This section provides The Garden Party Question and Answer / WBCHSE Class 11 English 2nd Semester.
WBCHSE Class 11 English 2nd Semester
The Garden Party Question and Answer
Katherine Mansfield
Marks: 2
Q.1 What was Laura’s impression about the workmen?
Answer: Laura was impressed by the friendly demeanor and straightforwardness of the four workmen. They were polite and patient. Their kind smiles helped Laura feel relaxed in their presence. They seemed to be in a cheerful mood, as one of them whistled and another sang while working. This also indicated that they were content and enjoyed their work.
Q.2 How does the garden reflect the contemporary society?
Answer: In Katherine Mansfield’s The Garden Party, the garden represents the beauty and wealth of the upper class. The well-maintained garden is in contrast to the poor living conditions of the working class, showing the divide between rich and poor in society. While the garden looks perfect, it hides the social inequalities and differences between various social groups.
Q.3 What do the flowers symbolize in ‘The Garden Party’?
Answer: The flowers in ‘The Garden Party’ symbolize different aspects of society. The roses represent the wealth and the show-off attitude of the Sheridans, as they stand out in the garden. The lavenders symbolize virtue and simplicity. The lilies stand for royalty, showing aloofness and status. The karakas are native plants, used for beautification, reflecting the natural charm of the surroundings.
Q.4 Who is called ‘artistic’ and by whom?
Answer: Laura Sheridan is called ‘artistic’ by her mother, Mrs. Sheridan.
Q.5 What was Laura having for breakfast? What was her opinion about eating outdoors?
Answer: Laura was having bread and butter for breakfast. She thought that it would be a pleasant experience to have an excuse to eat outdoors on such a lovely summer day.
Q.6 What were the workmen carrying? Where was the marquee set up?
Answer: The workmen were carrying staves covered with rolls of canvas and large tool-bags slung on their backs.
The marquee was set up against the beautiful karaka trees, which concealed it from view.
Q.7 Describe the physical appearances of the workers who came to set up the marquee.
Answer: The tallest of the four workers was a lanky, freckled man with small, dark blue eyes. Another worker was short and fat, while another looked pale, haggard, and had dark eyes. They all appeared friendly and were smiling. The workers were dressed in shirts, and according to Laura, they looked ‘impressive’.
Q.8 How was Jose dressed? Why was Jose compared to a ‘butterfly’?
Answer: Jose was always dressed in a silk petticoat and a kimono jacket.
She was compared to a butterfly because she was always fashionably dressed in bright, colorful outfits.
Q.9 What was the Sheridan family doing when the workmen arrived? How many workmen came to put up the marquee?
Answer: The Sheridan family was having breakfast when the workmen arrived.
Four workmen came to put up the marquee.
WBCHSE Class XI English Second Semester
The Garden Party Question and Answer
Katherine Mansfield
Marks: 2
Q.10 Who were entrusted with the task of arranging the garden party that year? How did Mrs. Sheridan want her children to treat her for that specific day?
Answer: The Sheridan daughters—Laura, Jose, and Meg—were entrusted with the task of arranging the garden party that year.
Mrs. Sheridan wanted her children to treat her as an honored guest for that specific day.
Q.11 Give a description of the garden of the Sheridans.
Answer: The Sheridans have a beautiful garden that is carefully maintained by a gardener. It is filled with plants like roses and lavender, along with lush green grass and well-kept bushes, creating a picturesque and elegant setting.
Q.12 What was Laura’s initial reaction to the idea of a garden party?
Answer: Laura was initially excited about the garden party, as she loved the idea of it and looked forward to the event. She also enjoyed the preparations that came with it.
Q.13 How did Laura feel when she saw the poor man’s funeral procession?
Answer: Laura felt deeply disturbed and upset when she saw the funeral procession. She was struck by the sadness and tragedy of it, feeling a sense of guilt about the contrast between the party and the sorrow of the working-class family.
Q.14 How did Mrs. Sheridan react when Laura suggested canceling the garden party?
