# Heidi — Heidi character guide > Heidi in Heidi by Johanna Spyri. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Poor Heidi, little Heidi, Dear Heidi, the vulgar Heidi **First appearance:** 0001-i-going-up-to-the-alm-uncle ## Snapshot A five-year-old orphan bundled in shawls and hobnailed boots, she climbs the Alps to live with a grandfather who doesn't want her. ## Who they are Heidi arrives at the Alm-Uncle's hut as a hot, shapeless little person whom the villagers predict will be turned away at the door. Her unshakeable cheer and hunger for the mountain's flowers, goats, and fir-trees slowly thaw her grandfather's bitterness, even as Aunt Deta later trades her to a Frankfurt household. Her homesickness there becomes the story's engine: a child who cannot be taught to stop loving one place and one person above all others. ## Relationships ### [Grandfather](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/heidi_se/characters/grandfather) _family_ Grandfather is Heidi's loving and protective guardian, who initially is gruff but becomes deeply devoted to her. ### [Peter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/heidi_se/characters/peter) _friendship_ Heidi and Peter are close childhood friends who share adventures on the Alm and enjoy each other's company. ### [Clara Sesemann](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/heidi_se/characters/clara_sesemann) _friendship_ Clara and Heidi form a deep, supportive friendship that helps Clara regain her health and joy. ### [Grandmother](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/heidi_se/characters/grandmother) _family_ Grandmother is Heidi's kind and wise maternal figure, who teaches her about faith and love. ### [The Doctor](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/heidi_se/characters/the_doctor) _friendship_ The Doctor becomes a caring friend and mentor to Heidi, recognizing her homesickness and helping her return to the mountains. ### [Mr. Sesemann](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/heidi_se/characters/mr_sesemann) _friendship_ Mr. Sesemann grows fond of Heidi and appreciates her positive influence on his daughter Clara. ### [Deta](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/heidi_se/characters/deta) _family_ Deta is Heidi's aunt who initially cares for her but later abandons her to pursue her own ambitions. ### [Sebastian](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/heidi_se/characters/sebastian) _friendship_ Sebastian is a kind servant in the Sesemann household who becomes a friendly ally to Heidi during her stay in Frankfurt. ### [Grandmama](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/heidi_se/characters/grandmama) _friendship_ Grandmama is a generous and perceptive benefactor to Heidi, encouraging her education and happiness. ### [Grandfather](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/heidi_se/characters/grandfather) _family_ Grandfather is Heidi's loving and protective guardian, who initially is gruff but becomes deeply devoted to her. ### [Grandmother](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/heidi_se/characters/grandmother) _family_ Grandmother is Heidi's kind and wise maternal figure, who teaches her about faith and love. ### [Clara Sesemann](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/heidi_se/characters/clara_sesemann) _friendship_ Clara and Heidi form a deep, supportive friendship that helps Clara regain her health and joy. ## In the story ### [Part I: Heidi’s Years of Learning and Travel](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/heidi_se/chapters/part-i-heidi-s-years-of-learning-and-travel) Introduced as a young orphan girl brought to live with her grandfather in the Alps. ### [With the Grandfather](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/heidi_se/chapters/ii-with-the-grandfather) Explores the hut and hayloft, prepares her own bed, eats with her grandfather, and joyfully greets the goats. ### [On the Pasture](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/heidi_se/chapters/iii-on-the-pasture) Wakes early, washes, and goes to the pasture with Peter; picks flowers, shares her food, and asks many questions about nature. ### [In the Grandmother’s Hut](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/heidi_se/chapters/iv-in-the-grandmother-s-hut) Grows stronger and more sunburnt from daily life on the pasture; shows deep compassion for the blind grandmother, promising to ask her grandfather to help. ### [Two Visitors](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/heidi_se/chapters/v-two-visitors) Nearly eight years old, happy and free, but reluctantly taken to Frankfurt by Aunt Deta after being promised she can return soon. ### [A New Chapter with New Things](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/heidi_se/chapters/vi-a-new-chapter-with-new-things) Arrives in Frankfurt, meets Clara and Miss Rottenmeier, reveals she cannot read, falls asleep at dinner. ### [Miss