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    5. The Little Girl - Class 9 - Beehive



    Author: Katherine Mansfield

    Textbook: Beehive (Class IX)

    Genre: Realistic Fiction / Short Story


    📝 Summary

    “The Little Girl” is the story of Kezia, a young girl who initially fears her strict and unexpressive father. She finds him harsh, cold, and unsympathetic, especially when compared to her warm, loving grandmother. Her fear intensifies when her father punishes her for tearing important papers while trying to surprise him with a handmade birthday gift.


    However, the story takes a tender turn when Kezia's mother falls ill and she has to sleep alone. Her father brings her to his room for the night, placing her on his bed and gently comforting her. It is in this moment of vulnerability that Kezia sees a different side of her father — one who works hard and also needs affection. She realizes that he is not heartless, but rather too tired and misunderstood.


    The story ends with a beautiful transformation in Kezia’s perception of her father — from fear to love and empathy.


    👧 Character Sketch: Kezia

    • Timid and Innocent – Easily scared by her father’s presence

    • Misunderstood – Mistakes discipline for a lack of love

    • Loving and Thoughtful – Tries to make a gift for her father

    • Sensitive – Reacts deeply to small gestures

    • Evolving – Grows from fear to understanding and appreciation


    👨 Character Sketch: Kezia’s Father

    • Stern and Authoritative – Appears strict and emotionally distant

    • Hardworking – Returns home tired after a day’s work

    • Misunderstood – Doesn’t express affection openly

    • Caring (Internally) – Shows his loving side when Kezia is scared

    • Protective – Holds her close and offers warmth and comfort

    📚 Themes

    Theme

    Description

    Parent-Child Relationship

    Explores the emotional gap and eventual bonding between father and daughter.

    Fear and Misunderstanding

    Children may misinterpret discipline as lack of love.

    Love Beyond Words

    True care can be silent, yet powerful.

    Emotional Growth

    Kezia learns to understand her father’s love.

    Perception and Empathy

    Highlights how our views can change when we see others with empathy.

    ✨ Literary Devices

    Device

    Example / Function

    Imagery

    “Great giant with a big voice” – evokes Kezia’s fear.

    Metaphor

    Father as a “figure to be feared.”

    Irony

    Kezia thinks her father is unkind, but he is actually loving in his own way.

    Symbolism

    The torn papers symbolize her innocent mistake and misunderstanding.

    Dialogue

    Reveals relationships and emotions clearly.

    Contrast

    Between how Kezia perceives her father and what he truly feels.


    📖 Title Justification

    The title “The Little Girl” focuses on Kezia’s perspective, capturing her innocence, emotional growth, and transformation of understanding. It highlights that the story is about a child’s journey from fear to love, showing the depth of a child’s emotions and how small moments can reshape relationships.


    ✅ One-Mark Questions (One-Sentence Answers)

    Q1. Why was Kezia afraid of her father?

    👉 Kezia was afraid of her father because he was strict, spoke harshly, and never showed affection.


    Q2. What was Kezia’s father’s routine after coming home from work?👉 He would have tea, read the newspaper, and rest quietly in his chair without speaking much.


    Q3. Who comforted Kezia when she was afraid of her father?

    👉 Kezia’s grandmother comforted her and helped her understand her father.


    Q4. What mistake did Kezia make with her father’s speech?

    👉 Kezia tore up her father’s important speech papers while stuffing a cushion for his birthday.


    Q5. When did Kezia realize her father loved her?

    👉 She realized it when he comforted her gently during a stormy night while her mother was ill.


    ✅ Three-Mark Questions

    Q1. Describe Kezia’s feelings for her father at the beginning of the story.

    👉 At first, Kezia feared her father deeply. His stern tone and serious expressions made her uncomfortable and nervous, and she even stuttered while speaking to him.


    Q2. How did the incident with the torn speech papers affect Kezia?

    👉 Kezia wanted to surprise her father with a gift, but when she tore his important papers unknowingly, she was scolded and punished, which increased her fear and sadness.


    Q3. What helped Kezia change her opinion about her father?

    👉 When she was alone and scared at night, her father took her in his arms and comforted her. This act of care made Kezia realize that her father loved her in his own quiet way.


    🧠 Value-Based Question

    Q. What lesson about relationships does “The Little Girl” teach us?👉 The story teaches us that love is not always expressed through words. Sometimes, people show care in quiet, subtle ways. It also reminds us to look beyond appearances and try to understand the emotions and struggles of others, especially parents.


    END


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