The Garden Party Questions and Answers | XI 2nd Semester
Establish ‘The Garden Party’ as a short story.
‘The Garden Party’ by Katherine Mansfield is a successful short story. A short story must have some traits for it to be successful. It should focus on a main plot that unfolds in a concise yet impactful manner. It may also have one or two sub-plots. From this point of view, the story revolves around the protagonist Laura Sheridan’s journey from her upper class life of privilege and superficiality to understanding the complexities and uncertainty of life. Secondly, a good short story should not have many characters, and here also ‘The Garden Party’ is no exception. Thirdly, the theme, the main idea or message of the story should be about human condition or society. The themes of class distinction, social inequality, and the contrast between life and death are explored through Laura’s interactions and realizations. The story ensures that every word counts, making it a memorable read. Thus, all these characteristics make ‘The Garden Party’ a successful short story.
“And after all the weather was ideal. They could not have had a more perfect day for a garden-party if they had ordered it.” Who held the garden party? How was the weather of the day ? Give a brief description of the venue of the party. What does the quote reflect about the Sheridans?
The Sheridan family held the garden party.
The weather on the day of the garden party was an ideal one windless, warm and cloudless with a clear sky. Like early summer mornings the sky was veiled with a touch of light gold haze. The day could not be any perfect. The Sheridans’ beautiful garden which is maintained carefully by a gardener is the venue of the party. It has plants like roses, lavender with lush green grass and bushes. It also has well-manicured lawns, a lily-lawn and karaka-trees with broad gleaming leaves and clusters of yellow fruits.
The quote reveals the Sheridan family’s upper class privileged existence. Their focus on the perfect weather and garden party highlights their preoccupation with superficialities and social status. Through this quote the author also hints at their sense of entitlement and control, as they believe, owing to their wealth and social standing they can probably get anything done even order an ideal and perfect weather for their garden party.
“You’ll have to go, Laura; you’re the artistic one.”-Who said this? Where was Laura sent? What was she asked to do? Why was Laura called ‘artistic’?
Mrs Sheridan said this to Laura.
Mrs Sheridan sent Laura into the garden.
Mrs Sheridan asked Laura, one of her three daughters, to supervise the workmen who came to put up the marquee in their garden for the party.
Laura was considered ‘artistic’ by Mrs Sheridan because she loved arranging things. Laura herself also believed that she could do it much better than her other family members. As Laura was considered creative, her mother thought she would be the best person to handle the task of making the venue beautiful by setting up the marquee for the garden party at a perfect position.
“Good morning,” she said, copying her mother’s voice.”- Who is referred to as ‘she’? Whom did she greet? Why did she want to imitate her mother’s voice ? What made her feel ashamed afterwards?
Here, Laura Sheridan is referred to as ‘she’.
Laura greeted the four workers who had come to set up the marquee in their garden for the party.
Laura wanted to copy her mother’s voice because she didn’t want the workmen to consider her childish or inexperienced. She wanted to show her control over the situation and her authority. Though Laura’s age was not mentioned clearly in the text, her desire to be treated as an adult was indicative of her being a teenager.
Laura imitated her mother’s voice as she greeted the workmen. But she sounded so fearfully pretentious that she felt ashamed and stammered like a little girl.
Give an account of Laura’s first encounter with the workmen.
On the day of the Sheridans’ garden party, when the workmen came to set up the marquee in the Sheridan estate, Mrs Sheridan sent Laura, ‘the artistic one’ to supervise them. With a piece of bread-and-butter in her hand Laura went into the garden to meet the workmen. She found four men dressed in shirt, standing in a group on the garden path. They carried staves covered with rolls
of canvas, and big tool-bags slung on their backs. To Laura, they looked ‘impressive’. She blushed and tried to look severe and even a little bit short-sighted as she came up to them. She felt embarrased for holding that piece of bread-and-butter. Imitating her mother’s voice she greeted them but her voice sounded so fearfully affected that she felt ashamed. Then in a stammering voice, she enquired if they had come to set up the marquee. One of them replied in affirmative. Soon their friendly smile and easy-going personality helped Laura overcome her initial
embarrassment.
