Little House in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder
"Little House in the Big Woods" by Laura Ingalls Wilder is a semi-autobiographical children's novel that narrates the life of a pioneer family living in the dense forests of Wisconsin. The story unfolds through the changing seasons, highlighting the family's interactions with nature and their self-sufficient lifestyle. Set in a log cabin, the narrative details various seasonal activities, such as hunting, gathering, and food preservation, emphasizing the importance of the natural environment to their survival.
As winter sets in, the family engages in indoor chores, storytelling, and holiday festivities, showcasing the warmth of familial bonds amidst the challenges of pioneer life. The plot also captures moments of joy, such as visits to relatives and the excitement of seeing town for the first time. Through its portrayal of childhood experiences, sibling dynamics, and close ties to the land, the book offers readers a nostalgic glimpse into the simpler pleasures of a bygone era. Wilder's work, the first in her "Little House" series, is celebrated for its relatable themes and vivid depictions of pioneer existence.
Little House in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder
First published: 1932, illustrated; newly illustrated and reprinted, 1953
Type of work: Domestic realism
Themes: Nature, family, emotions, and jobs and work
Time of work: 1860-1870
Recommended Ages: 10-13
Locale: The Wisconsin woods, near Lake Pepin
Principal Characters:
Laura , a tomboyish girl, who is never quite as neat as her older sister, MaryPa , the father of Laura, Mary, and Baby Carrie, who is a farmer, trapper, and hunterMa , the mother of the three girls, and a housewife forever busy with cooking, mending, knitting, and cleaningMary , Laura’s older sister and playmate
The Story
The story is set in the Big Woods, where a man could walk for days and weeks without coming to the end. There are no houses and no roads nearby, and the people share the woods with the wild animals. Wolves, bears, wild cats, muskrats, foxes, and deer roam the virgin forest, sometimes posing a threat to Laura’s family but also providing meat for their survival. A small gray log house within these woods is the center of the universe for Laura. As is the setting, the plot is determined by nature and the changing seasons. The cycle starts in fall when Pa hunts for deer and he and Ma salt and smoke the venison and pack it away for the winter. Fall is a busy time in the Big Woods; Pa takes the horses and wagon to Lake Pepin and catches fish, which have to be salted to preserve them for the winter. Ma gathers potatoes, carrots, beets, turnips, and cabbages and stores them in the cellar. Pumpkins, squashes, onions, and peppers are put up in the attic. The detailed description of these activities constitutes a major portion of the book and affords important glances into pioneer life.
After the house is full of food, winter approaches and the days and nights become a bit more quiet. Pa tells stories and plays his fiddle during the long nights. The girls help their mother with her chores: washing, ironing, mending, cleaning, churning the butter, and baking. With these activities, the time passes until Christmas. The smell of special food fills the air, and the girls anxiously await the ringing of sleigh bells announcing the arrival of their aunt and her family. Playtime with the cousins, the exchange of gifts, and the sharing of a plentiful meal are high points of the year.
After a long winter, the snow begins to thaw, indicating that the time has come for Pa to travel far through the Big Woods to Grandpa’s house to help him make maple sugar. The completion of this chore is marked by a big dance at Grandma and Grandpa’s, where all the relatives gather. While the men finish the maple sugar, the women prepare good things to eat, clean the house, wash and dress the children, and finally put on their own Sunday best for the big event. The infrequent joy of playing with the cousins, listening and dancing to fiddle music, and eating maple candy is followed by an even bigger adventure. When the grass is green again and the wildflowers bloom, Pa takes his family to town. The girls are excited; it is their first time and they have never seen so many new things in their life.
As spring turns into summer, the long days are filled with activity. Pa is tending to the fields, and Ma is busy making cheese. Harvest time approaches, and Pa gathers the oats. From the straw, Ma braids straw hats, and the girls watch in amazement. As nuts, acorns, and pumpkins ripen, it is, once again, time to store food for the winter, and the cycle starts anew.
Context
Little House in the Big Woods is Wilder’s first book in which she is writing about her own experiences growing up as a pioneer girl in America. Like her other books Farmer Boy (1933), Little House on the Prairie (1935), On the Banks of Plum Creek (1937), By the Shores of Silver Lake (1939), The Long Winter (1940), Little Town on the Prairie (1941), and These Happy Golden Years (1943), this book describes pioneer life with its close relationship to nature and its simple pleasures.
This first book is probably the one that depicts pioneer life in the most positive and uncomplicated manner; no serious hardship befalls the family. The moral complexity of the value system is appropriate to the main character’s age. Jealousy stemming from sibling rivalry, a certain amount of rebellion against obedience, and a display of greed are the only disturbing factors in an otherwise harmonious world. Identification with these timeless problems of childhood and the historical glimpses into a bygone era are the source of the book’s long-standing popularity with children.
Bibliography
Anderson, William. “The Literary Apprenticeship of Laura Ingalls Wilder.” South Dakota History 13 (Winter, 1983): 285-331.
Erisman, Fred. Laura Ingalls Wilder. Boise, Idaho: Boise State University Press, 1994.
Mac Bride, Roger Lea. New Dawn on Rocky Ridge. Illustrated by David Gilleece. New York: HarperCollins, 1997.
Spaeth, Janet. Laura Ingalls Wilder. Boston: Twayne, 1987.
Walner, Alexandra. Laura Ingalls Wilder. New York: Holiday House, 1997.