Clara Sesemann — wealthy twelve‐year‐old friend of Heidi’s, who lives in Frankfurt. Detie virtually kidnaps Heidi to be the invalid Clara’s companion — nevertheless, the two girls become firm friends.
Mr Sesemann — Clara’s father, who loves Clara dearly but is often away on business.
Mrs Sesemann (Grandmamma) — a firm and kindly old lady, Mrs Sesemann is Mr Sesemann’s mother and Clara’s grandmother. Following Clara, Heidi calls her ‘Grandmamma’.
Miss Rottenmeier — Mr Sesemann’s housekeeper — a cold, silly and occasionally cruel woman. Heidi is often in trouble with Miss Rottenmeier due to her inexperience of the ways of a wealthy family in a big city.
Mr Usher — Clara’s tutor.
Sebastian and John — manservants in the Sesemanns’ house. Sebastian is an enemy of Miss Rottenmeier and an occasional accomplice of Heidi and Clara’s.
Tinette — snooty maid in the Sesemanns’ house, who looks down on Heidi as a country bumpkin.
Dr Classen — a friend of Mr Sesemann’s and later of Heidi and her grandfather. The great grief in the doctor’s life is the death of his daughter.
Barbie — a friend of Detie’s.
Ursula — an old lady in Dörfli, who used to look after Heidi while Detie was working.
SOME THINGS TO THINK ABOUT…
What do you think of the character of Heidi? What qualities does she have that make her such a powerful force for good in the novel — and is she too good to be true?
In Heidi, what are the positive and negative things about living in or near Dörfli, and living in Frankfurt? What does Heidi learn from her trip to Frankfurt?
What did you think of Heidi’s grandfather at the start of Heidi? How and why does he change during the book?
Who do you think are the baddies? What makes you think these characters are bad?
Heidi is famous for Johanna Spyri’s descriptions of the mountain landscape. Find a descriptive passage you like (for example, when Heidi goes out with Peter and the goats for the first time), and look at the words Johanna Spyri uses. What kinds of positive words does she use, and how? Are there any negative words, and if so, how do these affect the description?
SOME THINGS TO DO…
There are many film and TV adaptations of Heidi. Watch one of them and compare it to the original book. Which do you prefer, and why?
Beat Johanna Spyri at her own game! Write a beautiful description of a natural place you’ve been to, a sunset, or a plant or animal you’ve seen.
Choose a scene from the novel and adapt it into a playscript — then act it out!
Heidi’s visits and presents light up blind Grannie’s life. Think of a grown‐up (a parent, relative, friend or neighbour) you could surprise with a gift or do something nice for — and make it happen.
Imagine you are working on the soundtrack for a new film of Heidi. How would you want the music for the mountain scenes to be different to the scenes set in Frankfurt? Find some songs or instrumental music you think would work well on the soundtrack for each place.
Imagine that you and your family are moving house — to a hut like Uncle Alp’s! You’re going to live there for a year. There’s clean water and plenty of wood, but no electricity, and the nearest shop (which only sells basic supplies) is two hours’ walk away. Make a list of everything you’d need to take to keep you alive, comfortable and entertained — but remember, whatever you take you’ve got to carry it up the mountain with you, so pack light!
MOUNTAINS UNDER THREAT
Lots of things in Switzerland are better now than they were in Johanna Spyri’s day. People have better medical care, cleaner water and more effective sanitation. They’re richer, and they live longer.
One thing, however, that isn’t better is the mountain environment Heidi is set in. The fresh air in the mountains is less fresh today, and the vast expanses of grass, flowers, rocks and snow are less vast, less clean and less empty. And it’s not just Switzerland (which actually looks after its mountains better than most countries). Mountain areas are in danger all over the world. Read on to find out what’s threatening them — and what you can do to help.
Air pollution — our cars, factories and power stations release soot and poisonous gases into the atmosphere. Air pollution causes health problems, and because mountain valleys often trap pollution, people living there are particularly at risk.
Acid rain — air pollution also causes acid rain. Gases such as sulphur dioxide combine with water in the clouds to make deadly acids, which may be carried hundreds of miles before falling in the mountains as acid rain and harming trees, plants and wildlife.
Litter — people have always dropped litter, but today the problem is more serious. There are more of us polluting the world, and many modern materials (such as plastic bottles) don’t decompose naturally.
Mining and quarrying — many mining and quarrying companies who extract useful rocks and minerals from mountains are careful to protect the environment — unfortunately, some are not.
Tourism — people visiting mountains provide local people with jobs and create reasons to protect natural areas. However, tourists can badly damage mountain environments unless they respect the places they visit, and unless good laws are in place to prevent unscrupulous people from building hotels, restaurants and car parks wherever they like.
Climate change — the world is getting warmer. Temperatures rose on average by 0.6°C (1°F) between 1900 and 2000, and today most scientists agree this warming is due to the greenhouse effect. In the mountains, glaciers are melting, snow is falling less often and less heavily, and animals and plants adapted to cold mountain conditions are struggling to survive.
1. Save energy. Turn off anything (such as lights, TV or computer) if you’re not actually using it.
2. Don’t be lazy! If it’s safe to do so, walk, cycle or take a bus, rather than asking your parents to take you in the car.
3. If you visit a mountain area (or any natural place), stay on the path so you don’t damage plants and erode the soil, and don’t disturb or feed wild animals.
4. Don’t drop litter — in a mountain area or anywhere else.
5. When you’re shopping, use your own bag instead of a plastic one from the shop.