6. “They looked impressive.” Who is the speaker? Who are referred to as ‘they’ here? Give a brief description of them. Why according to the speaker are they ‘Impressive’?
Here, the speaker is Laura Sheridan.
The four workmen who had come to set up the marquee for the garden party in the Sheridan estate, are referred to as ‘they’ here.
The tallest of the four workers was a lanky, freckled fellow and had nice, small dark blue eyes. Another one was short and fat while the other looked pale, haggard. They seemed friendly and were smiling. The workmen were dressed in shirt and were carrying staves covered with rolls of canvas and big tool-bags slung on their backs. According to Laura, they looked ‘impressive’.
Laura found the workers impressive due to their natural ease and confidence. She admired their physical presence, practical knowledge and unpretentious demeanour as they interacted with Laura and did their work. Her wish to befriend and spend time with them instead of the wealthy silly boys of her upper class, highlights her fascination with the working class people and the romantic side of her character.
“You want to put it somewhere where it’ll give you a bang slap in the eye,” Who said this and to whom? In what context did the speaker say this? How did the person spoken to immediately react on hearing it? Give a description of the appearance of the speaker.
The tall fellow who had come as a part of the group of four workers to put up the marquee, said this to Laura.
While supervising the workmen, Laura suggested the marquee to be put up in the lily-lawn. But the tall fellow disagreed and said that a marquee should be put up somehere, where it would attract everyone’s attention right away.
Hearing such colloquial and unsophisticated words like ‘bang slap in the eye’, Laura thought that it was disrespectful for a workman to talk to her like that. Her refined upper class upbringing made her feel shocked on hearing the words.
The speaker, the tallest of the four workmen was a lanky, freckled fellow who had small, nice dark blue eyes and a friendly smile on his face. He was dressed in shirt and had a straw hat on his head.
“Only a very small band,”-Who said this and to whom? Where would the band be placed? What made the speaker say this?
Laura said this to the worker who looked pale and haggard.
The band would be placed at one corner of the tennis- court of the Sheridan estate.
Laura and the workers were discussing on where to set up the marquee. At first she proposed the lily-lawn but one of the workers disagreed. Next, she thought of the tennis-court and suggested it to them. But then she remembered that the band would be placed at one corner of the tennis-court. Hearing this, the pale and haggard looking worker expressed his wonder about the band. It made Laura express her awkwardness by saying the above mentioned line. She also assumed that if the band was small, the worker would not mind. This also shows her modesty unlike the haughty nature of her mother, Mrs Sheridan.
“Look here, miss, that’s the place. Against those trees. Over there. That’ll do fine.” Who said this to whom? On what occasion did the speaker say this? Which trees were talked about here? Give description of the trees.
The tallest of the four workmen said this to Laura Sheridan.
Laura and the workers were discussing on where to set up the marquee. At first she proposed the lily-lawn but the tallest worker disagreed. Next, she thought of the tennis-court and suggested it to them. But then she remembered that the band would be placed at one corner of the tennis-court. Hearing this, the speaker said this and pointed in the direction of the garden where he thought they should set up the marquee.
Here, the karaka-trees were talked about. The karaka-trees looked lovely with their broad, gleaming leaves and clusters of yellow fruits. They seemed to be trees growing on a desert island, proud, solitary, lifting their leaves and fruits to the sun in a kind of silent splendour.
“She would get on much better with men like these.” Who is ‘she’? Who are these men’? What comparison of the ‘men’ have been made and why?
OR, What role do the workers, come to set up the marquee, play in the story?
OR, Contrast Laura’s attitude towards the workmen with her attitude towards the silly boys of her upper class.
‘She’ is Laura Sheridan, the protagonist of the story ‘The Garden Party’ written by Katherine Mansfield.
The four workmen who have come to set up the marquee for the garden party in the Sheridan estate are referred to as ‘men’.
