Learning Objectives
- Understand the evolving father-daughter relationship in the story
- Analyse the character of Kezia and her father
- Learn about the author Katherine Mansfield and her writing style
- Identify the theme of understanding and acceptance
- Practice comprehension, vocabulary, and expression skills
Key Concepts
About the Story
Author: Katherine Mansfield, a prominent New Zealand-born short story writer known for her modernist style.
Theme: The changing perception a child has of her father โ from fear to understanding and love. The story explores how children can misunderstand adults and how time brings a deeper appreciation of their parents.
Story Summary
Kezia is a little girl who is afraid of her father. He appears to be a harsh, authoritative figure who never shows warmth. He speaks in a commanding tone and seems cold and intimidating. When he comes home, the mother asks Kezia to take his shoes off and bring his tea โ but Kezia is always nervous around him.
Kezia's grandmother encourages her to make a gift for her father's birthday โ a pin cushion. While stuffing it, Kezia accidentally uses her father's important speech papers. When her father discovers this, he punishes her. This incident deepens Kezia's fear.
Kezia observes her neighbour Mr Macdonald, who is a loving, playful father. She wonders why her own father is not like the Macdonalds. She asks her grandmother why God made fathers at all, revealing her confusion and pain.
The turning point comes when Kezia has a nightmare one night while her mother and grandmother are away at the hospital. Her father comes to comfort her, takes her to his bed, and holds her close. Kezia feels the warmth of his large body and begins to understand that her father is tired from working hard all day to support the family. She realises he is different from Mr Macdonald not because he does not love her, but because he expresses love differently.
Character Analysis
- Kezia: A sensitive, timid little girl who stutters when she speaks to her father. She gradually evolves from fearing him to understanding and accepting his way of showing love.
- The Father: Appears stern and strict. He works hard and is tired when he comes home. He is not outwardly affectionate but cares deeply. His comforting of Kezia during her nightmare reveals his love.
- Grandmother: A warm, understanding figure who bridges the gap between Kezia and her father. She encourages Kezia to make the pin cushion.
Key Message
People express love in different ways. A child may not always understand a parent's way of showing affection, especially when the parent is burdened with responsibilities. Understanding comes with maturity and experience.
Important Terms
- Stutter: To speak with involuntary pauses or repetitions of sounds
- Wretched: Feeling very unhappy or unfortunate
- Snoring: Breathing noisily during sleep
- Nightmare: A frightening or distressing dream
- Pin cushion: A small cushion used to hold pins
Quick Revision
- Author: Katherine Mansfield
- Kezia fears her father who appears stern and authoritative
- She tears up his important speech papers while making a pin cushion โ gets punished
- She compares her father unfavourably with the warm, playful Mr Macdonald
- Turning point: father comforts her during a nightmare โ she feels his warmth
- Theme: different ways of expressing love; understanding comes with time