"A Cup of Tea"

A Cup of Tea

Short Story by Katherine Mansfield

Lesson Objectives: IWBAT

• Analyze third-person point of view and evaluate a character. C

• conduct research about social changes for women in the 1920s.

• Write a missing scene from another point of view.

• Present a scene.

• Identify the denotation and connotation of words.

• Use precise details.

• Language Identify words that indicate third-person point of view

Cultural References

fairy godmother (paragraph 21): a female character in

fairy tales who has magical powers and brings good

fortune to others good heavens (paragraph 33): informal expression of

surprise or anger touched beyond words (paragraph 37): overcome by

emotion; unable to speak look after (paragraph 39): take care of as a matter of fact (paragraph 52): actually; in addition

to what has been said

Open Ended

Cultural References

How can social status affect a person’s self-image? Discuss this question with a small group of students.

Multiple Choice

What is the narrative point of view in “A Cup of Tea,” and how does it shape the telling of the story?

• First person: The narrator is speaking about herself.

• Second person: The narrator is directly addressing the reader.

• Third-person limited: The narrator knows only the thoughts of the main character.

• Third-person omniscient: The narrator sees events from the point of view of every character.

Open Ended

Annotate: Highlight words and phrases used to describe Rosemary in paragraph 1. Draw Conclusions: What do these details suggest about how society views her?

Multiple Choice

In paragraph 1, Mansfield uses contrast to describe some of Rosemary’s guests as quaint and terrifying, while others are quite presentable. In this description of Rosemary’s parties, the connotation of the word presentable is —

• A

  notable or famous

• B

  respected and admired

• C

  clean and neat

• D

  interesting or engaging

Multiple Choice

Read the sentence from paragraph 2.

But if Rosemary wanted to shop she would go to Paris as you and I would go to Bond Street.

The author most likely includes this allusion to emphasize that Paris is —

• A

  a place far away from Great Britain

• B

  the capital and largest city of France

• C

  an expensive and fashionable place

• D

  a city of romance and excitement

Open Ended

ANALYZE THIRD-PERSON POINT OF VIEW

Annotate: Highlight the sentence in paragraph 5 that suggests what the shopkeeper may be thinking about Rosemary’s hands. Evaluate: Does this suggestion reflect his thoughts or Rosemary’s? Explain.

Open Ended

ANALYZE THIRD-PERSON POINT OF VIEW

Annotate: Highlight the sentence in paragraph 5 that suggests what the shopkeeper may be thinking about Rosemary’s hands. Evaluate: Does this suggestion reflect his thoughts or Rosemary’s? Explain.

Open Ended

EVALUATE A CHARACTER

Annotate: Highlight words and phrases in paragraph 14 that reveal Rosemary’s thoughts about this encounter.Evaluate: What is Rosemary’s motivation for inviting the girl to her home?

Open Ended

EVALUATE A CHARACTER

Annotate: Highlight words and phrases in paragraphs 21–22 that describe how Rosemary views her treatment of the girl. Evaluate: What do these thoughts suggest about her character?

Differentiated Group Work

Group 5: Numbered Heads Together

why might an author want two characters from two different social classes to meet. Discuss your answer with your groups and be ready to share

group 1: three Minute Review: in 3 minutes work independently to write clarifying questions about what you read. Be ready to pose your questions and discuss the answers.

group 2: Retell short story: choose one scene of the story to illustrate. Create word bank to describe your picture.

choose one scene and choose a partner to retell the story

group 3: read p. 41

Exit Ticket

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enter the room code ILAHI7962

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