The workmen have been compared with the silly boys of the upper class society with whom Laura danced with and who came to Sunday night supper.
The workers who arrived to set up the marquee are happy men with easy smiles and friendly manner. Laura appreciates their candid dialect and unpretentious kindness in contrast to her family’s refined language and snobbery. When the tallest of the workmen pinches a lavender sprig to snuff its smell, Laura feels that the workmen are extraordinary. She wishes to befriend and spend time with them instead of the upper class wealthy silly boys. Thus, these workers primarily introduced Laura’s differences from her family members, her dissatisfaction with class divisions and her empathy for working class people.
… you might just give a squiz at my coat before this afternoon.” – Who is the speaker? To whom was It sald? What was the speaker doing? Describe the relationship between the speaker and the listener as revealed here in this context.
The speaker is Laurie Sheridan, brother of Laura.
Laurie said this to Laura Sheridan.
Laurie was getting ready to go to office with Mr Sheridan. Both the men were brushing their hats.
The two siblings, Laura and Laurie seem to share a very close and affectionate relationship as Laurie is seen requesting her sister to check if his coat needs ironing for the party. Laura agrees and embraces her brother out of her excitement for the garden party. The tone of Laurie while speaking with his sister, also reveals their warm and loving bond.
Dash off to the telephone, old girl.”-Who is the speaker? Who is referred to as ‘old girl’ ? What was the speaker doing then? Who is the person at the other end of the telephone? What telephonic conversation did they have?
The speaker is Laurie Sheridan.
Laura is referred to as ‘old girl’ by her brother, Laurie.
Laurie was brushing his hat and getting ready to go to office.
Kitty Maitland, Laura’s friend is the person at the other end of the telephone.
Laura invites Kitty over to lunch before the party. She tells Kitty the menu for lunch-sandwich crusts and broken meringue-shells and what’s left over. They also talk about the perfect weather of the early summer day Laura expresses her joy and excitement for the garden-party. While the two are speaking, Mrs Sheridan asks Laura to tell Kitty to wear theTell her to wear that sweet hat she had on last Sunday.
“It’s some mistake,” Who is the speaker ? What was the ‘mistake’? Who supposedly made the ‘mistake’? Was it really a ‘mistake’?
The speaker is Laura Sheridan.
On the day of the Sheridan’s garden party when the florist arrived to deliver a huge number of big, bright, pink canna lilies, Laura said this. Seeing the florist deliver so many canna lilies, Laura thought that there had been some mistake on the part of the florist since nobody in her family could have ordered so many canna lilies.
Mrs Sheridan made the ‘mistake’ as she was the one who ordered the canna lilies.
No, it was not a mistake. Mrs Sheridan ordered so many canna lilies out of her whimsicality. When she was passing the shop the day before the garden party she saw them in the shop window. Enchanted by the beauty of the flowers, she thought for once in life she should have enough canna lilies. According to her, the garden party was a good excuse to order those flowers.
My darling child, you wouldn’t like a logical mother,”-Who said this to whom? In what context was it said? Why didn’t the speaker call herself a ‘logical mother’?
Mrs Sheridan said this to her daughter, Laura.
Mrs Sheridan had ordered a huge number of canna lilies for the garden party. Seeing it Laura reminded her mother that she had said earlier that she would let the children arrange the party and not interfere in it. In response, Mrs Sheridan said this.
Mrs Sheridan wouldn’t call herself a ‘logical mother’ who would do everything according to the plan and liking of others. For once she wanted to fulfil her wish of having more than enough canna lilies for the garden party-which might go against the reasoning abilities of others. So she ordered many pots of bright, pink canna lilies out of her whimsicality.
Aren’t I in good voice, mummy?”-Who said this? In what context did the speaker say this? What song did the speaker sing? What side of the speaker’s character gets revealed here?
Jose, Mrs Sheridan’s another daughter asked her mother this question.
Jose said this to Mrs Sheridan after she finished rehearsing a song for the garden party and wanted to know from her mother if she sang well.
Jose sang the song ‘This Life is Weary’.