Answer: Mrs. Sheridan dismissed Laura’s suggestion of canceling the party. She thought it was unnecessary and insisted that the party should go on as planned.
Q.15 What did Laura want to do after seeing the dead man’s house?
Answer: After seeing the dead man’s house, Laura wanted to tell her family about the tragedy and suggested that they should cancel the garden party to show respect for the poor family.
Q.16 How did Laura’s mother react when she found out about Laura’s visit to the poor man’s house?
Answer: Mrs. Sheridan was not happy about Laura’s visit to the poor man’s house. She thought it was inappropriate and tried to brush it aside, focusing instead on the garden party.
WBCHSE Class 11 English 2nd Semester
The Garden Party Question and Answer
Katherine Mansfield
Marks: 2
Q.17 What was the role of the garden party in the story?
Answer: The garden party symbolizes the contrast between the wealth and carefree nature of the upper class and the struggles of the working class. It highlights class divisions and the characters’ attitudes toward them.
Q.18 How did Laura feel after the garden party ended?
Answer: After the party ended, Laura felt a mixture of confusion and enlightenment. She was still grappling with the realization of the poor man’s death but was also left wondering about the meaning of life and social divisions.
Q.19 What was the significance of the hat Laura wore during the party?
Answer: Laura’s hat symbolized her status and her connection to the privileged world of her family. It marked her as part of the upper class, making her more aware of the social divides present in society.
Q.20 How did the workers view the garden party?
Answer: The workers viewed the garden party as a spectacle of wealth and privilege. They were polite and cheerful, but the party symbolized the vast difference between their lives and the lives of the Sheridans.
Q.21 How does the ending of the story reflect Laura’s growth as a character?
Answer: The ending of the story reflects Laura’s growth as she becomes more aware of social inequalities and the realities of life. Though she is confused, she begins to understand the complexities of class and empathy.
WBCHSE Class 11 English 2nd Semester
The Garden Party Question and Answer
Katherine Mansfield
Marks: 6
Q.1 Draw a character sketch of Laura Sheridan, the protagonist of Katherine Mansfield’s The Garden Party.
Answer: Laura Sheridan, the protagonist of The Garden Party, is a young, idealistic girl from a wealthy family. She is portrayed as sensitive, empathetic, and somewhat naive, which is evident in her fascination with the workmen who are setting up the marquee. Laura admires their simple, carefree lifestyle, contrasting with her own privileged world.
When she learns of Mr. Scott’s death, a poor man from the nearby neighborhood, she is deeply troubled and suggests canceling the party out of respect for the family. However, Laura lacks the strength to challenge her family’s shallow priorities, and the party continues as planned. By the end of the story, after visiting Mr. Scott’s family, Laura undergoes a significant transformation. She gains a deeper understanding of life, death, and social inequality, marking her growth from innocence and idealism to maturity and self-awareness.
Q.2 “Mother was getting anxious. Was it all right?” – Who said this to whom and when? What was the speaker asking about? Why was ‘mother’ anxious?
Answer: Laurie said this to Laura when he met her in the working-class neighborhood after Mrs. Sheridan sent him to bring Laura back. Laura had visited Mr. Scott’s house to deliver a basket of leftover food as a gesture of sympathy for the grieving family. Laurie was concerned about how Laura’s visit had gone, asking if everything was alright.
Mrs. Sheridan, Laura’s mother, was anxious because she feared that Laura’s visit to Mr. Scott’s house would be upsetting. Raised in privilege and sheltered from the harsh realities of life, Laura was unfamiliar with the struggles of the working class. Mrs. Sheridan wanted to protect her from the emotional distress of encountering the reality of death and poverty. She quickly sent Laurie to bring Laura back to their comfortable world, away from the sadness and suffering of the lower class.
Q.3 “It was a mistake to have come; she knew all along it was a mistake. Should she go back even now?” Who is ‘she’ in the above-quoted line? What was the ‘mistake’? Did she go back? What circumstances led the speaker to say the above lines?
