Her First Ball by Katherine Mansfield Thinking about

Her First Ball by Katherine Mansfield

Thinking about themes 1. Have you ever looked forward to an event/party/holiday and then been disappointed because you expected too much or something wasn’t as you imagined it? Discuss such a situation with your group and how you felt.

After reading Questions What are two things you find out about Leila’s background? How do the Sheridan girls describe their cousin Leila? Write a line which shows Leila is homesick. How does Meg patronise (treat like a child or inferior) Leila?

Answers What are two things you find out about Leila’s background? She is a country girl, she has never been to a ball, she learned dancing at school, she is a teenager and she went to a boarding, she is from NZ. How do the Sheridan girls describe their cousin Leila? As their ‘little country cousin’. Write a line which shows Leila is homesick. And a rush of longing she had to be sitting on the veranda of their forsaken up-country home, listening to the baby owls crying ‘‘More Pork. ’’ How does Meg patronise (treat like a child or inferior) Leila? ‘‘This is my little country cousin, be nice to her. ’’ ‘’Hold on to me Leila you will get lost’’

Her First Ball as a comic Divide a piece of A 4 into 6 squares. See example on next slide. Use the following comic book conventions: Speech balloons – featuring 3 quotes Thought clouds – featuring a characters thoughts

Extended Written Task You are Leila’s cousin (one of the Sheridan girls). Share your thoughts about having your ‘country cousin’ visit you, and how this was her first ball. Describe what occurred during the evening. • Use a quote from the story • Use names, places and vocabulary from the story. • Write at least 250 words • Plan and check your work carefully • Write at least 3 paragraphs Starter: Tonight I took my little cousin Leila to her first ball. Of course I have been to many balls, so I found it so strange that Leila had never been to one.