Little House In the Big Woods

By Laura Ingalls Wilder

“Little House In the Big Woods” by Laura Ingalls Wilder is a timeless classic that has captivated readers of all ages for generations. Set in the Wisconsin wilderness during the late 1800s, this novel offers a glimpse into the daily life of a pioneer family. Through her use of vivid imagery, personification, and other literary devices, Wilder brings the world of the Ingalls family to life in a way that is both charming and engaging.

Themes 📚

1. The Importance of Family: Family is the central theme of “Little House In the Big Woods,” and Wilder emphasizes the importance of familial bonds and the support and love that family members provide for one another.
2. Survival: Set in a time when survival was a daily struggle, the novel explores the challenges that the Ingalls family faced in order to live off the land and provide for themselves.
3. Hard Work: The novel underscores the value of hard work and self-sufficiency, as the Ingalls family must work tirelessly to build their homestead and gather food and supplies.
4. Tradition: Throughout the novel, the importance of tradition is emphasized, particularly through the family’s love of music and their reliance on family recipes and methods for preserving food.
5. Nostalgia: “Little House In the Big Woods” is infused with a sense of nostalgia for a simpler time, and Wilder’s descriptions of pioneer life are often romanticized and idealized.
6. Independence: The Ingalls family’s self-sufficiency and independence are celebrated throughout the novel, as they work to build a life for themselves in the wilderness.
7. Nature: The natural world is a central theme of the novel, and Wilder’s descriptions of the woods, the animals, and the changing seasons are beautifully rendered.
8. Community: Although the Ingalls family lives in relative isolation, the novel also emphasizes the importance of community and the support that neighbors provide for one another in times of need.
9. Ingenuity: The Ingalls family’s ingenuity and resourcefulness are showcased throughout the novel, as they must find creative solutions to the challenges they face.
10. Love: Above all, “Little House In the Big Woods” is a story of love, as the Ingalls family members care for and support one another through the difficulties of pioneer life.

Use of Literary Devices ✍🏽

1. Imagery: Wilder’s use of vivid and detailed imagery brings the natural world and the Ingalls family’s daily life to life in the reader’s mind.
2. Personification: Wilder personifies the natural world and the animals that inhabit it, giving them human-like qualities and making them more relatable to readers.
3. Foreshadowing: Through subtle hints and clues, Wilder foreshadows events to come in the novel, creating a sense of tension and anticipation for readers.
4. Symbolism: The novel makes use of various symbols, such as the fiddle and the panther, to represent broader themes and ideas.
5. Metaphor: Wilder employs metaphors throughout the novel to draw comparisons between different aspects of pioneer life and the natural world.
6. Allusion: The novel contains several allusions to historical events and cultural touchstones of the time period, such as the celebration of Christmas.
7. Hyperbole: At times, Wilder employs hyperbole to exaggerate the challenges and dangers that the Ingalls family faced in order to create a sense of drama and tension.
8. Flashback: Through the use of flashbacks, Wilder provides readers with a deeper understanding of the Ingalls family’s past and their journey to the Big Woods.
9. Irony: The novel contains instances of irony, such as when Pa Ingalls warns Laura not to make noise in the woods, only to then start singing himself.
10. Repetition: Wilder uses repetition to emphasize certain themes and ideas throughout the novel, such as the importance of family and the values of hard work and self-sufficiency.

Examples of Literary Devices 📋

1. Imagery

Example	Explanation
Descriptions of the woods	Wilder’s detailed descriptions of the woods help to create a vivid image of the setting in the reader’s mind.
The family’s daily chores	The detailed descriptions of the family’s chores create a sense of the hard work and diligence required in pioneer life.
The changing seasons	The imagery of the changing seasons brings the rural setting to life and signals the passing of time.

2. Simile

Example	Explanation
“Her heart beat hard, like a little hammer.”	This simile is used to convey Laura’s excitement and anticipation.
“The path was like a wild thing, always changing.”	This simile illustrates the unpredictability of life in the wilderness.
“She was as busy as a bee.”	This simile is used to describe the industrious nature of the characters.

3. Foreshadowing

Example	Explanation
Ma’s caution about the woods	Ma’s warnings about the dangers of the woods foreshadow the challenges the family will face.
Pa’s stories about wild animals	These stories foreshadow the encounters with wildlife that Laura and her family will have.
The preparations for winter	The family’s preparations foreshadow the difficulties they will face during the harsh winter months.

4. Symbolism

Example	Explanation
The log cabin	The log cabin symbolizes the family’s self-sufficiency and resilience.
The big woods	The big woods symbolize both the beauty and danger of the natural world.
Pa’s fiddle	The fiddle symbolizes comfort, unity, and the spirit of the family.

5. Personification

Example	Explanation
“The trees seemed to be holding their breath.”	This personification conveys a sense of the quiet and stillness of the woods.
“The fire roared with satisfaction.”	This personification gives the fire a sense of liveliness and warmth.
“The wind screamed around the corners of the house.”	This personification helps to convey the force and intensity of the wind.

FAQs 💭