# The Little Attic Room explained — Pollyanna

> Chapter companion for Pollyanna by Eleanor H. Porter.

## What happens

Pollyanna meets her stern Aunt Polly, who immediately imposes strict rules and assigns her to a sparse attic room. Despite the disappointment, Pollyanna finds joy in the view from the window and explores outside, climbing a tree and heading toward a nearby rock. She returns late for supper and is punished with bread and milk in the kitchen, causing Nancy to worry when she finds the room empty.

## Themes in this chapter

### The Glad Game

Pollyanna tries to find something to be glad about in her bare attic room, such as the view and the lack of a mirror to see her freckles.

### Duty and Obligation

Aunt Polly's cold, duty-bound reception of Pollyanna and her insistence on punctuality and proper behavior.

### Suffering and Resilience

Pollyanna's grief over her father's death and her struggle to accept her new, harsh environment, yet she perseveres with optimism.

## Character check-ins

### Pollyanna Whittier

Arrives at Aunt Polly's house, enthusiastically embraces her aunt, and tries to find gladness in her new, sparse attic room.

### Aunt Polly Harrington

Coldly receives Pollyanna, forbids talk of her father, and assigns her to a plain attic room to teach humility.

### Nancy

Comforts Pollyanna after she is left alone in the attic, helps unpack, and later panics when Pollyanna disappears.

### Old Tom

Seen working in the garden as Pollyanna runs past him toward the hill.

## Key lines

> Oh, Aunt Polly, Aunt Polly, I don't know how to be glad enough that you let me come to live with you.

Pollyanna expresses overwhelming gratitude to her aunt for taking her in.

_Shows Pollyanna's immediate, heartfelt appreciation despite her aunt's coldness._

> I just can't make myself understand that God and the angels needed my father more than I did.

Pollyanna struggles to accept her father's death as part of a divine plan.

_Reveals her deep grief and the challenge to her optimistic worldview._

> And I can be glad there isn't any looking-glass here, too, 'cause where there isn't any glass I can't see my freckles.

Pollyanna finds a positive aspect in the lack of a mirror.

_Illustrates her application of the Glad Game to her new circumstances._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/pollyanna_se/chapters/iv-the-little-attic-room
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/pollyanna_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/pollyanna_se/chapters