THE LITTLE GIRL

BY KATHERINE MANSFIELD
INTRODUCTION

The theme of this story revolves around the strong bond of love and affection
between children and parents. Sometimes, children fail to understand why parents
behave strictly towards them and feel that their parents do not love them.

But as children grow older, they understand that the concern and affection that
parents show towards them is unmatched.

This story is about a little girl whose feelings towards her father change from fear to
understanding.

.
IMPORTANT PHRASES

a figure to be feared: a person to be feared

Glad sense of relief: feeling relaxed

Fainter and fainter: to lessen or reduce

SUMMARY

● Kezia fears her father a lot. She is relieved when her father goes to work in the
morning.
● She usually stuttered when she stood in front of her father.
● Kezia would stare at her father in fear because he seemed like a giant who
was harsh and rude.
● Kezia’s grandmother wanted Kezia to share a strong bond with her parents, so
she would send her down to the drawing room to have a nice chat during
weekends.
● But her parents seemed to show an indifferent attitude towards her.
A CARRIAGE
IMPORTANT PHRASES

● Stutter - to talk with continued involuntary repetition of sounds

● Wretched - in a very unhappy or unfortunate state
● Slip down - come down quietly or unwillingly
● Stirred - move or cause to move slightly
● Sighed - a long breath expressing sadness or relief
WRETCHED
STUTTER SIGH
SUMMARY

● One day, Kezia’s grandmother suggests her to prepare a pin cushion for her
father’s birthday.
● Kezia prepares it excitedly and stitches three sides of the pin- cushion.
● But she is unable to find anything to stuff it with.
● Finally, she goes into her parents’ room and finds some papers.
● Kezia feels those papers are suitable to stuff her pin-cushion.
IMPORTANT PHRASES

● Sewed - join or fasten by making stitches with needle and thread

● Laborious - hard work
● Whispered - speak softly
● Dragged - pull by force
SEWED DRAGGED
SUMMARY

● Intense anger and drama unfolds as Kezia’s father cannot find his speech
papers for the Port Authority.
● Kezia realises her mistake, but her father punishes her by beating her with a
ruler.
● Kezia fails to understand this harsh punishment meted out to her.
● She feels her father doesn’t love her at all.
● She begins to compare her father with her friendly neighbour Mr.Macdonald.
● She feels that all fathers are not alike; indicating that her father was a very
cruel and strict person.
IMPORTANT PHRASES

Wrapped - cover or enclose

Sob - cry noisily

Fence - a barrier or railing

SUMMARY

● One day, her mother gets admitted to the hospital. Kezia is left alone at home
under the care of the cook.
● An old nightmare haunts Kezia, and she feels afraid to sleep alone.
● Realizing that Kezia is too scared to sleep alone, her father comes into the room,
hugs and comforts her.
● He carries her into his room and puts her to sleep.
● At this moment, Kezia realizes that her father was not bad after all.
● He was too busy to express his love towards her, especially after a hard day’s work.
● Kezia realizes that her father really has a ‘big heart’.
IMPORTANT PHRASES

Snuggled - settle or move into a warm

and comfortable position

Stirred - shaken with a sudden idea