Lecture Notes: A Wrinkle in Time - Chapter 2, Mrs. Who

Recap of Chapter 1:

• Introduction to major characters: The Murray family, Meg, Charles Wallace, and Mrs. Whatsit.
• Mrs. Whatsit, a mysterious old lady, visits in the middle of the night.

Chapter 2 Summary:

Morning at the Murray Household:

• Meg wakes up to a sunny morning after a stormy night.
• Reflects on whether Mrs. Whatsit's visit was a dream.
• Breakfast scene with Mrs. Murray making French toast; the twins, Sandy and Dennys, already at the table.
• Discussion about the previous night and the word “tesseract.”
• Mrs. Murray mentions a concept called “tesseract,” promises to explain later.
• Meg’s feelings of not fitting in; her frustration with the twins' comments.

School Day:

• Meg struggles in school; sarcasm from the teacher during social studies.
• Sent to the principal’s office for being rude.
• Conversation with Mr. Jenkins reveals Meg’s distress over her father's absence.
• Meg’s defiant defense of her father and mother’s beliefs.

After School:

• Meg returns home to find Charles Wallace waiting with a plan to visit Mrs. Whatsit.
• Charles Wallace reassures Meg about Mrs. Whatsit’s intentions.
• They decide to take Fortinbras, their dog, along.

Visiting Mrs. Whatsit:

• Their walk through the pine woods to the haunted house.
• Discussion about the potential trouble Mrs. Whatsit could face for taking sheets from Mrs. Buncombe.
• Charles Wallace's unique ability to understand things, including people’s minds.
• They encounter Calvin O'Keefe, a schoolmate of Meg's.
• Charles Wallace quizzes Calvin before deciding to trust him.

Meeting Mrs. Who:

• The haunted house is revealed to be a hideout for Mrs. Whatsit and her friends.
• Introduction to Mrs. Who, who communicates using quotations in different languages.
• Mrs. Who explains their need for the sheets: to create ghosts if needed.
• Hints at a larger mission involving Meg and Charles Wallace’s father.
• Mrs. Who sends them away, telling them the time is not right yet.

Closing Thoughts:

• Charles Wallace and Calvin seem to have a special understanding or bond.
• They head home for dinner, where Calvin feels a sense of belonging for the first time.
• Meg’s confusion mirrors the reader’s; clarity is promised in upcoming chapters.

Key Points to Remember:

• Introduction of the concept of a tesseract; its significance is yet to be explained.
• Meg’s struggle with fitting in and her defensive attitude about her family.
• Charles Wallace’s unique abilities and sense of purpose regarding Mrs. Whatsit and their father.
• The mysterious nature of Mrs. Who and her cryptic communication style.
• Increasing intrigue and a sense of anticipation for more revelations in the next chapter.

Next Steps:

• Read Chapter 3 to uncover more about the tesseract, Mrs. Whatsit, Mrs. Who, and their connection to Meg and Charles Wallace’s father.
• Pay attention to how Meg’s understanding evolves, as it will help clarify the storyline for the reader as well.