The Little Girl
By Katherine Mansfield
Page 38 – Comprehension Check
Q1. Why was Kezia afraid of her father?
She thought he was a strict, harsh figure. His big hands, loud voice, and authoritative presence frightened her.
Q2. Who were the people in Kezia’s family?
Her mother, father, grandmother, and herself.
Q3. What was Kezia’s father’s routine (i) before going to his office? (ii) after coming back from his office? (iii) on Sundays?
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(i) Before going to office, he came into Kezia’s room, gave her a casual kiss, and went away.
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(ii) After returning, he ordered for tea, asked for his papers, and rested on the sofa.
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(iii) On Sundays, he relaxed, stretched out on the sofa, slept, or read the newspaper.
Q4. In what ways did Kezia’s grandmother encourage her to get to know her father better?
She suggested Kezia talk to him on Sundays, and helped her prepare a birthday gift for him.
Page 39 – Comprehension Check
Q1. Kezia’s efforts to please her father resulted in displeasing him very much. How?
She made a pin-cushion for his birthday, but stuffed it with papers from his speech, which her father needed urgently. He scolded and punished her harshly.
Q2. What made Kezia forget her fear of her father?
One night, when her mother was ill and grandmother absent, Kezia had a nightmare. Her father comforted her kindly, letting her sleep next to him. This changed her perception.
Q3. What did Kezia realise about her father?
She realised that her father worked very hard and was too tired to express affection. He loved her, though he appeared stern.
Page 39 – Thinking about the Text
Q1. Discuss these questions in pairs before you write the answers.
(i) Kezia’s father punished her. Was it right?
→ No, it was too harsh. She was innocent and only wanted to surprise him. Punishing her hurt her emotionally and deepened her fear.
(ii) Why did Kezia change her opinion of her father?
→ His kindness during her nightmare revealed his love. She saw his hard work and care, realising he wasn’t cruel, just tired.
(iii) How does Mansfield show that Kezia’s father loved her?
→ Through small but significant actions — he comforted her during the nightmare, carried her, and let her sleep beside him.
(iv) Why does Kezia’s grandmother encourage her to talk to her father?
→ To bridge the gap of misunderstanding and help Kezia see her father’s affection.
Extra Questions – The Little Girl
Short Answer
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What was Kezia’s nightmare?
A butcher with a knife and rope came closer, frightening her. -
How did her father look to Kezia?
Large, stern, with big hands and a loud voice, almost like a giant. -
What lesson does the story teach?
Parents may appear strict but often love their children deeply. Misunderstandings can be resolved through empathy.
Long Answer
Q. How does the story highlight the relationship between children and parents?
The story reflects the gap between children’s perceptions and parents’ intentions. Kezia saw her father as harsh and frightening because of his stern behaviour and lack of outward affection. His punishment over the torn speech papers confirmed her fear. However, when he showed care during her nightmare, she realised he loved her silently. Mansfield portrays how parents’ exhaustion and seriousness often hide their affection. The story suggests that love is not always expressed in words or softness, but in actions and responsibilities. It teaches children to look deeper and parents to be gentle in showing love.
✦ Summary of The Little Girl
Kezia, a little girl, was afraid of her father. To her, he seemed a giant with a loud voice and stern manner. She trembled in his presence and avoided him whenever possible. Her father, busy with work, had little time to spend with her, which deepened her fear.
Her grandmother tried to bridge the gap by encouraging her to interact with him. Once, she helped Kezia prepare a pin-cushion as a gift for her father’s birthday. Kezia stuffed it with papers she found on her father’s desk, not knowing they were his important speech notes. When her father discovered this, he punished her harshly. This confirmed her belief that he was cruel and unloving.
One night, when her mother was ill and grandmother absent, Kezia had a nightmare of a butcher with a knife. She screamed in fear. Her father, hearing her, came to her room, comforted her, and let her sleep beside him. She realised then that her father worked hard and was too tired to express love outwardly. He did care for her, but in his own way.
This changed Kezia’s opinion. She understood that parents may not always show affection in soft words, but their love lies in their responsibilities and care.
✦ Biography – Katherine Mansfield
Katherine Mansfield (1888–1923) was a New Zealand-born short story writer, widely regarded as one of the pioneers of modernist literature.
She was born on 14 October 1888 in Wellington, New Zealand, as Kathleen Mansfield Beauchamp. From a young age, she displayed literary talent and a love for music. At 19, she moved to London to study at Queen’s College, where she began her writing career.
Mansfield’s writing style was influenced by Anton Chekhov, focusing on psychological depth and everyday experiences. She used impressionistic techniques, symbolism, and stream-of-consciousness to capture fleeting emotions and subtle details of life.
