The Little Girl - 9th
About the Author
Katherine Mansfield, born in New Zealand in 1888, was a renowned short story writer and poet. She moved to the UK at 19, where she became famous for her insightful portrayals of human relationships and emotions. Her writing often focuses on childhood experiences, family life, and subtle shades of feeling
Introduction
"The Little Girl" reveals how misunderstandings in parent-child relationships can create distance and fear, but also how empathy can build bridges of love and trust between family members.
Summary
- Kezia is a little girl who is scared of her strict and distant father.
- Her father rarely speaks gently to her, causing her fear and anxiety.
- On her father's birthday, Kezia makes a pin-cushion as a present, using important papers by mistake.
- Her father becomes angry, punishes her, and Kezia's fear grows.
- Kezia envies her neighbor, Mr. Macdonald, who is playful and loving with his children.
- When Kezia's mother is ill and her grandmother is away, Kezia is frightened by a nightmare.
- Her father comforts her tenderly, and Kezia realizes that her father loves her deeply.
- The story ends with Kezia understanding her father's love, hidden behind his stern nature.
Word Meanings
- Laboriously: with a lot of effort or difficulty
- Wandered: went somewhere by chance
- Scraps: small pieces of cloth or paper
- Hue and cry: angry protest or commotion
- Grave: serious
- Nightmare: a bad dream
- Stern: strict and serious
- Shabby: old and worn out
Important Questions
- Why was Kezia afraid of her father?
A: Kezia was afraid of her father because he used to talk to her harshly and would find faults with her. She felt nervous and scared in his presence. - What did Kezia make for her father’s birthday? How did her father's reaction affect her?
A: Kezia made a pin-cushion for her father's birthday, unknowingly using his important documents to stuff it. Her father became very angry and punished her, which made Kezia fear him even more. - What did Kezia realize about her father at the end of the story?
A: Kezia realized that her father was not as heartless as she had thought. When he comforted her after a nightmare, she understood that her father loved her, even if he did not show his emotions openly. - How was Mr. Macdonald different from Kezia’s father?
A: Mr. Macdonald was friendly, playful, and gentle with his children, unlike Kezia’s father, who was strict and hardly expressed affection. - Why did Kezia's father punish her?
A: Kezia's father punished her because she used his important speech papers to make a pin-cushion, not realizing their importance.