1. by Katherine Mansfield
“The Doll’s House”
by Katherine Mansfield

2. A “theme” can be defined as a “comment about life” that an author expresses in a story. It is through the theme that most of us can relate to a story.
Every Essay 2 probably will explain
a character or characters
a conflict
a resolution

3. Choose one character from the story and tell us what you think about that character. What facts from the story cause you to see the character in this way?
Team Kelvey says, Kezia: She is the only character in the story who has any compassion for the Kelvey sisters. Even as everybody is ostracizing them, she invites them over to look at the doll house, even though she was forbidden to. She did not understand why she was not allowed to invite them over after her mother said no.

4. Choose one character from the story and tell us what you think about that character. What facts from the story cause you to see the character in this way?
Catie’s Team say, I think Kezia seems to do what she thinks is right and to not really care so much about what the norms are or what people expect her to do. I believe this because in the story she was told repeatedly not to allow the Kelveys to see the dollhouse, or to even associate with them. Yet Kezia sees them walking past her home and invites them in.

5. Choose one character from the story and tell us what you think about that character. What facts from the story cause you to see the character in this way?
Really Brilliant Girls say, Kezia was different than other people in the story. She was nice to the Kelveys even though no one else was and her mom told her to not talk to them. She noticed small details and thought they were a big deal. She loved the lamp in the doll’s house.

6. What types of conflict--person versus person, society, self, nature, and God/fate—do you think are in the story, and how are the conflicts shown?
C and S says, The conflict in this story is a person versus society because of the rich and poor aspect. The rich are not allowed to talk to the poor and the poor gets treated as outsiders.

7. What types of conflict--person versus person, society, self, nature, and God/fate—do you think are in the story, and how are the conflicts shown?
Team 2 says, This story would be person vs person and also person vs self is certain scenarios. Person vs person was show with the conflict between Mrs. Beryl and Kezia about letting the Kelvey sisters see the doll house. Person vs self was shown when Kezia battled herself with letting the sisters come over.

8. Identify at least one thing in the story that you think might be symbolic. What might this symbolism contribute to the story?
Team Kelvey says, The opening of the doll house by Kezia for the Kelveys to look inside can be seen as symbolic. By opening the house Kezia is removing any obstruction or social prejudice towards Lil and Else, so that both can be just like the other children in the story, to be their equal.

9. Identify at least one thing in the story that you think might be symbolic. What might this symbolism contribute to the story?
What might the doll’s house and the lamp symbolize?

10. A “theme” can be defined as a “comment about life” that an author expresses in a story. What does this story seem to be telling us about life?
Team Kelvey says, The theme of the story can be described as prejudices are taught. All of the children, aside for Kezia, are aware of their social standing and why the people of different classes should not mix. This is not a trait that the children are born with but are taught to think that way by their parents. Even the Kelveys know that they are not to talk to the other children.

11. A “theme” can be defined as a “comment about life” that an author expresses in a story. What does this story seem to be telling us about life?
Unnamed says, It only takes one person to break through the society set classes. Kindness knows no social class barriers.

12. A final thought . . .
Excellent work!