Saturday, August 13, 2016

How does Katherine Patterson describe Lyddie?

Most of Katherine Patterson's descriptions of Lyddie are focused on her mental and emotional qualities.  There isn't a great deal of specifics regarding her physical characteristics.  The reader knows that she is young.  Lyddie is thirteen years old.  She is the oldest sibling in her household.  She has dark hair and is described as "plain as sod."  That doesn't mean she is ugly, but it does mean that she isn't going to be the most...

Most of Katherine Patterson's descriptions of Lyddie are focused on her mental and emotional qualities.  There isn't a great deal of specifics regarding her physical characteristics.  The reader knows that she is young.  Lyddie is thirteen years old.  She is the oldest sibling in her household.  She has dark hair and is described as "plain as sod."  That doesn't mean she is ugly, but it does mean that she isn't going to be the most beautiful girl at the ball.  


Lyddie is most definitely brave.  She fends off a bear in chapter one for example.  Then she makes the decision to move herself into a big city and work in the big factories.  Keep in mind that at thirteen, Lyddie is the equivalent of a seventh grader.  It takes guts to do what she did.  She also stands up to Mr. Marsden at the end of the story.  She loses her job because of it, but then she makes the decision to go off to school.  Again, on her own.  


Lyddie is fiercely independent and a very hard worker.  She rarely lets people influence her decisions, and her high work ethic is what made her one of the factory's top producers.  On the downside, Lyddie is not patient, which is why she can't stand being around Brigid at first.  

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