Introduction
A Cup of Tea by Katherine Mansfield is a beautiful and short Story of AHSEC Class 12 Alternative English (Harmony: An Anthology of Prose and Poetry) .Here you will get Brief Summary of the Story and Question Answers of A Cup of Tea with additional And Important Questions and their answers for Upcoming 2024 Examination.
Katherine Mansfield (1888-1923) is regarded as one of the best short story writers of the twentieth century. Her stories are about everyday concerns, full of imagery, metaphors and symbols. Her important works include Bliss and Other Short Stories (1920), In a German Prison (1911), The Garden Party and Other Stories (1922) and The Doves Nest and Other Stories (1923). Her short story 'A Cup of Tea' (1922) was first published in the magazine Story-Teller and later incorporated in the collection The Doves' Nest and Other Stories.
About The Author
Katherine Mansfield (1888-1923), a British author, was born in New Zealand. She is regarded as one of the best short story writers of the twentieth century. Her stories are about everyday concerns, full of imagery, metaphors and symbols. Her important works include Bliss and Other Short Stories (1920), In a German Prison (1911), The Garden Party and Other Stories (1922) and The Doves Nest and Other Stories (1923). Her short story 'A Cup of Tea' (1922) was first published in the magazine Story-Teller and later incorporated in the collection The Doves' Nest and Other Stories.
A Cup Of Tea: Summary
First published in 1922, Katherine Mansfield's short story 'A Cup of Tea' revolves around Rosemary, a snobbish upper-class woman, who is described as 'extremely modern' and 'exquisitely well dressed'; however, the narrator says that she is not the kind to be considered 'beautiful'. Though Rosemary is not exactly beautiful, she tries to compensate for this by living a life of extreme comfort, style and fashion. She has a taste for expensive antique products and often shops in the exclusive stores located on Curzon Street in London.
One winter evening, while leaving an antique shop, Rosemary unexpectedly meets a poor young girl named Miss Smith who is starving and begging for the price of a cup of tea to keep her warm. Rosemary is struck by the chance encounter with the poor girl, and it appears to her as something out of a Dostoevsky novel. She romanticizes Miss Smith's suffering as she believes that nobody could be so poor that could not even afford a cup of tea. She takes her home with the intention of offering Miss Smith a better life and proving that miracles can also happen in real life. However, Rosemary's actions are motivated more by a desire to show off her generosity and gain recognition from her upper-class friends, rather than genuine kindness.
At home, Rosemary offers Miss Smith tea and brandy. However, her husband Philip disapproves of her decision to keep a stranger in their home. So, to get rid of Miss Smith, he provokes Rosemary's jealousy by admiring the beauty of the poor girl. This exposes the artificial behavior and hypocrisy of Rosemary, and her romantic dreams come into conflict with reality. She immediately chases the girl away by offering her a present of money. She then tries to attract her husband's attention by asking him Am I pretty?" and expressing her desire to buy a little enamel box from the antique shop on Curzon Street
The story is narrated in the third person by an unnamed narrator. It throws light on the behavior of privileged individuals who try to appear generous in order to receive gratitude, admiration and respect from those whom they perceive as inferior to them in society. The character of Rosemary Fell serves as a vehicle for exploring important themes, including class consciousness, the status of women, consumerism, and excessive materialism.
A Cup Of Tea Chapter 1 Question Answers
Comprehension
A. State whether these sentences are True or False.
1. Miss Smith was a very rich girl.
Ans- False
2. Rosemary was a very compassionate woman.
Ans- True
3. Philip did not want Miss Smith to dine with them.
Ans- True
4. Rosemary had been married for a couple of years.
Ans- False
B. Answer these questions in one or two words.
1. Which Russian author influenced Katherine Mansfield?
Ans- Anton Chekhov.
2. In which street was Rosemary shopping when she met Miss Smith?
Ans- Curzon Street.
3. How many pounds did Rosemary give to Miss Smith?
Ans- 3 pounds.
4. What is the cost of the enamel box that Rosemary wanted to buy?
Ans- 28 Guineas.
5. What is the name of the main character of 'A Cup of Tea'?
Ans- Rosemary Fell.
C. Answer these questions in a few words each.
1. What are the names of the two women characters in the story A Cup of Tea'?
Ans- The two women characters in the story "A Cup of Tea" are Rosemary and Miss Smith.
2. What kind of a relationship do Rosemary and Philip share in 'A Cup of Tea'?
Ans- Rosemary and Philip have a husband and wife relationship in "A Cup of Tea."
