Debating different interpretations of Katherine Mansfield’s ‘The Fly’
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can present a convincing argument about how to interpret Katherine Mansfield’s short story, ‘The Fly’ (1922).
Key learning points
- You could argue that Mansfield is critical of the older generation in ‘The Fly’.
- At points, Mansfield seems to present the older generation as complacent, infantile and vacuous.
- These criticisms could stem from the idea that the older generation were not impacted by war as deeply as the younger.
- However, there is no one correct interpretation of ‘The Fly’.
Keywords
Vacuous - empty, having no thought or intelligence
Generation - refers to people of about the same age: grandparents, parents and children are all different generations
Complacent - smug, self-satisfied, uncritical of yourself
Infantile - childish
Criticism - expressing disapproval or disappointment with someone or something
Common misconception
There is one interpretation of a text and it is your job as a student of English to find the correct interpretation.
Texts rarely have one interpretation, and part of your job as a student of English is to consider the range and then select which one you think is the strongest, whilst still allowing for the idea that some might disagree with you.
Teacher tip
Consider if you have particular sentence stems or other structures which your pupils are more familiar with than learning cycle 2's 'ABC'. If so, use these in order to make for a more productive discussion.
Equipment
You need a copy of Katherine Mansfield's short story 'The Fly', which can be found in the additional materials.
Content guidance
Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour
Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Supervision
Adult supervision required
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Match these dates, all important to ‘The Fly’, to their event.
Katherine Mansfield is born
World War One starts
Katherine Mansfield’s brother is killed in a military accident
World War One ends
‘The Fly’ is published
Katherine Mansfield dies
Q2.Katherine Mansfield and Wilfred Owen are both important writers to the unit World at war: short stories. What is true of both writers?
Q3.Starting with the first, put these plot points relating to Mr. Woodifield from Katherine Mansfield’s ‘The Fly’ in chronological order.
Q4.In Katherine Mansfield’s ‘The Fly’, what is Mr. Woodifield compared to at the start of the story?
Q5.In Katherine Mansfield’s ‘The Fly’, how is the boss described at the start of the story?
Q6.In Katherine Mansfield’s ‘The Fly’, why hasn’t the boss visited Belgium to see his son’s grave?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Arguably, at points in Katherine Mansfield’s ‘The Fly’, the older generation are presented as , that is, empty, and having no thoughtfulness or intelligence.
Q2.Arguably, at points in Katherine Mansfield’s ‘The Fly’, the older generation are presented as , that is, smug and self-satisfied.
Q3.Arguably, at points in Katherine Mansfield’s ‘The Fly’, the older generation are presented as , that is, childish.
Q4.Arguably, at points in Katherine Mansfield’s ‘The Fly’, the older generation are presented as materialistic. Which quotations best prove this?
Q5.Arguably, at points in Katherine Mansfield’s ‘The Fly’, the older generation are presented as infantile. Which quotation best proves this?
Q6.Arguably, at points in Katherine Mansfield’s ‘The Fly’, the older generation are presented as complacent. Which quotations best prove this?
To help you plan your 9 English lesson on: Debating different interpretations of Katherine Mansfield’s ‘The Fly’, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 9 English lesson on: Debating different interpretations of Katherine Mansfield’s ‘The Fly’, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 3 English lessons from the Literary perspectives from the First World War unit, dive into the full secondary English curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.