Sarah, Plain and Tall - title

[James B Rollins]

What is the significance of the title, Sarah, Plain and Tall?

[priscilla]

There are three points I would like to make here, from the significance of the title. First, the title, Sarah, Plain and Tall reveals the significance of the character in this storybook. In another word, Sarah must have a powerful position in this storybook. Then the reader will pay more attention on what's going on about Sarah when he/she reads.

Second, as mentioned above, Sarah must have an infuential status in the book for the reader, but she also dominate the flow of the book, which means she is also prominent for the characters involved in there. Finally, from the title, it shows the appearance and personality of the character, which helps the reader have a general idea of what Sarah is going to be like.

[Amanda]

Sarah is plain and tall. That's the way how she looks like and also the way, I think, she lives like. Being plain, she might not be so attractive to be around with men and thus she would be more resigned to accept the fate.
Sarah is tall means she is strong and cabble to work with Jacob in the farm.

[HuiChing Kuo]

The title indicates some significance. First, Sarah is the main actor affecting the development of this story. Second, plain means that Sarah prefers an ordinary life to fashionable one. And her personality and looking is plain. Third, tall means that she is strong and industrious. Forth, plain and tall reveal that she is from the north of America.

[Tiffany Lu]

Sarah is the model of motherhood, because she owns the "plain" characteristic inside, and owns the tall "image" outside. Although Anna and Caleb lost their motherhood, Sarah treat them in frank attitude, and share the experiences with the children. To Anna and Caleb, Sarah is the image of nursing and protection.

[debrayang]

Sarah is usually associated with the image of a princess, as the origin of the name suggested. So, plain and tall are used to distinguish the hard-working and ordinary-looking Sarah in the novelette from the usual image of a beautiful and petite princess. With a title like this, readers will always pay more attention to the name, Sarah, when they read ~ Who is Sarah and why plain and tall? It will be more fun when they read the letter that says she would come by train and she is plain and tall. Very interesting, but odd adjectives to use when describing oneself. I guess, this also brings out the unique characteristic of Sarah, as Jacob says, "Sarah is Sarah. She does things her way, you know."

[ruthyang]

The title, “Sarah, Plain and Tall,” strikes one as being a book about an “atypical” woman. As readers go on to find out, Sarah, indeed, does not conform to feminine stereotypes. She is plain – not beautiful. She is tall, maybe even taller than Jacob – not shorter than her partner like most women. She prefers building bookshelves and painting over cooking and sewing.
Sarah, being the name of the wife of Abraham, perhaps carries deeper meanings that I am not aware of. But the adventurous spirit, as a common characteristic associated with the name, is also seen in Sarah in the book.

[changkaifu]

I was thinking oppositely, if this title were named Sarah, Gorgeous and Slim, what would that be? My guess is that she does not survive living with the Wittings and the story ends in the third chapter with Sarah¡¦s taking French leave or not answering the advertisement at all. To return to the theme, Sarah is plain because she does not have to be beautiful in doing the house or farm chores. Although she may not be attractive in appearance, Anna and Caleb like her from the bottom of their hearts. And that is very persuasive for people to understand her true beauty inside. On the other hand, Sarah is tall which may imply that she can reach a higher place as a man can do physically. And we can tell it at the beginning of this novelette that she is willing to do men¡¦s job such as building bookshelves and paint when she responses Anna¡¦s mail.

[catherine]

When readers read the title, they are easy to identify that Sarah is the main character of the story. Then, the title arouses my curiosity to know that what a "plain" woman can be written about to create a story (usually, the main character have special features). Since this story is about a ordinary family on the prairie, the woman who fits the family should be also ordinary. In addition, "tall" may mean she is strong to handle the work on the praire, or indicate that Sarah is actually not so "plain"--that's why this title is interesting.

[andreakao]

First of all, when a book is entitled with a person’s name, it seems to focus on the story of the person very much, for example, Harry Potter. The novelette with Sarah as its book title is no exception. Throughout the novelette we see what happens to the Wittings after Sarah comes for the ad. Why Ms. Maclachlan, the author, picks the name “Sarah” instead of others may be explained as follows. In the Hebrew Bible, Sarah is the beautiful wife of Abram. The author uses “plain” to describe how the heroine, Sarah, looks ordinary so as to overturn the traditional impression about “Sarah.” As for “tall,” I think this is one of the physical traits of New Englanders. The usage of the word “tall” intends to give readers a hint about where Sarah may come from.

[sfanglo]

"Sarah, Plain and Tall" is a an simple title to understand, but it certainly has certain meaning mad by the author. Form my viewpoint, Sarah is one of the names that appers in the old testament of the Bible, which has powerful influence over American culture. Sarah is the wife of Abraham, so-called Father of Nations. Therefore, Sarah can be named Mather of all nations. The is a perfect one for a mother figure. Moreover, plain and tall, the two adjectives signify the female character is an ordinary american woman who is tall enough to give the children and family protection. In the novel, Sarah is not only hardworking but also loving to people and animals, corresponding to the significance of the novel's title.

[sophiechen]

Sarah, Pain and Tall

Plain means normal and common. Maybe it also indicates that she is easy to get along with and easy to get accustomed to a new environment.

Tall means she is strong and tough. She is with a determination to do everything. She isn't afraid of difficulties.