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Miss Brill
by Katherine Mansfield
Pre-reading Strategies
Terms to Know: (helpful but optional activity- no marks)
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eiderdown
rogue
rotunda
ermine
manuscript
accompaniment
whiting
necklet
Prior Knowledge: (2 marks each)
1. Imagine you are seated beside an older lady on the bus. How do you react? What
might be going through your mind as you get settled in for the 15-minute bus ride?
2. When was this story written/or published? Tell me something about society during
this era?
Comprehension Questions: (3 marks each)
** Review these questions BEFORE reading the story**
1. What is your opinion of Miss Brill? Defend your view using examples that define
her character.
2. For a story to be effective, every detail must add to it's development. Explain
what the following details add to the meaning of the story:
a) the fur necklet
b) Miss Brill's "special" seat
c) the various hats that strangers are wearing
d) the very precise colors
3. Describe how this story employs the literary technique "stream of
consciousness". In your view, is it an effective way to tell a story?
4. What does the ending reveal about Miss Brill's self-concept? Do you feel her selfesteem has changed from the beginning of the story? Explain.
5. Find the passage that starts with "On her way home, she usually bought a slice of
honey-cake...." Read to the end of the paragraph. What is the literary device used
here: flashback, antecedent, exposition, or subplot? Explain your choice using
examples from the text.
Creative response: (5 marks)
Find a scene in the story that interests you. Using words or phrases from the scene
compose a poem about the actions or feelings portrayed.