XI: Introducing Jimmy explained

What happens

Themes in this chapter

• The Glad Game

  Pollyanna teaches Mrs. Snow to play the glad game, and later uses the game's logic to justify bringing home stray animals and Jimmy Bean, expecting Aunt Polly to be glad to take them in.

• Family and Belonging

  Jimmy Bean's desire for a home with a mother and his homelessness highlight the theme of family and belonging. Pollyanna's efforts to find him a home reflect her own need for connection.

• Social Class and Judgment

  Aunt Polly's rejection of Jimmy Bean based on his dirty appearance and her calling him a 'ragged little beggar' illustrates class prejudice and social judgment.

Characters to notice

• Pollyanna Whittier

  Pollyanna meets Jimmy Bean and, feeling sorry for his homelessness, brings him to Aunt Polly expecting her to take him in. She also previously brought home a stray kitten and a dog.

• Aunt Polly Harrington

  Aunt Polly is presented with Jimmy Bean by Pollyanna and rejects him angrily. She also reluctantly accepted a stray kitten and a dog brought home by Pollyanna.

• Jimmy Bean

  A homeless boy who wants a home with a mother. He is brought to Aunt Polly by Pollyanna but leaves indignantly after being called a beggar.

• Nancy

  Nancy is mentioned as the one Pollyanna calls to show the kitten, and she is noted as expecting surprises and changes since Pollyanna's arrival.

• Mrs. Snow

  Pollyanna visits Mrs. Snow to bring calf's-foot jelly. Mrs. Snow is learning to play the glad game under Pollyanna's instruction.

Key passages

• “My name's Pollyanna Whittier," she began pleasantly. "What's yours?" Again the boy stirred restlessly. He even almost got to his feet. But he settled back. "Jimmy Bean," he grunted with ungracious indifference.”

  Pollyanna introduces herself to the boy and asks his name; after a moment of reluctance, he answers that he is Jimmy Bean.

  Pollyanna's first encounter with Jimmy Bean, establishing his initial unfriendliness.

• “I'd like a home—jest a common one, ye know, with a mother in it, instead of a Matron. If ye has a home, ye has folks; an' I hain't had folks since—dad died.”

  Jimmy explains that he wants a normal home with a mother, not an orphanage, because he has had no family since his father died.

  Jimmy's expression of his longing for family and belonging.

• “Oh, I know just the place for you," she cried. "Aunt Polly'll take you—I know she will! Didn't she take me? And didn't she take Fluffy and Buffy, when they didn't have any one to love them, or any place to go?—and they're only cats and dogs.”

  Pollyanna confidently tells Jimmy that Aunt Polly will take him in, just as she took in Pollyanna and the stray animals.

  Pollyanna's naive assumption that Aunt Polly's kindness extends unconditionally to a homeless boy.

• “I ain't a beggar, marm, an' I don't want nothin' o' you. I was cal'latin' ter work, of course, fur my board an' keep. I wouldn't have come ter your old house, anyhow, if this 'ere girl hadn't 'a' made me, a-tellin' me how you was so good an' kind that you'd be jest dyin' ter take me in. So, there!”

  Jimmy proudly declares he is not a beggar and that he intended to work for his keep, and he only came because Pollyanna insisted Aunt Polly would be eager to take him in.

  Jimmy's dignified response to Aunt Polly's accusation, showing his pride and hurt.

• “Pollyanna," she cried sharply, " Will you stop using that everlasting word 'glad'! It's 'glad'—'glad'—'glad' from morning till night until I think I shall grow wild!”

  Aunt Polly, exasperated, orders Pollyanna to stop saying the word 'glad' so often, as it is driving her crazy.

  Aunt Polly's breaking point, showing her frustration with Pollyanna's constant optimism.