Rottenmeier Has an Uncomfortable Day](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/heidi_se/chapters/vii-miss-rottenmeier-has-an-uncomfortable-day) Feels imprisoned in the city, longs for the mountains, and causes mischief while trying to adapt. ### [VIII: Great Disturbances in the Sesemann House](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/heidi_se/chapters/viii-great-disturbances-in-the-sesemann-house) Desperately homesick, hoards rolls for the grandmother, attempts to run away, and is threatened with cellar punishment. ### [The Master of the House Hears of Strange Doings](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/heidi_se/chapters/ix-the-master-of-the-house-hears-of-strange-doings) Shyly retreats when Mr. Sesemann arrives, fetches fresh water from a distant fountain, and is defended by Clara. ### [X: A Grandmama](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/heidi_se/chapters/x-a-grandmama) Struggles with reading due to Peter's discouragement, but learns quickly under Grandmama's encouragement. Deeply homesick, she finds solace in prayer. ### [XI: Heidi Gains in Some Respects and Loses in Others](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/heidi_se/chapters/xi-heidi-gains-in-some-respects-and-loses-in-others) Heidi learns to sew and reads to Grandmama, but remains sad and stops praying out of despair. After Grandmama's departure, she is terrified by a story and suppresses her tears under threat from Miss Rottenmeier, growing pale and listless. ### [The Sesemann House Is Haunted](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/heidi_se/chapters/xii-the-sesemann-house-is-haunted) Revealed as the sleepwalking 'ghost'; she confesses her nightly dreams of the Alps and her overwhelming homesickness. ### [Up the Alp on a Summer Evening](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/heidi_se/chapters/xiii-up-the-alp-on-a-summer-evening) Returns home to the Alp, overjoyed and tearful at the reunion with her grandfather and the mountains. ### [XIV: On Sunday When the Church Bells Ring](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/heidi_se/chapters/xiv-on-sunday-when-the-church-bells-ring) Visits the blind grandmother, reads hymns, plans to buy rolls with her money, and attends church with her grandfather. ### [Part II: Heidi Makes Use of Her Experience](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/heidi_se/chapters/part-ii-heidi-makes-use-of-her-experience) Heidi demonstrates her newfound experience and maturity by applying what she learned in Frankfurt to her mountain life. ### [Preparations for a Journey](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/heidi_se/chapters/xv-preparations-for-a-journey) The intended recipient of the gifts and messages, though not present in the chapter. ### [A Guest on the Alp](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/heidi_se/chapters/xvi-a-guest-on-the-alp) Heidi wakes early, tidies the hut, and joyfully greets the doctor. She comforts him about Clara's absence and delivers gifts to the grandmother. ### [Retaliation](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/heidi_se/chapters/xvii-retaliation) Heidi spends joyful days on the Alp with the doctor, sharing her love of nature and reciting comforting verses. She offers to go to Frankfurt with him but is persuaded to stay. ### [Winter in the Village](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/heidi_se/chapters/xviii-winter-in-the-village) Visits the grandmother, reads hymns, and worries about her comfort; attends school eagerly and devises a plan to help. ### [Winter Still Continues](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/heidi_se/chapters/xix-winter-still-continues) Teaches Peter to read using a rhyming ABC book and motivates him with stories of Frankfurt schools. ### [News from Distant Friends](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/heidi_se/chapters/xx-news-from-distant-friends) Overjoyed at the arrival of her friends, Heidi shows Clara around the Alm and helps care for her. ### [Of Further Events on the Alp](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/heidi_se/chapters/xxi-of-further-events-on-the-alp) Heidi is joyful and eager to share the beauty of the Alp with Clara, and she writes letters to Grandmama. ### [Something Unexpected Happens](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/heidi_se/chapters/xxii-something-unexpected-happens) Heidi eagerly helps Clara walk, encourages her, and celebrates her success. ### [Parting to Meet Again](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/heidi_se/chapters/xxiii-parting-to-meet-again) Heidi joyfully shares news of the bed for grandmother and consoles Clara about parting, looking forward to next summer. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/heidi_se/characters/heidi - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/heidi_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/heidi_se/characters