The Naughtiest Girl in the School
Encyclopedia
The Naughtiest Girl in the School is the first novel in the The Naughtiest Girl series by Enid Blyton
. It was first published in 1940.
Elizabeth Allen is a spoiled girl who is the only child of her parents. She becomes very upset and outraged when she learns that she is being sent to a boarding school. When Elizabeth joins Whyteleafe School she is determined to misbehave so that she will be expelled and able to go back home as soon as possible.
At Whyteleafe Elizabeth discovers a new world. Because of her mischief she is first disliked by her fellow students, but slowly, Elizabeth learns how to share and get along with people, she learns to make friends and understands the importance of friends. She likes Rita and William - the Head Girl and Head Boy of the School. Rita tells her that a girl in her class - Joan Townsend - is not happy, as her parents neglect her, and Elizabeth promises to try to make friends with Joan. Joan convinces her that misbehaving in order to be expelled is a bad idea, and advises her to be good, and to ask the heads of the school to tell her parents that she is unhappy and to ask them to take her away, but not in disgrace. Elizabeth accepts this suggestion, and her behaviour improves a lot. She also makes good progress at her piano lessons and secretly longs to play at the function held after the half-term break, though she knows this will not be possible if she goes home at half term. Her friendship with Joan develops and Joan talks about how much she loves her mother and how hurt she is by her mother's neglect. Joan knows that her mother will not send her any birthday presents or cake. Elizabeth arranges for a large cake, presents, and cards to be sent to Joan for her birthday, as if from her parents. Joan is overjoyed at first, but when she writes to her mother to thank her, her mother replies that she did not send anything. Joan is distressed, wanders off in the rain, and becomes very ill. Elizabeth writes to Joan's mother to confess her role in making Joan ill. Joan's contrite mother arrives to visit Joan, and explains to the heads that her neglect of Joan stems from a resentment that Joan survived an illness years before, while her more loved twin brother died. Joan and her mother reconcile, and Joan becomes happy again. Meanwhile, Elizabeth, with the help of Rita and William makes up her mind to stay at Whyteleafe as she realizes she is happy there and does not want to leave behind her friends.
The trouble is that people have loved you too much. You are pretty, and merry, and rich, so you have been spoiled. People like the way you look, the way you smile, and your pretty clothes, so they fuss you, and pet you, and spoil you, instead of treating you like an ordinary child, But it isn't enough to have a pretty face and a merry smile - you must have a good heart too.
And indeed towards the end we do find the real good-hearted caring girl. We initially get a hint of her actual character when she herself reflects on her behaviour and replies, when questioned by Joan , that she is really not so bad as she may present her to be. Indeed she proves it towards the end when she shines out as "just the sort of girl(Whyteleafe school)want".
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Enid Blyton
Enid Blyton was an English children's writer also known as Mary Pollock.Noted for numerous series of books based on recurring characters and designed for different age groups,her books have enjoyed huge success in many parts of the world, and have sold over 600 million copies.One of Blyton's most...
. It was first published in 1940.
Plot summary
"I won't! I won't!"-Those are Elizabeth's favourite words. Hoping to get sent back home, she tries every trick she knows, and indeed she knows many-breaking rules, being rude and being sternly disobedient. However, she has a heart of gold beneath her bad behaviour, and when she meets a girl with a broken heart, it has strange effects on her.Elizabeth Allen is a spoiled girl who is the only child of her parents. She becomes very upset and outraged when she learns that she is being sent to a boarding school. When Elizabeth joins Whyteleafe School she is determined to misbehave so that she will be expelled and able to go back home as soon as possible.
At Whyteleafe Elizabeth discovers a new world. Because of her mischief she is first disliked by her fellow students, but slowly, Elizabeth learns how to share and get along with people, she learns to make friends and understands the importance of friends. She likes Rita and William - the Head Girl and Head Boy of the School. Rita tells her that a girl in her class - Joan Townsend - is not happy, as her parents neglect her, and Elizabeth promises to try to make friends with Joan. Joan convinces her that misbehaving in order to be expelled is a bad idea, and advises her to be good, and to ask the heads of the school to tell her parents that she is unhappy and to ask them to take her away, but not in disgrace. Elizabeth accepts this suggestion, and her behaviour improves a lot. She also makes good progress at her piano lessons and secretly longs to play at the function held after the half-term break, though she knows this will not be possible if she goes home at half term. Her friendship with Joan develops and Joan talks about how much she loves her mother and how hurt she is by her mother's neglect. Joan knows that her mother will not send her any birthday presents or cake. Elizabeth arranges for a large cake, presents, and cards to be sent to Joan for her birthday, as if from her parents. Joan is overjoyed at first, but when she writes to her mother to thank her, her mother replies that she did not send anything. Joan is distressed, wanders off in the rain, and becomes very ill. Elizabeth writes to Joan's mother to confess her role in making Joan ill. Joan's contrite mother arrives to visit Joan, and explains to the heads that her neglect of Joan stems from a resentment that Joan survived an illness years before, while her more loved twin brother died. Joan and her mother reconcile, and Joan becomes happy again. Meanwhile, Elizabeth, with the help of Rita and William makes up her mind to stay at Whyteleafe as she realizes she is happy there and does not want to leave behind her friends.
Elizabeth
She is a pretty girl with laughing blue eyes and fair hair. All her life she had done as she liked. Six governesses had come and gone, but not one of them had been able to make Elizabeth obedient or good mannered. All the governesses failed no one get success She does not like boys and girls at all. They were shocked at her mischief and rude ways. Her governess, Miss Scott describes her trouble very well when she says:The trouble is that people have loved you too much. You are pretty, and merry, and rich, so you have been spoiled. People like the way you look, the way you smile, and your pretty clothes, so they fuss you, and pet you, and spoil you, instead of treating you like an ordinary child, But it isn't enough to have a pretty face and a merry smile - you must have a good heart too.
And indeed towards the end we do find the real good-hearted caring girl. We initially get a hint of her actual character when she herself reflects on her behaviour and replies, when questioned by Joan , that she is really not so bad as she may present her to be. Indeed she proves it towards the end when she shines out as "just the sort of girl(Whyteleafe school)want".
Joan
Completely unlike Elizabeth, Joan is gentle, timid, shy and nervous of confronting people or speaking in public. She has been neglected by her parents and has learnt discipline in her years of school. Although a timid mouse, there is nothing weak or silly about Joan, who later in the series is found to be an extremely mature and understanding girl. She becomes a calm girl that is sensitive for doing the right thing.Nora
Nora, a monitor at Whyteleafe school, is a girl who upholds its traditions. She is very responsible, jolly and sensible, but does not look below the surface. Elizabeth gets into a lot of trouble with the sometimes unreasonable and strict monitor. Nora looks after the girls in dormintry 6 including Elizabeth, Joan, Ruth, Blinda and Helen. Nora is a strict but fair girl and hates it for the wonderful school traditions to be disobeyed.William and Rita
They are the ideal Head Children of Whyteleafe school. They are sensible, kind and understand difficult children very well. Rita shows great sensitivity in her handling of Elizabeth throughout the book. William is the same. Rita and William make sure the whole school understands them and is liked very much by all.Harry
Although Harry Dunn is introduced to us as a cheat, he makes good and patches up a quarrel with Elizabeth very well. He also ends up a friend to the fiery little girl.John Terry
Like Richard, John is also a one sided boy - devoted to gardening and little else. Elizabeth makes friends with him fairly early in the book.External links
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