Introduction

• Engels
• Further Education (Key Stage 5)

Goals for today 

Introduction Katherine Mansfield 

Short story conventions 

Rate the word 1 to 4

1. I do not know the word, and I have never seen it before. 

2. I've heard or seen the word before, but I'm not sure what it means. 

3. I know the word and can recognise and understand it while reading, but I probably wouldn't feel comfortable using it in writing or speech. 

4. I know the word well and can use it correctly in writing or speech. 

Obfuscate 

Word of the day

Obfuscate  (v) – to make more difficult to understand/ to be evasive, unclear, or confusing

The suspect often obfuscated during the interrogation.

auspicious 

Katherine Mansfield 

Area of interpretation 

Time and Space 

Take into account the time, place and background of a text and consider how this influences the interpretation of the text 

Katherine Mansfield 

Go to the link below. In your groups , try to find clues that answer these questions: 

• What was her family like? 
  
• Where did she grow up?
  
• Where did she go to school?
  
• What were her interests?
  
• Where did she live as an adult?
  
• How did fashion change during her lifetime?
  
• https://digitalnz.org/stories/6243bca9c8015e002a68f45a

digitalnz.org

Katherine Mansfield 

What year and where she was born?

Where she went to school (both primary and secondary)?

When she moved to England permanently?

What year her first book was published?

What year her brother Leslie died in the First World War?

What year she was diagnosed with tuberculosis/a ‘spot on her lung’?

What year her second book was published?

What year her third book was published?

What year she died and where she is buried?

During your research, note down any unusual of interesting events or years in her life. You will need these later. 

Useful links for information 

Katherine Mansfield 

Go to the Padlet link in our class stream in MB. 

Follow the requirements for your post (see information on the Padlet) 

Decide, individually, which event you want to post on Mansfield's timeline. 

Read the following text 

Read the article on the next slide. 

What are the conventions of a short story?

Take notes in your exercise book. 

www.blurb.com

www.theguardian.com

Goals for today 

Consideration of The Guardian article  

Considering some techniques that Mansfield uses 

Considering Modernism as a movement 

Looking closely at the character of Miss Brill 

opportune, opine, opaque, obfuscate, obtuse,  opulent, obsequious

1. The politician used complicated language to __________ the real issue and avoid answering the question directly.
   
2. The guests were amazed by the __________ ballroom, which was decorated with crystal chandeliers and gold-leaf mirrors.
   
3. During the class discussion, students were asked to __________ on whether the critic's assessment of Mansfield was fair.
   
4. The new employee was so __________ toward the manager that some colleagues questioned whether his compliments were sincere.
   
5. Despite reading the article twice, I found some of the author's arguments rather __________ and difficult to understand.
   
6. The detective's partner was talented but occasionally __________, missing clues that seemed obvious to everyone else.
   
7. The rain stopped at an __________ moment, allowing the outdoor ceremony to begin right on time.
   

1. The politician used complicated language to obfuscate the real issue and avoid answering the question directly.
   
2. The guests were amazed by the opulent ballroom, which was decorated with crystal chandeliers and gold-leaf mirrors.
   
3. During the class discussion, students were asked to opine on whether the critic's assessment of Mansfield was fair.
   
4. The new employee was so obsequious toward the manager that some colleagues questioned whether his compliments were sincere.
   
5. Despite reading the article twice, I found some of the author's arguments rather opaque and difficult to understand.
   
6. The detective's partner was talented but occasionally obtuse, missing clues that seemed obvious to everyone else.
   
7. The rain stopped at an opportune moment, allowing the outdoor ceremony to begin right on time.
   

highly positive ←→ highly negative

4 points positive ←→ 1 point highly negative 

a) "I both love and hate her work."

b) "The best of it ranks alongside the greats."

c) "She may lack the body of work to qualify as a major writer."

d) "Virginia Woolf was jealous of her writing."

Chose the statement with 4 points

a

b

c

d

Chose the statement with 3 points

a

b

c

d

Chose the statement with 2 points

a

b

c

d

Chose the statement with 1 point

a

b

c

d

From "Survey of the Short Story" 

In your groups, find evidence to support the statement given to your group.  

Share your statement and evidence with the class. 

What kind of writer do you think Mansfield will be? Discuss 

What makes a short story
memorable?

Can sadness and comedy
exist together?

What does "modern" storytelling
feel like?