A story by Katherine Mansfield about a child's changing perspective towards her strict father.
"The Little Girl" is a story about the complex relationship between a young girl named Kezia and her father. Initially, she views him as a figure of fear and discipline. However, through a series of events, her perspective shifts from fear to understanding, realizing that beneath his strict exterior lies a loving heart.
Think of Kezia's father like a coconut—hard and tough on the outside, but soft and sweet on the inside. Children often misinterpret parental strictness as a lack of love, but this story shows that discipline is often a form of care, and parents get tired just like anyone else.
• Fearful: She is terrified of her father and
often stutters in his presence out of nervousness.
• Innocent: She tries to please her father (by
making the pin-cushion) but accidentally makes a mistake.
• Observant: She watches the neighbors, the
Macdonalds, and realizes that not all fathers are the same.
• Affectionate: She longs for her father's love
and comfort.
• Figure of Fear: described as "big" with huge
hands and neck; Kezia compares him to a giant.
• Strict Disciplinarian: Believes in punishment
to teach lessons (hitting Kezia with a ruler).
• Hardworking: He is too tired after work to play
like Mr. Macdonald.
• Hidden Softness: He eventually comforts Kezia
during her nightmare, showing his caring side.
Grandmother suggested Kezia make a pin-cushion out of yellow silk as a birthday gift for her father. Kezia stitched three sides but needed something to stuff it with. She found some papers on her mother's bedroom table and tore them up to stuff the cushion.
The papers were actually Father's great speech for the Port Authority. When he found out Kezia had destroyed them, he was furious. He did not listen to her explanation and hit her palms with a ruler to teach her not to touch things that didn't belong to her.
| Kezia's Father | Mr. Macdonald (Neighbor) |
|---|---|
| Strict, angry, and distant. | Playful, laughing, and friendly. |
| Never played with Kezia. | Played "tag" with his five children. |
| Too tired and serious. | Had children hanging onto his coat pockets. |
| Kezia feared him. | Kezia wished for a father like him. |
Answer: Kezia was afraid of her father because he was very strict, loud, and domineering. He never spoke to her lovingly and often scolded her. His physical appearance—big hands, neck, and loud mouth—also terrified her, making him seem like a giant.
Answer: There was a huge commotion because Father's important speech for the Port Authority was missing. The servants were questioned, and finally, Kezia admitted that she had torn the papers to stuff her father's birthday pin-cushion.
Answer: Her feelings changed when she had a nightmare while alone. Her father comforted her, took her to his bed, and made her feel safe. She realized that he worked very hard and was too tired to play. She understood that his strictness was not hatred, but his way of caring, and that he had a "big heart."
"Oh, a butcher — a knife — I want Grannie."
a) Who is the speaker?
Kezia is the speaker.
b) Why was she crying?
She was crying because she had a nightmare about a butcher with a
knife and a rope.
c) Who came to help her?
Her father came to help her, caught her in his arms, and took her
to his room.