Setting and Context

The setting is where and when the text takes place and context is the situation or circumstances in which the events occur. Think about where the main action takes place by describing the country, region, city, town, village, or building. Think about when the main action takes place by describing the time period or era, political, economic, and/or historical context.

Activity Three: Setting and Context

a. Look at the descriptions of main settings in The Garden Party; the Sheridans house and the workers cottages. Find evidence from the text to fill in the following table; including important physical details, quotes with descriptive detail, and how Laura reacts to her surroundings. The Sheridans house Position: Position: Workers cottage

Description:

Description:

Description:

Description:

Lauras reaction:

Lauras reaction:

b. Elements of setting can be used to protray some of the central ideas in a text. Find the two descriptions of smoke in The Garden Party one for the Sheridans house and one for the workers cottages and fill in the table below. The Sheridans house Smoke: Smoke: Workers cottage

c. How has Mansfield used these descriptions to portray different feelings about the two settings?

Characterisation
Characterisation is the way the characters in the text are presented so the reader is guided to make certain judgments that reinforce the themes of the text.

Characterisation is shown by the words, actions, and reactions of a character, how other characters speak about them, how they deal with conflict, their thoughts and feelings, and direct authorial comment. It is through the characters that the reader understands different emotional and personal experiences and the themes of the text. When looking at how a character changes or develops think about relationships, conflict of ideas or personalities. Characterisation is the way a writer creates a fictional character. Understanding characterisation is absolutely central to analysing fiction. The most common techniques through which a writer gives us a sense of what a character is like are: Characters names o The character may be known by their first name, surname or by a title (eg: The Doctor) o Each of theses have a different level of formality to them and this helps determine how close to the character the author wants the reader to feel. Point of view or narrative style o First person narrative; we learn about characters through one characters eyes they are the narrator of the story (usually this is the central character, or protagonist) o Third person narrative; we learn about characters through an external narrator this narrator may have insigth into only one characters thoughts and feelings (third person restricted) or into the thoughts and feelings of many characters (third person ominiscient). Appearances o The author will ususally describe what the character looks like, what they wear, how they move, and how they behave this is all revealling of their character. Significant relationships with others o How others react to them, o Statements made by the character about other characters o Statements made by other characters about that character Dialogue o Words: the characters choice of words may be simple or complex, o Language: the characters use of language may be formal, casual, calloquial or slang, o Dialect: the character may speak in a localised dialect that indicates where they come from, o Sentences: The character may speak in simple sentences, or using more complex statements, o Tone of voice: the character may speak happily, seriously, sadly, sternly,, o Grammatical accuracy: the character may adhere to grammatical correctness, or waver from it, in their dialogue o Repetition of key words Response to an event o How characters respond to events that occur (especially the main event of the story) reveals a lot about their personality Imagery o Metaphors, similes and symbols may be used in the description of characters, or associated with them. The meanings associated with these images/symbols can be used to comment on the characters personality.

Writers need characters to express the ideas they want to show us. Often these are universal things about life or what is sometimes called the 'human condition'. So, by showing us the motivations, feelings, actions, regrets, limitations, aspirations and experiences of their characters, writers can give us an understanding of the themes they are dealing with. For this to work, the characters have to seem real and be believable.

It is important then, that we actually care about what the characters in a story are going through and what fate the author has in store for them. The characters must then behave in believable ways and say credible things

Activity Four: Names and Faces

In our study of The Garden Party we will focus on the characters of Laura, and her mother Mrs Sheridan. a. What is the effect on the reader of Mansfield referring to Laura by her first name in The Garden Party, and referring to Mrs Sheridan by her surname only? (Think about how Mansfield wants us to view each of these characters) Laura:

Mrs Sheridan:

b. Look for physical descriptions of Laura and Mrs Sheridan in The Garden Party. List as many as you can find below. Laura Mrs Sheridan

c. How has Mansfield created a contrast between these characters through the names and descriptions she has given these characters?

Activity Five: Descriptive Phrases

Having read The Garden Party, look at the descriptive phrases below and decide whether they more accurately describe Laura or Mrs Sheridan. Write out each phrase in the appropriate column; this will start to build an idea about what each of these characters is like. concerned for the feelings of others disorganised self centred unconventional lacks compassion responsive to the concerns of others restrained by social conventions informal practical and organised only concerned for herself follows social conventions enthusiastic spontaneous educates her daughters cares for others formal shows compassion considers herself superior young follows social conventions insensitive sympathetic indulges herself as of right

Laura

Mrs Sheridan

Activity Six: Character Quotes

What a character says reveals a lot about their values, personality and background. This helps us understand the person's thoughts. What do these quotes tell us about the character that says them? Fill in the table for the following quotes from The Garden Party. In the second column, state who said the quote. In the third column, state what this quote tells us about that character. Quote My dear child, its no use asking me. Im determined to leave everything to you children this year. Good morning, she said copying her mothers voice. Character What does this quote tell you about the character?

I was passing the shop yesterday, and I saw them in the window. And I suddenly thought for once I shall have enough canna lilies. Dont do that. Heres the man.

Not in the garden?

Quote My dear child, its no use asking me. Im determined to leave everything to you children this year.

Character

What does this quote tell you about the character?

And just think of what the band would sound like to that poor woman, said

People like that dont expect sacrifices from us. And its not very sympathetic to spoil everybodys enjoyment as youre doing now. Help me, God, as

It was simply marvellous.

Activity Seven: Character Profile

When studying characters in a text it can be helpful to build a Character Profile in order to gain a full understanding of the character and why they are important in the text. Use the following to build a character profile for Laura from The Garden Party. Laura Sheridan

When and where did she live? Wellington, New Zealand. Around about the 1900s

Evidence/example from the text:

What does she look like? Young girl quite pretty

Evidence/example from the text (short descriptions): She is complemented on her looks

Doesnt yet follow all the social conventions

How does she talk? Formal English of that time

Evidence/examples from the text (words/phrase): extravagant awfully nice

Character traits Sensitive to feelings of others

As shown by:

Evidence/examples from the text:

Spontaneous

Questions herself

Wondering if she was extravagant

Who does she have relationships with? Mother (Mrs Sheridan)

Type of relationship:

Evidence/examples from the text:

Laura obeys her mother

Brother Laurie

Looks up to him

Workmen

Dead mans family

Uncomfortable