. Why is Peter going to be more serious about going to school? He would rather go to school than take a beating for being unruly and missing school p.171

Chapter 5

1. What’s the plan Heidi contrived at the end of chapter 4? To teach Peter to read so his grandmother could have hymns read to her everyday p.176
2. How did Heidi convince Peter he should learn to read? She reminded him that his mother would send him to Frankfurt and described what going to school there was like p.176

Chapter 6

1. On page 184, what’s the sofa grandfather is describing? The grass outside the hut p.184
2. Why was Peter and the grandmother upset with Heidi’s company? They didn’t want them to take her back to Frankfurt p.186
3. What was the grandmammas and Klara’s reaction to the Alm? They loved it and thought it was so beautiful; they both wanted Klara to stay up with a Heidi p.193

Chapter 7

1. Why did Heidi’s grandfather have Klara stand every day? To strengthen her legs p.202
2. What’s Heidi’s grandfather trying to accomplish encouraging Klara to stand? To help her walk again p.202

Chapter 8

1. Peter has been angry with Klara her entire visit. What could you say to him to help him understand and learn that it was important for Klara to be there? Listen to your child’s answer p.204
2. What had Klara accomplished in this chapter? She walked with the help of Heidi and Peter p.211
3. On page 213, the author wrote that something lay in Peter’s stomach which gnawed and choked him with every mouthful he ate. What was it? His guilt from pushing Klara’s chair over the cliff p.213

Chapter 9

1. Why was Peter so paranoid the beginning of this chapter? He had made a wrong choice and he was full of guilt p.217
2. Why didn’t the grandmamma want to punish Peter? He had been punished enough through his guilt p.225
3. How is Grandfather’s wish being granted? Herr Sesemann will take care of Heidi like she was his own and the doctor is moving to the area, and he’ll take care of her too so she can stay on the Alm p.229