Katherine Mansfield Revision ‘Bliss’ & ‘Miss Brill’ “She writes only to tell the truth” critic David Daiche

Key Points about Mansfield’s life Lived and wrote during the early 1900’s. Was part of the upper-middle class Hated the restrictions that upper-class society placed upon women during this era. Was extremely independent and cynical of men. Particularly her controlling father. Married and left her first husband George Bowden within 3 weeks. Miscarried after an affair with musician Garnett Trowell. She never became pregnant again. Contracted an STD which weakened her health Had bisexual tendencies and was cheated on by her husband – John Middleton Murray. Began writing stories about NZ childhood after her brothers death.

Key Points on Mansfield’s Writing Mansfield’s story’s do not have a conventional plot. They revolve largely around one main moment/happening. Plot is often secondary to conveying a sense or mood and character. Imagery and symbolism are dominant features used by Mansfield to convey main ideas. The themes Mansfield explores are universal – loneliness, isolation, love, delusion, reality, men’s and women’s roles. Her work expresses many of her criticisms of society and the role of women in particular. Often her stories reflect aspects of Mansfield’s own life -

‘Bliss’ Main character: Bertha, Harry, Pearl Secondary Characters: The Norman Knights, Eddie Warren, The Nurse, Little B Setting – Victorian England, early 1900’s Important Moment – Dinner party Twist – Revelation of the affair at the end Important techniques – Symbolism of the cats and pear tree, imagery used to create character, foreshadowing Theme – Illusion vs reality, shallow nature of society, Women’s roles in the 1900’s.

‘Bliss’ Key Quotes “I’m too happy, too happy” “Really, she had everything” “all in silver, with a silver fillet binding her pale blonde hair” “don’t ask me about my baby I never see her” “She had come into the nursery at another wrong moment” “Mr Warren, what happy socks” “They were modern thrilling friends…just the kind of friends they wanted” “what a decorative group they made…they reminded her of a play” “A grey cat dragging its belly crept across the lawn, and a black one its shadow trailed after” “The pear tree was as lovely as ever and as full of flower and as still”

‘Miss Brill’ Main character: Miss Brill Secondary Characters: The young couple in the park, the elderly man she reads to, the other elderly people In the park Setting – Victorian England, early 1900’s, Jardins Publiques. Important Moment – The moment she is criticised by the young couple and her illusion is destroyed. Twist – Realisation that Miss Brill’s life is not as she portrays it. This occurs at the point where she is insulted by the young couple Important techniques – Symbolism of the fox fur stole and names, imagery and dialogue to create character, contrast Theme – Illusion vs reality, cruel nature of society, treatment of the elderly.

“Miss Brill” Key Quotes “The old people sat on the bench, still as statues” “They looked as though they’d just come from dark little rooms or even cupboards” “It was like a play, exactly like a play” “even she has a part and came every Sunday” “Why doesn’t she keep her silly old mug at home” “today she passed the baker by…went into her dark little room – her room like a cupboard” “when she put the lid on she thought she could hear something crying”

Essay Planning In short stories a few important incidents or events are often the key to understanding the ideas. To what extent do you agree with this view? What are the key words in this question? Few, Important incidents, Events Key, Understanding, Ideas Extent Agree

Planning an Essay - Brainstorm Draw up this table in your books and add the correct detail, example, explanation from your notes. ‘Bliss’ ‘Miss Brill’ Important Incident Examples Quotes Key Ideas (theme) How the incident shows the idea

Essay Plan – Paragraph plan Introduction P1- P2- P3- P4- Conclusion Decide which order you will write the ideas from your brainstorm. Describe the incident in ‘Bliss’ With examples/quotes State an important idea in ‘Bliss’ and Explain how this incident is key to showing this idea. Describe the incident in ‘Miss Brill’ With examples/quotes State an important idea in ‘Miss Brill’ and Explain how this incident is key to showing this idea.

Introduction Rewrite this introduction adding key words and specific details. Short stories usually revolve around important incidents. These incidents are often key to understanding the themes of the text. This is particularly true for the stories of Katherine Mansfield.

Introduction example: Short stories usually revolve around a few important incidents. These incidents are often key to understanding the ideas of the text. This is particularly true for the stories of Katherine Mansfield to a large extent. In “Bliss” an important incident is the dinner party at Bertha Young’s house. In “Miss Brill” an important incident is an elderly woman’s visit to the park and her rejection by a young couple. These events are key in helping readers understand the ideas of the materialism of upper-class society in Victorian England, the cruel nature of humanity and illusion versus reality.