in literature, a character who contrasts with another character

something that can’t be touched, that doesn’t have a physical presence

when writers use something to represent intangible ideas; the fly in this story is an example of a symbol

the tools a writer uses to create their work; character foils and use of symbolism are both examples of methods

Katherine Mansfield's 'The Fly' (1922): exploring character foils and symbolism

English

In 'A World at War: Short Stories', pupils explore the reasons for writing war literature and how it seeks to convey the suffering of soldiers and civilians, in times of conflict. In 'Power and Conflict Poetry', students explore the many types of conflict that arise through war, with themes including patriotism, propaganda, fear, guilt and duty.

In 'The Tempest', pupils are encouraged to write from the viewpoint of Caliban and Ariel, adopting character voices in creative writing. In 'A World at War', pupils emulate the writing styles of the authors that they encounter, to create an authentic voice in their writing. 

Literary perspectives from the First World War

Discriminatory behaviour or images, whether on the grounds of race, gender, disability, religion or belief or sexual orientation, or otherwise.

Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour

Subjects which particular individuals may be sensitive to, eg, adoption, migration, bereavement or death, divorce.

Depiction or discussion of sensitive content

Depiction of war, threats of war, death or the aftermath of war.

Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering

when writers use something to represent intangible ideas

the tools a writer uses to create their work

All of these words are important to ‘The Fly’ by Katherine Mansfield. Match the words to their definitions.

In ‘The Fly’ by Katherine Mansfield, how does the boss treat Mr. Woodifield?

Mr. Woodifield is much older than the boss.

Mr. Woodifield can talk about his son’s death.

The boss fought in the war; Mr. Woodifield did not.

Mr. Woodifield’s son is alive; the boss’s son is dead.

The boss cries when his son is mentioned; Mr. Woodifield does not.

In ‘The Fly’ by Katherine Mansfield, what are some of the differences between Mr. Woodifield and the boss?

He tells Macey that he mustn’t be disturbed for at least 30 minutes.

He looks at his son’s photo but still doesn’t cry.

He remembers when he heard of his son’s death.

He reflects that life is meaningless without his son.

Starting with the first, put this sequence of plot points about what the boss does after Mr. Woodifield leaves from Katherine Mansfield’s ‘The Fly’ in chronological order.

In ‘The Fly’ by Katherine Mansfield, the boss believes that "other men might {{ }}" from the loss of their son(s) in WW1, "but not he".

In ‘The Fly’ by Katherine Mansfield, Mansfield describes the fly as "{{ }}, and afraid to move" after the boss drops ink for the first time.

a retired gentleman whose son died in World War One

a working man whose son died in World War One

Here are the characters from Katherine Mansfield's short story, 'The Fly'. Match each character to what we know about them.

Mr. Woodifield admires the boss's office.

Mr. Woodifield mentions seeing the boss’s son's grave.

The reference to his son plunges the boss into despair.

The boss notices a fly which has fallen into his inkpot.

The boss purposefully drops ink on the fly three times.

The boss can't remember what he was thinking about before he killed the fly.

Starting with the first, put these plot points from Katherine Mansfield’s ‘The Fly’ in chronological order.

The boss notices the fly trying to clamber out of his ink pot.

The boss helps the fly out of the ink pot.

The boss is impressed by the fly’s ability to clean itself.

The fly manages to clean itself once more.

The boss drops ink on the fly two more times.

The fly dies; the boss can’t remember what he was thinking about previously.

Starting with the first, put these plot points detailing the incident with the fly from Katherine Mansfield’s ‘The Fly’ in chronological order.

In ‘The Fly’ by Katherine Mansfield, how is the boss presented at the beginning of the short story?

In ‘The Fly’ by Katherine Mansfield, the boss says that when he heard of his son’s death, he felt like the future he had planned came “{{ }} about his head”.

In ‘The Fly’ by Katherine Mansfield, Mr. Woodifield admires the boss’s ability to be “still at the {{ }}” of his company.

Content guidance

Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour

Depiction or discussion of sensitive content

Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering

Adult supervision required

This lesson will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.

Katherine Mansfield's 'The Fly' (1922): exploring character foils and symbolism

Lesson outcome

Content guidance

This lesson will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.