Describe Laura’s confrontation with death in ‘The Garden Party’.

Ans. In Katherine Mansfield’s ‘The Garden Party’, the fatal accident of Mr. Scott introduces the main conflict. The news of his death shocks Laura terribly. She thinks of cancelling the party as a mark of respect for their neighbour. But her proposal is dismissed by her family. Jose and Mrs. Sheridan consider this proposal to be ‘absurd’ and ‘extravagant’. The story reaches its climax when she walks down the hill to Scotts’ shabby cottage, leaving behind the luxurious world of the upper class. She gradually moves into the dark, enclosed sadness of the grieving family. The widow’s sister guides Laura to the grieving widow first and then to the bedroom where Mr. Scott’s lifeless body lies. Staring at it, Laura experiences an epiphany. She feels that Mr. Scott looks as if he is sleeping in peace. He seems to be dreaming. He is now beyond the reach of life’s burdens. He enjoys perfect freedom. She realises that there is beauty in both life and death. The of death’s inevitability and life’s transience introduces a new understanding of life and death in Laura. Her confrontation with death initiates her transformation revelation from innocence to maturity. Facing death, Laura is so overwhelmed with emotion that she fails to express her new experience in words. She sobs and stammers as she meets her brother Laurie.

Describe the atmosphere as presented in ‘The Garden Party’.

You’ll have to go, Laura; you are the artistic one. – Who says this? Where will Laura have to go? What is the context of the speech? Why will Laura have to go?

Good morning, she said, copying her mother’s voice. – Who is ‘she’? Why did she copy her mother’s voice? Why did she stammer? What made her recover?

Describe the setting of The Garden Party

Explore the symbolism of the Sheridan family’s garden in the story.

Describe the garden of the Sheridan family.

What is conflict? Bring out the conflict in ‘The Garden Party’.

What is the significance of the title of the short story ‘The Garden Party’?

What role does Mrs. Sheridan play in ‘The Garden Party’?

“Don’t be so extravagant.” – Who said this and to whom? In which context did the speaker say so? What do you consider to be really extravagant?

Sketch the character of Laura

How important are the plot and characters in the story ‘The Garden Party’?