# Pollyanna and Punishments explained — Pollyanna

> Chapter companion for Pollyanna by Eleanor H. Porter.

## What happens

Pollyanna goes shopping for a new wardrobe with Aunt Polly, then spends the evening talking with Old Tom and Nancy. Later, unable to sleep in her hot attic room, she climbs out onto the sun-parlor roof to sleep in the cool night air, using winter clothing bags as bedding. Aunt Polly, discovering her, is shocked but ultimately brings Pollyanna to sleep in her own bed, once again finding her punishment interpreted as a reward.

## Themes in this chapter

### The Glad Game

Pollyanna unconsciously plays the Glad Game when comforting Nancy about her name, and later when she is glad the screens didn't come so she could sleep on the roof.

### Duty and Obligation

Aunt Polly feels it is her duty to keep Pollyanna safe, even as her punishments are repeatedly misinterpreted as rewards.

## Character check-ins

### Pollyanna Whittier

Delighted by the shopping trip and the new clothes; plays the Glad Game unconsciously with Nancy; escapes the hot attic to sleep on the roof, using fur coats as bedding.

### Aunt Polly Harrington

Takes Pollyanna shopping; discovers her on the roof and is both stern and helpless as her punishment is again taken as a reward; ultimately brings Pollyanna to sleep in her own bed.

### Nancy

Talks with Pollyanna on the back porch, shares her dislike of her name, and is cheered by Pollyanna's story about Mrs. White's name.

### Old Tom

Tells Pollyanna wonderful stories about her mother in the garden.

### Timothy Durgin

Drives Pollyanna and Aunt Polly to the stores; later responds to Aunt Polly's alarm and discovers Pollyanna on the roof.

## Key lines

> When you haven’t had anybody but missionary barrels and Ladies’ Aiders to dress you, it is perfectly lovely to just walk right in and buy clothes that are brand-new, and that don’t have to be tucked up or let down because they don’t fit!

Pollyanna expresses joy at being able to buy new clothes that fit properly, unlike the hand-me-downs she used to receive.

_Highlights Pollyanna's gratitude for the shopping trip and her new wardrobe._

> Well, anyhow, you can be glad it isn’t ‘Hephzibah.’

Pollyanna comforts Nancy by pointing out that her name could be worse, like Mrs. White's name Hephzibah.

_Demonstrates Pollyanna's instinctive use of the Glad Game to cheer others._

> I’m so glad now that the screens didn’t come; else I couldn’t have had this!

Pollyanna is grateful for the lack of screens because it allowed her to sleep outside on the roof.

_Shows Pollyanna's ability to find joy in an uncomfortable situation._

## Links

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