Pollyanna · Chapter
X: A Surprise for Mrs. Snow explained
Pollyanna is moved to a better room after Aunt Polly overhears her wistful comments about wanting pretty things.
What happens
Pollyanna is moved to a better room after Aunt Polly overhears her wistful comments about wanting pretty things. Later, Pollyanna visits Mrs. Snow with a basket of carefully chosen foods, cheerfully lifting the shade and applying the Glad Game to the invalid's complaints about a neighbor's piano practicing.
Themes in this chapter
The Glad Game
Pollyanna applies the Glad Game to Mrs. Snow's complaint about piano noise, finding something to be glad about in being able to move.
Transformation Through Connection
Pollyanna's cheerful visit and thoughtful gifts begin to shift Mrs. Snow's attitude, and her innocent words disturb Aunt Polly's emotional composure.
Suffering and Resilience
Mrs. Snow's chronic illness and complaints are met with Pollyanna's resilient optimism, illustrating different responses to suffering.
Characters to notice
- Pollyanna Whittier
Expresses joy over her new room and uses the Glad Game to comfort Mrs. Snow.
- Aunt Polly Harrington
Moves Pollyanna to a better room after hearing her wishes; feels disturbed by Pollyanna's assumption that she never felt glad.
- Nancy
Helps move Pollyanna's things and celebrates the room change.
- Mrs. Snow
Receives a visit from Pollyanna with broth, chicken, and jelly; complains about a neighbor's piano but is gently redirected by Pollyanna.
- Milly Snow
Announces Pollyanna's arrival to her mother in a tired manner.
Key passages
“I love company; specially since I’ve had this room, all mine, you know. Oh, of course, I had a room, always, but ’twas a hired room, and hired rooms aren’t half as nice as owned ones, are they?”
Pollyanna tells Aunt Polly she loves visitors, especially now that she has a room that feels truly her own, unlike the rented rooms she had before.
Pollyanna expresses her delight in having a personal space.
“I got to thinking on the way here—what if you should say tripe, or onions, or something like that, that I didn’t have! Wouldn’t it have been a shame—when I’d tried so hard?”
Pollyanna jokes that she worried Mrs. Snow might ask for something she hadn't brought, like tripe or onions, after all her effort.
Pollyanna's playful concern shows her eagerness to please.
“Well, you can be glad of that, then, anyhow, can’t you? Mrs. White couldn’t. You can’t thrash when you have rheumatic fever—though you want to something awful, Mrs. White says.”
Pollyanna points out that Mrs. Snow can at least be glad she can move in bed, unlike Mrs. White who had rheumatic fever and couldn't.
Pollyanna applies the Glad Game to Mrs. Snow's complaint about piano noise.