Answer: In the above-quoted line, ‘she’ refers to Laura Sheridan. The ‘mistake’ was her decision to visit Mr. Scott’s family in the poor neighborhood. Laura felt out of place and uncomfortable there, realizing that it was a mistake to come. She did not go back, despite her desire to leave immediately.
The circumstances that led Laura to say these lines were her growing awareness of the stark contrast between her privileged life and the harsh realities of the working-class community. Dressed in her elegant lace frock and large black hat, she felt uneasy, as the residents stared at her. The disparity between her world and theirs made her wish to leave quickly. Laura had hoped her visit would be a simple, compassionate act, but it highlighted her naivety and the superficial nature of her earlier concerns about the garden party and Mr. Scott’s death.
WBCHSE Class XI English Second Semester
The Garden Party Question and Answer
Katherine Mansfield
Marks: 6
Q.4 How did the news of Mr. Scott’s death affect Laura? After receiving the news, whom did she approach first and afterwards? What were the reactions of the two people that Laura approached?
Answer: When Laura learned about Mr. Scott’s death from the Godber’s deliveryman, she was shocked and immediately decided to cancel the garden party out of respect for the mourning family. She felt it would be inconsiderate to celebrate with music and laughter while the grieving family lived nearby.
After receiving the news, Laura first approached her sister Jose, and then her mother, Mrs. Sheridan, with the idea of canceling the party.
Both Jose and Mrs. Sheridan reacted indifferently to the news of Mr. Scott’s death. Jose dismissed the idea of canceling the party, considering it unnecessary to change plans for the death of a working-class person. Similarly, Mrs. Sheridan also rejected Laura’s suggestion, believing that poor people don’t expect sacrifices from the rich. Both mother and daughter treated the news as insignificant, showing their lack of empathy for the working class.
Q.5 Discuss Laura Sheridan’s transformation in the story. What triggers her change in perspective?
Answer: Laura undergoes a significant emotional and intellectual transformation in The Garden Party. At the start of the story, she is a naive and enthusiastic young woman, excited by the garden party and fascinated by the workers setting it up.
However, when she learns of Mr. Scott’s death, her perspective begins to shift. Her visit to the Scotts’ humble home is the turning point. There, she is deeply affected by the dignity and simplicity of death, realizing how disconnected her privileged life is from the harsh realities of others. This experience leads to an epiphany, where Laura begins to question the superficiality of her upbringing and becomes more aware of life’s fragility and the social inequalities between the rich and the poor. Her journey reflects a shift from innocence to maturity, highlighting her internal conflict and growth as a more empathetic individual.
Q.6 What role does the garden party play in the story, and how does it reflect the Sheridan family’s attitude toward class differences?
Answer: The garden party plays a central role in The Garden Party, symbolizing the Sheridan family’s privileged and sheltered existence. It highlights their detachment from the struggles of the working class.
Throughout the story, the garden party represents a world of wealth, status, and social appearances, where the family is focused on maintaining their image and enjoying luxury. Despite learning about Mr. Scott’s death, the Sheridans continue with the party, reflecting their indifference to the suffering of those less fortunate. This decision illustrates their inability to understand or empathize with the harsh realities of the working class. For the Sheridans, the event is about superficial happiness and the celebration of their social standing, showcasing their lack of awareness or concern for the inequality between the rich and the poor.
Q.7 How does Laura’s attitude toward the workers reflect her personality and values?
Answer: Laura’s attitude toward the workers setting up the marquee reflects her sensitivity, empathy, and respect for others, regardless of their social class. Unlike her family, who view the workers with indifference or as subordinates, Laura feels a natural camaraderie with them, seeing them as equals.
This interaction shows her idealism and strong sense of fairness, as she does not let their lower social status affect her perception of them. Her genuine interest in the workers contrasts with the superficial concerns of her privileged family and foreshadows her later discomfort with their insensitivity toward Mr. Scott’s death. This moment reveals Laura’s ability for emotional growth, suggesting that she is more aware of social inequalities and capable of developing a deeper understanding of life beyond her sheltered upbringing.
