BEEHIVE

CLASS IX
CHAPTER – 3
THE LITTLE GIRL
 About the Author
- Katherine Mansfield
• Born: 14 October 1888, Wellington, New Zealand

• Died: 9 January 1923, Fontainebleau, France

• Short stories: The Garden Party, Miss Brill, The Doll's House,

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

• The students will be able to –

1. analyse their relationship with their parents in terms of mutual communications and
expectations.
2. suggest ways to promote a healthy relationship between parents and children.
 Introduction

• This story is about a little named Kezia.

• The author comments on children’s perspective of others, including their parents.
• Children observe their behaviour and form their opinions about their parents.
• This affects their mutual behavior.
• Little Kezia fears her father and has formed a negative image about him in her mind.

KEZIA’S FEAR FOR HER FATHER

• Kezia was afraid of her father.

• She thought he was like a giant.
• When her father had gone to the office she would feel much
relieved.
• Kezia trembled with fear when she heard her father’s loud
voice.
• Her father used to give her a stern look.
• She was so terrified of him that she often started stuttering.
 FATHER’S BIRTHDAY GIFT
• Kezia’s father’s birthday was approaching.
• Her grandmother suggested her to make a pin-cushion
for her father.
• Kezia worked hard to make the cushion.
• She had nothing to stuff it with.
• She found some sheets of paper into her father’s
bedroom.
• She tore them up and stuffed the pin-cushion.

SEARCH FOR THE LOST PAPERS

• There was a raised a hue and cry in the house.

• His great speech for the Port Authority had been lost.
• The papers were found no where.
• Finally, Kezia was questioned about the papers.
• Poor Kezia told everything innocently.
 KEZIA GETS PUNISHMENT
• Kezia’s father lost his temper.
• He struck hard on little palms with a stick.
• He warned her not to touch anything that did not
belong to her.
• Kezia wept bitterly. She wondered why God had
made fathers.

THE MACDONALDS

• Macdonalds were Kezia’s neighbours.

• Mr. Macdonald used to play with his children and
made them laugh a lot.
• Kezia thought that there were different kinds of
fathers.
• Her own father was very cruel.
 KEZIA’S CHANGED OPINION

• Kezia thought that her father had to work hard

the whole day.
• He was too tired to play with her.
• She regrets for tearing his important papers.
• She realized that her father had a big and loving
heart.
 ANNOTATIONS

• Stutter - stammer
• Brink – the extreme edge
• Snore – breathe noisily while sleeping
• Nightmare – terrible dream
• Snuggle – lie or get close to

PRACTICE QUESTIONS
• Why was little Kezia afraid of her father?
• What did the Macdonalds make her feel?
• Kezia made a birthday present for her father
but it proved to be a disaster for her. Explain
how ?

Thank You