Her most famous collections include In a German Pension (1911), Bliss and Other Stories (1920), and The Garden Party and Other Stories (1922). Her stories — such as The Doll’s House, The Garden Party, and The Little Girl — portray family relationships, childhood, and social issues with sensitivity.
Her personal life was marked by struggles with ill health and relationships. She married John Middleton Murry, a literary critic, who later edited her works after her death. Mansfield contracted tuberculosis in 1917, which worsened over time.
She died on 9 January 1923 in Fontainebleau, France, at the age of 34. Despite her short life, Mansfield left a lasting impact on modern short fiction. Her works remain admired for their delicacy, realism, and emotional depth.
Poem 3 – Rain on the Roof
By Coates Kinney
Page 42 – Thinking about the Poem
Q1. What do the following phrases mean to you?
(i) humid shadows → Damp, dark clouds bringing rain.
(ii) starry spheres → The sky filled with stars.
(iii) what a bliss → A moment of joy and comfort.
(iv) a thousand dreamy fancies into busy being start → Rain awakens many imaginative thoughts.
(v) a thousand recollections weave their air-threads into woof → Rain revives old memories.
Q2. What does the poet like to do when it rains?
He likes to lie in his bed, listen to the sound of raindrops on the roof, and enjoy the soothing atmosphere.
Q3. What is the single major memory that comes to the poet? Who are the “darling dreamers” he refers to?
He remembers his mother, who used to look lovingly at her children before they slept. The “darling dreamers” are the poet and his siblings.
Q4. Is the poet now a child? Is his mother still alive?
No, the poet is now grown up, and his mother is no longer alive. He recalls her through fond memories.
Extra Questions – Rain on the Roof
Short Answer
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What mood does the poem create? → A nostalgic, soothing, and reflective mood.
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Why is the sound of rain compared to a melody? → Because it is musical, soft, and calming.
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What emotions does the poem highlight? → Love, comfort, nostalgia, and longing.
Long Answer (150–200 words)
Q. How does the poem show the connection between nature and memory?
The poem demonstrates how rain evokes emotions and memories. The sound of raindrops comforts the poet, filling him with joy. It awakens “dreamy fancies,” inspiring imagination. Most importantly, it reminds him of his mother’s love, when she watched over him as he slept. The rain becomes a bridge between present experience and past affection. Through simple imagery, Coates Kinney shows how natural events like rain connect us to deep human emotions of love and longing.
Summary of Rain on the Roof
The poem Rain on the Roof beautifully describes the soothing effect of rain on the poet’s heart and mind. It opens with the picture of a cloudy, humid night when the sky is full of “humid shadows” and the stars are hidden behind layers of dark clouds. In this atmosphere, it begins to rain gently. The poet, lying in his cosy bed, listens to the musical pattering of raindrops falling on the roof above his cottage. The soft rhythm of the rain gives him immense pleasure and comfort, which he calls “bliss.”
As the sound continues, it stirs the poet’s imagination. A thousand dreamy thoughts start flowing in his mind, and he finds himself carried away by fancy. The rain seems to weave threads of memory, joining the present with the past. Each drop falling on the shingles of the roof becomes a trigger for recollections long forgotten.
Among the many memories that arise, the most powerful is of his mother. He recalls how, in his childhood, she used to bend over him with a loving look when he lay in bed at night. She would watch her children with affection until they fell asleep. The poet calls himself and his siblings “darling dreamers,” lovingly recalling the warmth of his mother’s presence.
Thus, the poem moves from the outer scene of rain to the inner world of memory and emotion. The rain becomes more than a natural event; it is a source of inspiration, comfort, and nostalgia. It not only brings joy to the present moment but also revives the tender, cherished bond between mother and child. Through simple language and imagery, Coates Kinney conveys the universal experience of finding solace and remembrance in the sound of falling rain.
Biography – Coates Kinney
Coates Kinney (1826–1904) was an American poet, journalist, and lawyer, best remembered for his famous poem Rain on the Roof.
He was born on 24 November 1826 in Penn Yan, New York. He studied law and became a practicing lawyer but was also passionate about literature.
Kinney’s poetry often reflected simplicity and sentimentality. His most celebrated poem, Rain on the Roof, gained instant popularity in the 19th century and continues to be anthologised worldwide. Its nostalgic tone and universal theme of comfort and maternal love made it memorable.
Apart from poetry, Kinney worked as a journalist and editor for several newspapers. He also served in the Union Army during the American Civil War, where he rose to the rank of paymaster. His experiences during the war influenced some of his later writings.
Kinney also pursued a political career, serving as a Republican state senator in Ohio. Despite his varied roles as a lawyer, soldier, and politician, his legacy rests mainly on his poetry.
He died on 25 January 1904 in Ohio. Though not widely known today, Kinney remains remembered for his heartfelt poetry that captures simple yet profound human emotions.