3. How does Philip react towards Miss Smith?
Ans- Philip reacts by telling Rosemary that one cannot just bring someone into their house and keep them there.
4. Who was Miss Smith? Why did Rosemary send her back?
Ans- Miss Smith was a poor girl whom Rosemary encountered on the Curzon street.
Rosemary sent her back because she realized the girl's presence was disrupting their comfortable lifestyle.
5. Why did Philip disapprove of Rosemary's decision to keep Miss Smith with them?
Ans- Philip disapproved of Rosemary's decision to keep Miss Smith because he believed it would disrupt their social status and bring unwanted attention to their lives.
D. Answer these questions briefly in your own words.
1. Write a brief character sketch of Rosemary Fell.
Ans- Rosemary Fell lives a luxurious life as a result of her wealth and status. She is described as trendy, attractive, and having a penchant for luxury. She is depicted as impulsive and susceptible to emotional influence, though.
2. Describe Rosemary's encounter with Miss Smith.
Ans- Rosemary first meets Miss Smith when she comes across the young woman beggaring on the street. Rosemary invites Miss Smith to join her for tea after being overcome by a spontaneous emotion of compassion. This unanticipated act of goodwill triggers a chain of occurrences that upend Rosemary's life.
3. How does Katherine Mansfield explore the theme of 'class difference' in 'A Cup of Tea'?
Ans- The author of "A Cup of Tea" Katherine Mansfield examines the idea of class disparity by stressing the dramatic contrast between Miss Smith's poverty and Rosemary's luxurious lifestyle. The encounter between the two women reveals the enormous gap in their socioeconomic statuses and exemplifies the indifference and lack of understanding of the upper class toward the hardships of the lower class.
4. Why did Rosemary take Miss Smith home?
Ans- Rosemary initially brings Miss Smith home as a result of an impulsive impulse to assist a person in need. But as the narrative goes on, it becomes clear that Rosemary's motives are more nuanced. She is drawn to Miss Smith's presence and finds in her a means of satisfying her own need for adventure and a change from her routine existence.
E. Answer these questions in detail.
1. Examine in detail the various themes explored by Katherine Mansfield in her story 'A Cup of Tea'.
Ans- In "A Cup of Tea," Katherine Mansfield explores several themes that shed light on the complexities of human nature and societal dynamics.
The great disparity between social classes is one recurring subject. Mansfield explores the gap between the upper class's privileges—represented by Rosemary Fell—and the working class’s—represented by Miss Smith. Mansfield emphasizes the lack of empathy and understanding that frequently exist between persons of different social positions through this investigation. The narrative reveals how superficial and uninformed the upper class is about the hardships of the lower class.
The characteristics of compassion and its constraints are another issue. Mansfield investigates the varied causes that underlie deeds of kindness. Despite Rosemary's initial motivation to assist Miss Smith being a sincere wish to lessen suffering, it is subsequently discovered that Rosemary's activities are partly motivated by a need for thrill and self-gratification. Mansfield explores if compassion can actually close the gap between different socioeconomic strata as she poses concerns about the genuineness and limits of compassion.
The story frequently references the themes of identity and self-perception. Rosemary is portrayed by Mansfield as a character whose identity is determined by her social standing and the material possessions that go along with it. Her interaction with Miss Smith, however, upends her carefully crafted identity and makes her reevaluate her own goals and ideals. Mansfield dives into Rosemary's internal conflict as she battles her own sense of self-worth and her wish to be perceived as a kind and giving person.
2. Comment on the significance of the title of the story 'A Cup of Tea
Ans- The phrase "A Cup of Tea" has symbolic meaning throughout the entire narrative. When Rosemary invites Miss Smith to join her for tea, it initially signifies a deed of goodwill. The cup of tea serves as a spark for their meeting and launches the plot of the novel.
The phrase "fleeting moment of comfort and luxury" is also implied in the title. A cup of tea is frequently thought of as a tiny luxury, a momentary escape from the pressures of everyday life. Mansfield employs this symbolism in the narrative to emphasize the contrast between Miss Smith's severe circumstances and Rosemary's affluent life, where even the most basic pleasures are in short supply.
The phrase "human connection" and the pursuit of warmth and empathy are also metaphors that might be used to interpret the title. It implies that nice deeds like sharing a cup of tea might help people from various backgrounds get along. between
Overall, the phrase "A Cup of Tea" captures the key ideas of class distinction, compassion, and the transient nature of comfort, forcing readers to consider the deeper meanings of an apparently routine action.
