Name: _________________________________ Date: ______________ Period: ____________

“The Doll’s House” by Katherine Mansfield

Pre-Reading Question:
Directions: Answer the following in complete sentences using as much detail as possible.
1. What makes someone popular? Brainstorm the qualities that well-liked people seem to possess. Create a list and rank them in
order of importance.

2. Becoming popular is important to certain people. How might these people act when they are trying to join the “in” crowd?

3. Do you believe popularity is important?

During Reading Question- Omniscient Point of View

Directions: Use this chart to evaluate the use of an omniscient narrator. Think about how the story would be
different if told from a different point of view. In the first column, describe key events in the story. In the
second column, describe each event from Aunt Beryl’s point of view. Then answer the question that follows.

Events in the Story from Aunt Beryl’s Point of View

The arrival of the doll’s house

Isabel brings the first group of visitors to see the

house.

Evaluate: How might your sense of the town be different if this story were told through the eyes of Aunt Beryl?
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After Reading Questions
Directions: Answer the following in complete sentences using as much detail as possible.
Reading Recall
1. Why did Mrs. Hay send the Burnell children the doll’s house?

2. Why is Isabel allowed to be the one to break the news of the doll’s house to the other children at school?

3. Why are Lil and Else Kelvey shunned by the other girls?

4. What does Kezia do once everybody except the Kelveys has seen the doll’s house?

5. Why does Else Kelvey smile at the end of the story?

Text Analysis
6. Compare and Contrast Characters: Write I next to the words that describe only Isabel Burnell. Write L next to the words
that describe only Lil Kelvey. Write B next to the words that describe both characters.
a. _____ oldest sister d. ____ upper class g. ____ proud
b. ____ bossy e. ____ poor h. ____ caring
c. ____ quiet f. ____ conceited i. ____ young
Why did the author include such contrasting characters?
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7. Identify Symbol: A symbol is a person, place, or object that represents something beyond itself. Think about
the little lamp that Kezia loves. Circle the word or words that the lamp might symbolize. Then complete the
sentences.
a. Curiousity b. Love c. Death d. Knowledge e. fear

I think the lamp is a symbol of _____________________________ because ____________________________

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8. Draw Conclusions About Theme One theme of this story is about popularity. This story shows us that in order to be popular,
some people will ___________________________________________________________________________
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9. Connect Complete the following sentences.
The most important connection between the story and my life is ______________________________________
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Another strong connection between the story and my life is __________________________________________
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