Jose decided to practise singing before the garden party because she wanted to be prepared if someone at the party asked her to sing that afternoon. The above mentioned remark by Jose reveals her preoccupation with her own performance and desire for approval from her mother. This also points to her self-centredness and egotistical personality. Instead of understanding the pathos of the song and the meaning of its lyrics, she sang a mournful song, ‘This Life is Weary’ and with a dreadfully unsympathetic smile. This highlights her insensitivity and lack of knowledge of songs.
What is the significance of Jose’s song in the story?
Before the party, Jose insists on practising the song ‘This Life is Weary’ to Meg’s piano accompaniment which heightens the festive mood at the Sheridan household. It serves as a contrast to the tragic atmosphere in the poor neighbourhood resulting from the death of a cart-driver in an accident. The way Jose sings a melancholic song like ‘This Life Is Weary’ in a cheerful manner, it highlights the self-centredness and insensitivity of the privileged class. It points to the superficiality of their celebration and the stark division between the two worlds- the upper class and the working class. Besides, the lyrics of the song reflect life’s weariness and the finality of death.
Tell cook I’ll let her have them in ten minutes.”- Who said this to whom? What are referred to as ‘them’? What orders did the speaker give next? Why did the speaker send Jose to pacify the cook ?
Mrs Sheridan said this to Sadie, one of their servants, who came to get the flags for the sandwiches that the cook was preparing for the garden party.
The flags for the sandwiches are referred to as ‘them’.
Mrs Sheridan forgot to write the flags for the sandwiches and made the above remark. Next, she gave orders to all three of her daughters. Mrs Sheridan instructed Meg to go upstairs and remove the wet towel from her hair immediately. Then she asked Laura to come into the smoking-room to help her write the flags for the sandwiches. While Jose was asked to finish getting ready and go to
pacify the cook in the kitchen.
Mrs Sheridan sent Jose to pacify the cook because she was to prepare the flags for the sandwiches and those were not yet ready. Mrs sheridan was terrified of the cook that morning. Besides, Jose was a favourite among the servants and they loved obeying her, So, Mrs Sheridan sent Jose to the kitchen to talk to the cook and make sure that she wasn’t angry about not having the flags yet for the sandwiches.
“Have one each, my dears,” said cook in her comfortable volce. “Yer ma won’t know.”-Who is the speaker? To whom was it said? What did the speaker offer? What made the speaker say this?
The speaker is the cook of the Sheridans.
The cook said this to Laura and Jose.
The cook offered Laura and Jose delicious cream puffs from the famous Godber’s place to eat.
The Sheridans ordered the delicious cream puffs from Godber’s, when delivered immediately caught the attention of Laura and Jose. The motherly instinct of the cook made her sense their desire. But both the girls were so conscious of their manners and upbringing that they hesitated as they found it improper to eat sweets so soon after breakfast. So, the cook encouraged Laura and Jose to have one cream puff each and promised not to let their mother know about this. Assured, Laura and Jose relished the cream puffs eagerly. Unable to resist the temptation they enjoyed every bit of their sweetness.
What arrangements were being made for the garden party?
in Katherine Mansfield‘s ‘The Garden Party, the Sheridan family was preparing for a grand garden party. Their beautiful garden with plants like roses, lavender. karaka-trees, lily-lawn etc served as a great venue for holding the party. Mrs Sheridan was overseeing the arrangements, ensuring everything is perfect. All three of her daughters, Laura, Jose and Meg were involved in party preparations. Laura was seen supervising the installation of the marquee while Jose and Meg were busy rearranging lumiture inside the house. Jose was also seen practising a song for the party. A band of musicians had been hired to entertain the guests and Mrs Sheridan had ordered abundant canna lilies for the decorations. Apart from this, the menu for the party promised fifteen different kinds of sandwiches, delicious cream pufts and many more. All these preparations show that the Sheridans did everything to guarantee the success of their party and underscore their wealth and high social standing.
Read More – Explore the symbolism of the Sheridan family’s Garden in the story