The Littles

“The Littles helped the Biggs in return for the things they took. Only the Biggs didn’t know it. For one thing, the Littles were good at fixing things. They ran back and forth inside the walls repairing the electric wires whenever they needed it.”

This quote provides an example of the mutualistic relationship between the Littles and the Biggs. While the Littles obtain their necessary supplies and food from the Biggs, they return the favor by secretly repairing the Biggs’ home whenever necessary. Through the Littles’ contributions to the Biggs’ home maintenance, the novel establishes the theme of Focusing on Cleanliness and Order, showing that this is important to the Littles.

“Granny Little sat in her rocking chair knitting a red sweater for Tom. ‘Don’t know why Henry Bigg made such a fuss when we took his old red socks,’ she said. ‘One of them had a real bad hole in the toe.’”

Granny Little repurposes a worn-out sock that the Littles have lifted from a member of the Bigg family in order to make a sweater for Tom. This is an example of the Little family’s resourcefulness, and it also shows how they depend on the Bigg family for all their materials. This quote develops the theme of The Importance of Adaptability and Resourcefulness since it shows how the Littles creatively repurpose scraps to meet their needs.

“‘Aw—who’s afraid of an old cat?’ said Tom.

‘I wish everybody would stop talking about cats,’ said Lucy. ‘I’m afraid of cats.’ She looked from person to person. ‘Please, let’s stop talking about cats.’”

As the Littles speculate about whether the new residents of the Biggs’ house will bring a cat, Tom and Lucy’s contrasting reactions illustrate their personalities. Tom demonstrates bravery by showing he isn’t afraid of cats while Lucy makes her fear of cats clear to the entire family. This quote also foreshadows the eventual appearance of the cat in Chapter 9.

“There was a secret look-out place behind the light switch in the hall of the Biggs’ house. One of the screws was missing. The empty hole was large enough for a Little to look and listen through.”

This quote describes one of the settings that is familiar to the Little family. The idea that they can peek through a missing screw hole in a light switch helps illustrate the diminutive size of the Little family. Additionally, the lookout’s existence is an example of how they use to make the most of the environment they live in, developing the theme of The Importance of Adaptability and Resourcefulness.

“This isn’t my house. I’m fixing nothing and I’m doing nothing. If the faucets drip, let ‘em drip! I may not even take out the garbage.”

Mr. Newcomb, upon arriving at the Biggs’ home for an extended stay, declares his intentions to not take care of the house or do chores of any kind. This quote introduces conflict for the Littles, who rely on a clean home to keep their own living space clean and to avoid the presence of pests, which pose a serious threat to them because of their size. This quote highlights the theme of Focusing on Cleanliness and Order, showing that this is essential for the Littles.

“Suddenly Granny Little spoke, ‘Watch out for mice.’

‘Why do you say that, Granny?’ said Mr. Little. ‘There are no mice in this house. George Bigg wouldn’t stand for it.’

Granny Little looked sharply at Mr. Little. ‘There will be mice,’ she said.”

In this exchange, Granny Little and Mr. Little discuss the possibility of mice arriving due to the Newcombs’ poor housekeeping. This quote contrasts Mr. Little’s optimism with Granny Little’s wisdom. Granny’s prediction foreshadows the appearance of mice in the following chapter.

“There was a hole in the wall between the Littles’ living room and the Biggs’ living room. The hole was about the size of a quarter. On the Biggs’ side it was covered with wallpaper. Mr. Little had punched many tiny holes in the wallpaper. He used one of Mr. Biggs’ needles.”

This description explains how the layout of the Littles’ home aligns with the layout of the Biggs’ home, allowing the Littles to enjoy a living room directly next to the Biggs’. It also describes the way Mr. Little has constructed their space so the Littles can hear what happens in the Biggs’ home, using a needle to make the holes in the wallpaper. Mr. Little’s resourcefulness develops the theme of The Importance of Adaptability and Resourcefulness.

