Figurative language
What point of view is the story told in?
Katherine Mansfield presents the story using the third person limited omniscient point of view.
Why is the gap between the rich and the poor in The Dollhouse very focused and restated?
It wants to show how the social and economic status differs between them and how they are treated due to this.
How does the tone suddenly shift/change in the story The Dollhouse?
The tone goes from being happy and exciting after receiving the dollhouse gift to bitter and depressing from the way the adults perceived it by being rude and discriminating their social classes by not letting the children ( the Kelveys) come over to see the dollhouse.
Who is the person who gave the girls the dollhouse as a gift?
Mrs. Hay, a guest at the Burnell household.
What did Aunt Beryl do when she found out that Kazia invited the Kelvey girls over at their house?
When Aunt Beryl caught them, she ran them off the house like vermin and scolded Kezia not to ever let them inside ever again.
How does Katherine Mansfield use Personification in the story?
'But the lamp was perfect. It seemed to smile at Kezia, to say,' I live here', the lamp was real'. The lamp, of course, can not actually smile and talk and is only personified to act like a person.
What is the theme between a child and an adult's society?
The story shows the innocence of a child being corrupted and interrupted by the adult's different society. In the story, Kezia wants to invite the Kelveys over but is not allowed to because of their parents not allowing them to do so because of their social class, although the children do not care and are innocent.
What is the tone of the adult's and how they view the social classes and discriminate them?
Rude, bitter, insulting.
Describe the attitude of the teacher in the story and give an example of how she acts.
The teacher is very rude and mean. An example is when she makes faces whenever Lil comes to bring the flowers that she picks on her way to school and is very unappreciative.
How was the dollhouse described when the girls first saw it?
'A dark, oily, spinach green, picked out with bright yellow. Its two solid little chimneys, glued on to the roof, were painted red and white, and the door, gleaming with yellow varnish, was like a little slab of toffee'.
What is the symbolism of the little lamp inside the dollhouse and why was Kezia so interested in it?
The little lamp symbolizes making her feel welcome into the dollhouse as if it were real and she lives inside it like a part of the family, which makes her smile. 'The lamp was real'. It also gives her a ray of hope for a new start of the day.
How is money portrayed as a theme in the story?
Injustice by using money as a tool of power which shows how shallow humans can be for that sometimes.
What diction does Katherine use for the adult voice of Aunt Bery? Give an example to state your answer.
The diction she uses for the adult voice of Aunt Beryl is proper and very negative. An example of this is when Aunt Beryl says, “For really the smell of paint coming from that doll’s house (“Sweet of old Mrs. Hay of course; most sweet and generous!”) – but the smell of paint was quite enough to make anyone seriously ill.” Instead of seeing it as positive she took it in a negative way and overexaggerated.
How does Kazia stand out from her two sisters?
Kezia immediately notices the oil lamp that stood in the dining room table, which shows how she represents the aspects of beauty and humanity.
Why would the children's point of view be very unreliable?
The children's point of view would be very unreliable because they would not fully understand everything going on around them, so they would only describe what they see and think, but this is not enough to explain the real meanings.
What Allusion is used in the story? Give an example from the story.
'Perhaps it is the way God opens houses at dead of the night when he is taking a quiet turn with an angel'. It is an allusion to the dollhouse.
What is the theme saying about those of which are considered socially and financially better and come from a high social class?
The theme shows that people will always go to those who have a higher social class. The Burnell girls who are rich in the story, get their new doll's house from someone who is also wealthy like they are. The gift befits the social status of the girls because it is expensive, sophisticated, and very detailed.
What tone does Katherine Mansfield create for the children?
She uses very simple diction and syntax, which creates a tone of excitement and innocence of a child.
Name some of the kids in school who bullied the Kelveys. Why did they do this?
Emmie Cole, Jessy May, Lena Logan. They bullied them because of their background.
Why does Kezia disobey the rules and invites the Kelveys to show them the dollhouse? Why is this so important to her?
She feels that the Kelveys are wronged by everyone and wishes to share the light of the lamp which she is fascinated by and the dollhouse with them, who have little other "light" in their lives.
Name all the literary styles of the story The Dollhouse?
Repetition occurs, Onomatopeia is used and alliteration.
What is the central theme of The Dollhouse?
The central theme concerns the inhumanity of social class discrimination and the hope for a new start of the day bringing true equality to all people regardless of their status.
What is the main and overall tone of the story The Dollhouse?
Katherine Mansfield uses diction, syntax, and imagery to create the tone which is the energetic, excited and non-judgmental tone from the children. They are excited and energetic from the dollhouse and non-judgemental no matter what others social status is.
Who is described in the story as “stout, plain child, with big freckles” and why?
Lil Kelvey. She is known for the "silly smile" she gives. She is directly insulted by her classmates which is why she is described this way.
If the school the Burnell children went to was not at all the kind of place their parents would have chosen, then why did they go there? What kind of people were there?
It was the only school for miles, so all the children in the neighborhood were forced to go together. They include the judge's little girls, the doctor's daughters, the storekeeper's children, and the milkman's.