WBCHSE Class 11 English Second Semester
The Garden Party Question and Answer
Katherine Mansfield
Marks: 6
Q.8 How does The Garden Party explore the theme of social inequality?
Answer: The Garden Party explores social inequality through the contrasting lives of the Sheridans and the Scotts. The Sheridans live in a world of wealth, comfort, and luxury, where their biggest concern is the success of a garden party, while the Scotts face the harsh realities of poverty and death.
Laura’s growing awareness of this stark divide, particularly after Mr. Scott’s death, highlights the gulf between the privileged and the working class. Mansfield critiques the Sheridans’ indifference to the struggles of the lower class, using Laura’s realization to underscore the need for empathy and understanding between social classes. Through Laura’s internal conflict and her recognition of the inequalities around her, the story challenges the superficial attitudes of the wealthy and calls attention to the deeper human connections that transcend social status.
Q.9 “Forgive my hat.” Why does Laura say this, and what does the hat symbolize?
Answer: Laura says, “Forgive my hat,” when she visits the Scotts’ house, feeling awkward and out of place because she is wearing an extravagant party hat in a setting of mourning and simplicity.
The hat symbolizes her privileged status and the superficiality of her upper-class life, which stands in stark contrast to the modesty and grief of the working-class family. This moment underscores Laura’s growing awareness of the social divide between her world and the reality of the Scotts, highlighting her discomfort with the disparity. The hat, once a symbol of status and beauty, now seems inappropriate in the face of genuine hardship, marking a turning point in Laura’s understanding of life and class differences.
Q.10 Why does Laura struggle to express her feelings at the end of the story?
Answer: Laura struggles to express her feelings at the end of the story because she is deeply overwhelmed by the emotional and intellectual realizations she has undergone. Her visit to the Scotts’ house, where she encounters the harsh realities of death and poverty, challenges her previous understanding of the world. These experiences confront her with feelings and ideas that conflict with her sheltered, privileged upbringing.
As a result, she finds it difficult to articulate the complexity of her thoughts about life, death, and social inequality. The story’s ambiguous ending reflects Laura’s ongoing internal transformation and her struggle to fully comprehend or communicate the depth of her newfound awareness, highlighting the difficulty of reconciling her past life with the harsh truths she has just encountered.
Q.11 Discuss the various themes as exhibited in ‘The Garden Party’.
Answer: In Katherine Mansfield’s The Garden Party, several important themes are explored. One of the central themes is class distinction and social inequality, portrayed through the stark contrast between the affluent Sheridan family and the working-class Scotts. The extravagant garden party symbolizes the Sheridans’ privilege, while the Scotts’ grim reality highlights the deep social divide. Another theme is innocence versus experience, shown through Laura’s journey as she moves from innocent enjoyment of the party to a profound awareness of life’s harsh truths after Mr. Scott’s death.
Empathy and detachment are also central themes, exemplified by Laura’s concern for the Scotts’ tragedy, contrasted with her family’s indifference. The theme of illusion of beauty versus the reality of suffering is evident in the contrast between the beautiful party and the tragic news of Mr. Scott’s death. Finally, the theme of life and death emerges, suggesting that death erases social distinctions, offering eternal peace and equality.
Q.12 How does Laura’s attitude toward the workers reflect her personality and values?
Answer: Laura’s attitude toward the workers setting up the marquee reflects her sensitivity, empathy, and idealism. Unlike her family, who view the workers with patronization, Laura sees them as equals and feels a natural camaraderie with them. Her respectful treatment of the workers shows her belief in fairness and a lack of class prejudice, revealing her more compassionate nature. This stands in contrast to the other members of her family, who are indifferent to the workers’ lives and status.
Laura’s interaction with the workers foreshadows her later discomfort with her family’s shallow response to Mr. Scott’s death, illustrating her internal struggle with the growing awareness of social inequality. Ultimately, Laura’s kindness and empathy highlight her capacity for emotional growth, as she begins to question the values of her privileged upbringing and her role within it.
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WBCHSE Class 11 English 2nd Semester /
The Garden Party Question and Answer
Katherine Mansfield