Sarah Character Analysis in The Sign of the Beaver

Sarah is Matt’s little sister. It’s unclear exactly how old she is. She’s brave, curious, and self-sufficient, though Matt isn’t willing or able to acknowledge these qualities until he’s been away from Sarah for several months. Indeed, the changing way that Matt thinks and talks about his sister follows his own coming-of-age journey. At first, he doesn’t even mention Sarah by name, but he gradually comes to think of her as a real person. When she finally arrives at the cabin and makes herself busy unpacking, Matt acknowledges that she’s very adult and capable—and someone he’d like to get to know better.

Sarah Character Timeline in The Sign of the Beaver

The timeline below shows where the character Sarah appears in The Sign of the Beaver. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

...early summer, it’s time for Matt’s father to go back and fetch Matt’s mother, sister Sarah, and the new baby, who was born after Matt and his father left. When they... (full context)

...misses having someone to talk to. He even wishes he could talk to his sister Sarah, though he mostly ignored her back home. Because of all this, Matt is slow to... (full context)

...notched sticks. It’s been seven weeks; his father should be here soon with his mother, Sarah, and the new baby. It’ll be wonderful to have his family around—and hopefully, his mother... (full context)

...laughs that Attean doesn’t care about girls much. Matt says he has a sister named Sarah and then asks about Marie’s name, as it’s Christian, not Native. She explains her father... (full context)

...spends days working on a cradle for the baby that rocks smoothly. Matt then makes Sarah a cornhusk doll and realizes he’s looking forward to seeing her. He used to think... (full context)

...for his father and then embraces his mother, who struggles to climb off the sled. Sarah just stares at Matt, and Matt gives her an awkward hug. Matt tells the dog... (full context)

...Matt alone up here. Matt says he wasn’t alone; he often had the Native Americans. Sarah looks afraid, but Matt says they were his friends—and he had a Native brother. Judging... (full context)

...carrying Matt’s old rifle. He knows she’d use it if she had to, as would Sarah. Sarah, for her part, seems so grown up as she unpacks the family’s items. She... (full context)