Post #10 Heidi by Johanna Spyri: Chapter 7 Summary

Heidi has only been in Frankfurt for a day and she is already starting to miss living with her grandfather in the Alps. Fräulein Rottenmeier tries to get Herr Kandidat, the teacher, to declare that he won't be able to teach Heidi and Klara together because Heidi is too far behind, which would give Fräulein Rottenmeier a reason to send Heidi home, but he thinks teaching Heidi and Klara together will be fine.  Heidi misses the trees and scenery of the alps and when she hears a coach on the cobblestone streets outside she thinks its the sound of the wind in the fir trees like on the alps, but when she runs out of the room she accidentally pulls the table cloth with her and makes everything fall on the floor and makes a big mess. This causes Klara to laugh but, it makes Fräulein Rottenmeier mad. All that Heidi can see from the windows in the house are other buildings and she longs to see some greenery so she goes to a church with a tall tower so that she will be able to see some greenery, but she doesn't see any. However while she is at the tower she notices some kittens and the man at the tower says she can have them. When she brings the kittens home it makes Fräulein Rottenmeier who is already mad at her for making a mess and leaving the house without permission even more mad and she orders her to get rid of the kittens. Instead of getting rid of the kittens Heidi and Klara give them to Sebastian, the butler, to hide from Fräulein Rottenmeier. That is the end of chapter 7.

The theme of Heidi is that adversity can be the doorway to wondrous adventures. This theme is supported by the plot and progression of the story. When Heidi's parents die and she is sent to live with her grandfather who is known to be a recluse her situation seemed bleak. However, once she meets her grandfather they make each other's lives better because they discovered they needed each other. Heidi goes on many adventures and rediscovers happiness after she is sent to live with her grandfather.