Heidi

How does the author use elements of light and darkness symbolically in the novel? Consider Grannie’s blindness, sunlight, and Heidi’s sleepwalking in darkness as potential discussion points.

How does the author address the issue of formal education? Examine different characters’ divergent attitudes toward education, such as Grandfather and the pastor.

Heidi’s character is arguably an unrealistic portrayal of a young child. What parts of her personality are too good to be true? Which characters are more nuanced and grounded in reality?

Discuss Spyri’s handling of Clara’s disability. Are there elements of the portrayal with which modern readers may struggle to identify? How might Clara’s healing be viewed as unrealistic or unsympathetic to individuals with physical disabilities for which there are no cures?

Analyze the way Spyri deals with class structure. Discuss specifically her depiction of poverty. Grandfather lives near Peter’s family yet doesn’t appear to struggle as much. Why? How does Peter’s family’s lack of a patriarch add to their struggles?

Heidi is a book about virtues, a set of moral standards by which one might live. List the virtues espoused by the narrative. In what way(s) could living by these standards make for a good life? Are some of the life principles too moralistic or too didactic?

The mountainside is a virtual Eden for Heidi, Grandfather, and Peter, yet the villagers fear it and see living in seclusion in the mountains as a sign of Grandfather’s moral failure. Why does the author draw this distinction? Why do the villagers accept him back into the community so quickly, even though he pledges to only live there half of the year?

Consider food as a motif in the novel. Why does Grandfather support Peter with food? Analyze Heidi’s attitude toward food, especially her hoarding of the white rolls in Frankfurt. What does food symbolize for certain characters in the novel? Consider also how people dine—for example, Frankfurt’s formal meals versus Grandfather’s al fresco dinners.