# The Narrator — The Country of the Pointed Firs character guide > The Narrator in The Country of the Pointed Firs by Sarah Orne Jewett. **Role:** major **Also known as:** I, me, myself **First appearance:** 0000-i-the-return ## Snapshot A summering writer who rents a room from Mrs. Todd and slowly trades observation for belonging in a coastal village that measures strangers carefully. ## Who they are She arrives in Dunnet Landing intending to work, but the place keeps interrupting her with its weather, its herb garden, and its long memories. Her real subject becomes the gap between what these reserved fishermen and widows say and what they carry — a tension she can only close by listening rather than asking. Through her, the novel turns quiet attention into a form of intimacy, making the reader a fellow boarder at Mrs. Todd's table. ## In the story ### [I: The Return](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_country_of_the_pointed_firs_se/chapters/i-the-return) The narrator returns to Dunnet Landing, having first visited two or three summers earlier during a yachting cruise. She expresses a deep affection for the village and its surroundings. ### [II: Mrs. Todd](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_country_of_the_pointed_firs_se/chapters/ii-mrs-todd) The narrator lodges with Mrs. Todd, helps with her herb business, and later withdraws to focus on writing, but grows closer to Mrs. Todd. ### [The Schoolhouse](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_country_of_the_pointed_firs_se/chapters/iii-the-schoolhouse) Rents the schoolhouse to escape the gossip and find solitude for her work. ### [At the Schoolhouse Window](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_country_of_the_pointed_firs_se/chapters/iv-at-the-schoolhouse-window) Observes the funeral from the schoolhouse window, feeling disconnected and longing for companionship. ### [Captain Littlepage](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_country_of_the_pointed_firs_se/chapters/v-captain-littlepage) Working in the schoolhouse, receives Captain Littlepage and listens to his story. ### [VI: The Waiting Place](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_country_of_the_pointed_firs_se/chapters/vi-the-waiting-place) Listens to Captain Littlepage's tale and questions him about the nature of the strange vision. ### [VII: The Outer Island](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_country_of_the_pointed_firs_se/chapters/vii-the-outer-island) Listens to Captain Littlepage's stories and later speaks with Mrs. Todd about Green Island. ### [Green Island](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_country_of_the_pointed_firs_se/chapters/viii-green-island) Accompanies Mrs. Todd to Green Island, rows the dory, and observes the island life with curiosity. ### [IX: William](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_country_of_the_pointed_firs_se/chapters/ix-william) Visits Green Island, helps dig potatoes, and accompanies William to the great ledge, experiencing a sense of freedom and connection to the landscape. ### [Where Pennyroyal Grew](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_country_of_the_pointed_firs_se/chapters/x-where-pennyroyal-grew) Accompanies Mrs. Todd to the pennyroyal plot and learns about her past. ### [XI: The Old Singers](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_country_of_the_pointed_firs_se/chapters/xi-the-old-singers) Visits Green Island, enjoys the singing and the peaceful home, and reflects on the contrast with Dunnet Landing. ### [A Strange Sail](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_country_of_the_pointed_firs_se/chapters/xii-a-strange-sail) The narrator observes the arrival of Mrs. Fosdick and feels initial apprehension about losing solitude, but later appreciates the friendship between Mrs. Todd and Mrs. Fosdick. ### [XIII: Poor Joanna](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_country_of_the_pointed_firs_se/chapters/xiii-poor-joanna) Listens to Mrs. Todd and Mrs. Fosdick tell the story of Joanna Todd. ### [XIV: The Hermitage](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_country_of_the_pointed_firs_se/chapters/xiv-the-hermitage) Present during the conversation, reflects on Joanna's isolation and the storm outside. ### [On Shell-Heap Island](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_country_of_the_pointed_firs_se/chapters/xv-on-shell-heap-island) Visits Shell-Heap Island with Captain Bowden, reflects on Joanna's life and the nature of solitude. ### [The Great Expedition](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_country_of_the_pointed_firs_se/chapters/xvi-the-great-expedition) Prepares for the expedition, offers to get the horse, and changes clothes for the occasion. ### [A Country Road](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_country_of_the_pointed_firs_se/chapters/xvii-a-country-road) Travels with Mrs. Todd and Mrs. Blackett to the Bowden reunion, observing the landscape and the warm interactions. ### [XVIII: The Bowden Reunion](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_country_of_the_pointed_firs_se/chapters/xviii-the-bowden-reunion) Attends the reunion with Mrs. Todd and Mrs. Blackett, observing the proceedings and feeling like an adopted Bowden. ### [XIX: The Feast’s End](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_country_of_the_pointed_firs_se/chapters/xix-the-feast-s-end) The narrator observes the feast, shares the 'Bowden' pie, and feels like a true Bowden by the end. ### [XX: Along Shore](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_country_of_the_pointed_firs_se/chapters/xx-along-shore) Observes the fishermen and visits Elijah Tilley's home, engaging in conversation about his life and loss. ### [The Backward View](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_country_of_the_pointed_firs_se/chapters/xxi-the-backward-view) The narrator prepares to leave Dunnet Landing, reflecting on the end of the summer and the emotional farewell. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_country_of_the_pointed_firs_se/characters/narrator - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_country_of_the_pointed_firs_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_country_of_the_pointed_firs_se/characters