A SURPRISE
Summary:
This story is about Jo March, a young girl who loves writing. She spends her time writing stories and hopes to get them
published. She works very hard and finally sends two of her stories to a newspaper. While waiting nervously for a reply,
she acts very strangely at home. When Jo receives good news, she is full of joy and her family is very proud of her. It’s
a big moment for Jo, as her hard work is finally being noticed. This marks the beginning of her journey to becoming a
successful writer and helping her family.
Analysis:
1. Theme of Hard Work and Dreams:
o Jo dreams of becoming a writer. She works hard, writes a lot, and bravely sends her stories for
publishing.
2. Importance of Family Support:
o Jo's sisters and friend Laurie support and cheer for her. Their love and praise mean the world to her.
3. Self-Belief and Growth:
o Even though Jo is unsure, she tries. When she gets a small success, she becomes more confident and
hopeful about the future.
4. Joy in Small Successes:
o Jo doesn’t earn money yet, but the fact that her stories were accepted makes her and her family
extremely happy.
15 Short Questions and Answers (40–50 words each):
1. What is Jo doing at the beginning of the story?
o Jo is sitting on an old sofa and writing her story with great focus. She finishes the story, signs it, and
hopes it will be good enough to be published. This shows how passionate and serious she is about her
writing.
2. Who is Scrabble and what does he do?
o Scrabble is Jo’s pet rat. He strolls on the beams above while Jo writes. Though he’s a small character,
his presence shows Jo’s cozy and imaginative writing space and gives a personal touch to her creative
process.
3. How does Jo feel after finishing her story?
o Jo feels proud but unsure. She says she’s done her best and throws down her pen. Yet, she thinks that
if her story isn’t accepted, she’ll try again. This shows Jo’s determination and hopefulness.
4. What does Jo do with her manuscript?
o Jo carefully reads her manuscript, adds exclamation marks, ties it with a red ribbon, and quietly leaves
the house to go into town to submit it. She is nervous and hopeful, showing how much the story means
to her.
5. Why does Jo act strangely while waiting outside the building?
o Jo keeps going back and forth near the building because she is very nervous. She wants to go in but is
scared of rejection. Her behavior shows her anxiety and excitement about the possibility of getting
published.
6. What does the young gentleman across the street notice?
o The young man sees Jo acting oddly—running away and returning several times. Amused, he watches
her from the window and guesses she might need help. This part adds humor and shows how obvious
Jo's nervousness is.
7. What is the result of Jo’s visit to the newspaper office?
o Jo returns with a flushed, red face, showing she had an emotional experience. She tells Laurie quietly
that the editor liked her stories and might publish them. This is the first step toward her becoming an
author.
8. Why doesn’t Jo tell anyone about her stories earlier?
o Jo doesn’t want to raise anyone’s hopes in case the editor rejects her stories. She wants to wait until
there is good news to avoid disappointing her family.
9. What is Laurie’s reaction to Jo’s news?
o Laurie is overjoyed. He cheers for Jo and calls her “the celebrated American author.” He even throws
his hat in happiness. Laurie’s reaction shows how proud and supportive he is of Jo.
10. How does Jo behave after sharing the news with Laurie?
• Jo is very happy but still nervous. She behaves in strange ways—getting distracted, making jokes, and acting
silly at home. Her family notices her odd behavior, which is caused by her mix of joy and excitement.
11. What do Jo’s sisters think of her behavior?
• Her sisters think she’s acting strangely. Meg and Beth notice that Jo is not her usual self—she’s sometimes
rude, dreamy, and talks to herself. They’re curious but don’t know the reason behind her odd actions.
12. How is Jo’s story finally revealed to the family?
• Jo hides the newspaper with her story and pretends to read it out loud. The girls enjoy the story and are
surprised to find out Jo wrote it. They’re happy and proud of her, especially when they see her name printed.
13. What is the title of Jo’s published story?
• The story is called “The Rival Painters.” It is romantic and a little sad, with many characters dying at the end.
Jo’s sisters enjoy it and give her compliments, especially Amy, who says she liked the “splendid picture.”
14. What are Jo’s thoughts after getting published?
• Jo is full of joy and feels proud. She cries a little, thinking about how this small success could lead to her
earning money and helping her family. She hopes that with time and more stories, she will be able to support
everyone.
15. What does the story teach us about dreams and determination?
• The story shows that hard work, patience, and believing in yourself can lead to success. Jo’s journey from
writing alone to getting published is a great example of not giving up and chasing your dreams with courage and
hope.
10 Unsolved Questions for Practice
1. Why is Jo hesitant to share her stories with her family before getting published?
2. What does the young gentleman’s reaction to Jo’s nervous behavior tell us about his character?
3. Why does Jo keep her face hidden while reading her story to her sisters?
4. How does Jo’s success in publishing her story change her attitude towards writing?
5. What role does Laurie play in supporting Jo’s writing dreams?
6. Why does Jo feel proud but also nervous when her story gets published?
7. How does Jo’s family react when they find out she is the author? What does this reveal about their relationship?
8. Why does Jo feel that her first success is just a small step toward helping her family?
9. How does the theme of persistence appear throughout Jo’s journey as a writer?
10. What lesson can we learn from Jo’s determination to become an author despite her doubts?
