Who’s Doing What?
Who is Nell, and what has happened to her before Matilda meets her?
Nell is a young girl whose mother died of yellow fever, leaving her alone.
What responsibility does Matilda take on when she meets Nell?
She becomes responsible for caring for her.
What theme is shown when Matilda begins caring for Nell?
Family can be formed in unexpected ways.
What did doctors incorrectly believe about Black people and yellow fever?
That they could not catch the disease.
Why doesn’t Matilda abandon Nell even when things are difficult?
She feels responsible and cares about her.
How does Matilda end up finding Eliza again in Philadelphia?
She follows two women she thinks includes Eliza and successfully tracks her down.
How does Matilda show maturity when deciding what to do about Nell?
She considers taking her to the orphanage even though it’s emotionally difficult.
How do Joseph and his family contribute to the theme of family in these chapters?
They welcome Matilda and Nell, showing family can extend beyond blood relations.
What organization does Eliza work with to help the sick?
The Free African Society.
What does the failure of the orphan house suggest about the situation in Philadelphia?
The city is overwhelmed and cannot care for all those in need.
Why does Matilda try to take Nell to the orphan house, and what problem does she face there?
She knows she cannot care for Nell, but the orphanage is full and cannot take her.
Why is it difficult for Matilda to follow Mother Smith’s advice about not loving Nell?
She is already emotionally attached and feels responsible for her.
How does Matilda’s attempt to leave Nell at the orphanage develop the theme of responsibility?
It shows she is trying to do what is best for Nell, even if it’s painful.
What reality proves the doctors’ belief about Black people wrong?
Black people begin getting sick as well.
Why might fresh air have seemed like a good idea for treating the sick?
People believed it could help reduce fever and improve recovery.
What major problem occurs when Matilda and Eliza return home in Chapter 24?
Robert, William, and Nell are all sick with yellow fever.
How does Matilda respond when Eliza becomes emotional about the sick children?
She stays calm and takes control of the situation.
How does Matilda’s role change from Chapter 21 to Chapter 25?
She grows from someone struggling to survive into a capable caretaker and decision-maker.
Why is bloodletting a controversial treatment in these chapters?
It is believed to help but often makes patients weaker or die.
How do these chapters show that the fever does not discriminate?
People of different races and classes all become sick.
Describe what Matilda and Eliza do to try to help the sick children and why they choose that plan.
They move them to the coffeehouse for fresh air, believing it may help them recover.
What does Matilda’s decision to reject bloodletting reveal about how she has changed?
She has become independent, knowledgeable, and confident in making life-or-death decisions.
Explain how Matilda’s experiences with Nell and the sick children together develop a central theme of the novel.
They show that hardship forces growth and that caring for others builds strength and maturity.
What different responses to the epidemic are shown through characters like Eliza and the pharmacist?
Some people help selflessly, while others profit from others’ suffering.
Why is Matilda’s emotional exhaustion at the end of Chapter 25 significant?
It shows the toll of responsibility and highlights how much she has endured and grown.