# The Sesemann House Is Haunted explained — Heidi

> Chapter companion for Heidi by Johanna Spyri.

## What happens

The Sesemann household is terrified by a nightly ghost that leaves the front door open. After failed attempts by the servants to catch it, Mr. Sesemann returns home and enlists the help of his friend Dr. Classen. They stay up to watch and discover that the 'ghost' is actually Heidi, who is sleepwalking due to severe homesickness. The doctor diagnoses her condition and insists she must return to the Alps immediately to recover.

## Themes in this chapter

### Home and Belonging

Heidi's sleepwalking and dreams reveal her deep longing for her grandfather and the Alps, highlighting the theme of home as essential to well-being.

### Health and Healing

The doctor diagnoses Heidi's physical and emotional decline as homesickness and prescribes a return to her native mountain air as the only cure.

## Character check-ins

### Heidi

Revealed as the sleepwalking 'ghost'; she confesses her nightly dreams of the Alps and her overwhelming homesickness.

### Mr. Sesemann

Returns home to investigate the haunting; initially skeptical, he agrees with the doctor's prescription to send Heidi back to the mountains.

### The Doctor

Called to investigate the ghost; he calmly discovers Heidi sleepwalking, diagnoses her homesickness, and insists she must return to the Alps.

### Miss Rottenmeier

Terrified by the ghost, she writes frantic letters to Mr. Sesemann and organizes the household's fearful response.

### Clara Sesemann

Frightened by the ghost story, she refuses to stay alone and sleeps with Miss Rottenmeier.

### Sebastian

One of the servants who attempts to watch for the ghost; he is questioned by Mr. Sesemann and sent to fetch the doctor.

## Key lines

> I always think I am with my grandfather again and can hear the fir-trees roar. I always think how beautiful the stars must be, and then I open the door of the hut, and oh, it is so wonderful! But when I wake up I am always in Frankfurt.

Heidi tells the doctor that every night she dreams she is back on the mountain with her grandfather, hearing the fir trees and seeing the stars, only to wake up disappointed in Frankfurt.

_Heidi's confession reveals the depth of her homesickness and the source of her sleepwalking._

> Sesemann, the little girl is a sleepwalker, and has unconsciously scared your whole household. Besides, she is so homesick that her little body has wasted away. We shall have to act quickly. The only remedy for her is to be restored to her native mountain air.

The doctor explains to Mr. Sesemann that Heidi's sleepwalking and declining health are caused by homesickness, and the only cure is to send her back to the Alps immediately.

_The doctor's diagnosis leads to the decision to send Heidi home._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/heidi_se/chapters/xii-the-sesemann-house-is-haunted
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/heidi_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/heidi_se/chapters