“The Newcombs were indeed bad housekeepers. Food was left around uncovered. Floors were not swept after meals. Garbage spilled out of the can. When the lid fell off, it wasn’t put back on.”

This quote provides images and examples of the poor housekeeping exhibited by the Newcombs. The poor conditions of the house create concerns for the Littles about mice. This quote relates to the theme of Focusing on Cleanliness and Order.

“‘Don’t go out alone,’ he said. ‘Go armed at all times.’ Mr. Little opened the chest. He looked up at his wife. ‘Who would think that this generation of Littles would have to open this weapons chest?’”

This quote features Mr. Little’s response to the mouse threat. Mr. Little’s advice to not go out alone develops the idea that there is safety in numbers, building on the theme of The Power of Unity. This quote also develops weapons as a symbol of fear and uncertainty. Mr. Little’s observation about the necessity to bring out the weapons after all this time indicates that the Littles have had previous periods of fear and uncertainty, though he believed those times were behind them.

“Mice are quick animals. They’re not easy to see. And they usually do most of their work when people are not around.”

Mr. Little explains why the Newcombs have not seemed to notice the mouse problem. This quote spells out the conflict faced by the Littles: They cannot fight the mice without the Newcombs’ help, but they do not know how to alert the Newcombs of the mouse problem. Their small size not only leaves them open to all kinds of threats but also makes it necessary for them to depend on the aid of the “big people” who don’t know about their existence.

“At first, Uncle Pete tried to fight them off with his bow and arrows. But the old bow string broke with the first shot, and he missed.

Luckily, Uncle Pete had made two torches from burnt matches he found near the heater. He had wrapped rags around the ends of the match sticks. Then he dipped them in a puddle of oil near the furnace.”

When Uncle Pete is faced with a dangerous situation after his weapon breaks during a mouse attack, he uses his resourceful nature to create torches from burnt matches to scare the mice away. This quote not only features weapons, which are a symbol of fear and uncertainty, but it also reinforces the theme of The Importance of Adaptability and Resourcefulness.

“It was decided. Tom would play the part of the mouse. Mr. Little would go with him to tell him when and where to run. Granny Little set to work making the costume.”

Several members of the Little family work together to enact Tom’s plan of fooling the Newcombs into thinking he is a mouse so that they will treat the real mouse problem. This quote emphasizes The Power of Unity, as Mr. Little and Granny play essential support roles in Tom’s performance by providing direction and a convincing costume to keep him safe.

“It’s the first time any of the big people have ever seen any of us.”

Mrs. Little acknowledges what a monumental and dangerous occasion it is for Tom to be intentionally seen by a “big person,” which has never been done before by generations of Littles. This quote serves to emphasize Tom’s bravery as well as the riskiness and uncertainty that his plan carries.

“‘He’s a Little all right,’ said Uncle Pete. ‘He has that Little bravery.’

‘I only had a little bravery is right, Uncle Pete,’ said Tom. ‘I was kind of scared.’”

After Tom’s successful dash through the kitchen, Uncle Pete commends Tom’s bravery. This quote characterizes both Uncle Pete and Tom. Tom is shown to be modest in his bravery and honest about the fear he feels, while Uncle Pete is shown to be proud of the bravery exhibited by his family, demonstrating how he values such traits. While Uncle Pete intends “Little bravery” to mean the family’s brand of impressive courage, Tom uses the pun “little bravery” to admit that he was, in fact, scared.

“‘Oh goodness, Uncle Pete—do put that thing down,’ said Mrs. Little. ‘I hate to see those weapons around.’ She turned back to her husband. ‘When can we put them back in the chest?’”

Mrs. Little scolds Uncle Pete for waving his sword around recklessly. Her aversion to the presence of weapons develops the link between the weapons and the fear and uncertainty felt by the Little family. Mrs. Little’s wish to put the weapons away for good symbolizes her desire for their troubles and uncertainty to come to an end.

