I’m about 100 years late to the party, but I just discovered Katherine Mansfield’s “The Doll’s House” and need to spread the word.
Want a story that’ll hold students’ attention? It’ll do that.
Want a story that’ll help them dig into literary analysis? Does that, too.
Want a story that’ll hopefully inspire them to be better people? Yup, that’s the whole point.
If you don’t know Mansfield’s story, you can read it here (public domain):
https://www.katherinemansfieldsociety.org/archive/www.katherinemansfieldsociety.org/assets/KM-Stories/THE-DOLLS-HOUSE.pdf
I also found a fabulous Margaret Drabble audio performance of the story (story portion is just under 19 minutes): https://www.theguardian.com/books/audio/2010/dec/07/margaret-drabble-katherine-mansfield
Write your own questions or use the set I’ve posted here:
https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/The-Dolls-House-Katherine-Mansfield-short-story-analysis-PDF-Google-Drive-CCSS-8523079
Finally, help students use their analysis skills to connect literature to fine art by examining A Girl Writing; The Pet Goldfinch, a Henriette Browne oil painting (ca. 1870) in the public domain:
My lesson download includes questions to help guide students through their analysis of Browne’s painting as well as detailed answer keys for both question sets.
Hope these ideas are useful. Any other short story gems I should check out? Leave a reply and I’ll get to reading…
Just wanted to thank you for all of your amazing resources and ideas. I’m excited to check out this story!
Thanks so much, Susan! Be sure to listen to Drabble’s performance. Her voice is perfect for this piece! ??
My sophomores love “The Possibility of Evil” by Shirley Jackson. We start the semester with it, read it together, and stop along the way to review short story elements as they appear.
Ooh…I’m intrigued, Heather. I’ve only read “The Lottery.” Will pick this one up, too. Thanks!
I haven’t read this but I will. Thank you. Check out Sylvia Plath’s story Initiation.
Thank You, Ma’am by L Hughes. I use it along with his “Crystal Stair” poem.
Thanks for the suggestion, Marlene. Will do!
Yes! Those are both such good pieces, Diane.