“‘May I go with Uncle Pete this time?’ said Tom. ‘Lucy doesn’t want to go, do you, Lucy?’

‘I’m not leaving my room until the mice are gone,’ said Lucy Little for the second time.”

This quote demonstrates the contrast between Tom and Lucy. After Uncle Pete stresses that they keep a lookout to see what’s happening in the house while waiting for the mouse problem to be resolved, Tom bravely volunteers to accompany Uncle Pete on his morning kitchen surveillance. However, Lucy is too afraid and declares that she doesn’t plan to leave her room.

“‘I should be with my father,’ thought Lucy. Then suddenly she made up her mind. She ran to her room and got the bow and arrows. Then she slipped out the back door into the passageway.”

After declaring multiple times that she would be holing up in her room until all the mice are gone, Lucy changes her mind when she considers how important it is for the Littles to stick together. She decides to go after her father. This is an important characterizing moment for Lucy, as she overcomes her fear for the first time. Lucy’s change of heart develops the theme of The Power of Unity.

“Lucy was never so scared in her life. She ran toward the cat. She ran without thinking. The gigantic animal had attacked her father. She would save her father somehow.”

Lucy’s instinct to go after her father to make sure he’s safe proves useful, and she must act quickly to rescue Mr. Little from the cat that is pursuing him. This is an important moment in Lucy’s characterization, as she sets aside her fear of cats to save her father’s life, showing that she is capable of bravery despite her fear.

“Mr. Little told his wife what had happened. ‘Lucky for us Lucy decided to follow me when she did,’ he said. ‘I still can’t believe it. She attacked that huge cat.’”

Mr. Little boasts about how Lucy saved his life, once again emphasizing the importance of Lucy’s decision. This quote stresses the significance of Lucy’s actions and develops the theme of The Power of Unity.

“You’re right though—this plan isn’t working. I heard Mrs. Newcomb telling Mr. Newcomb not to get rid of the cat. She’s afraid the mice will return.”

After the Littles’ attempts to get the Newcombs angry at the cat backfire, Mr. Little acknowledges that their plan isn’t working and reiterates what he heard Mrs. Newcomb say about the seemingly troublesome cat. This quote also describes another side to the conflict that the Littles haven’t yet acknowledged: Without the cat, the mice will return, compounding their conflict with their hostile environment.

“Uncle Pete snorted. ‘A cat had never been a friend to a Little. I can tell you that.’

‘Maybe that’s because none of them ever tried to tame a cat,’ said Tom. ‘They were always afraid of cats.’”

Here, Uncle Pete and Tom debate Tom’s idea to try to tame the cat. This quote plays into Uncle Pete’s characterization as the family’s foil, with his cautious and pessimistic outlook on most conflicts. It also shows Tom’s adaptability and bravery, developing the theme of The Importance of Adaptability and Resourcefulness through Tom’s plan.

“‘Count me out,’ said Uncle Pete. ‘I’ll stay here and sharpen my weapon.’”

After the rest of the Little family agrees to go with Tom’s plan to tame and befriend the cat, Uncle Pete maintains his oppositional stance and instead opts to keep his weapons sharp. This quote not only continues to characterize Uncle Pete as the family’s foil, but it also emphasizes weapons as a symbol of fear and uncertainty. Uncle Pete is still afraid and thus still feels the need to keep his weapons close.

“The way I figure, the cat didn’t know we were people until Tom started talking to her. I guess cats like people to talk to them.”

Mr. Little sums up the shift he witnessed in the cat when the Little family enacted Tom’s plan. At first, the cat planned to attack the family, but when Tom spoke to her the way “big people” speak to cats, she had a change of perspective and began to see the Littles as people and not prey. The cat becomes a motif for The Importance of Adaptability and Resourcefulness as her allyship is a result of Tom’s adaptability and clever planning.