127. AltE HS2nd Yr- A Cup of Tea (20)

1. Why does Rosemary like shopping at antique stores ?

Ans:- Rosemary believes in materialism. She also likes the way of flattery which the shopkeeper at the antique shop treats her.

2. What does Rosemary’s response to the shopkeeper’s flattery reveal about her character?

Ans:- Rosemary is fond of getting a treatment full of flattery. She is easily influenced by the owner at the antique shop.

3. What plans for Miss Smith does Rosemary have at first?

Ans:- When Miss Smith asks Rosemary the price of a cup of tea, it seemed to Rosemary an adventure. To take her home would be a thrilling experience.

4. How does Philip react towards Miss Smith ?

Ans:- He immediately understands the situation when he looks at the hat and coat lying on the floor. He wants to send Miss Smith out, as she belongs to a poor class.

5. What idea do you get about ‘Philip’ from the story?

Ans:- Philip, Rosemary’s husband, is a practical and very tactful person. He wants to send Miss Smith out of his home. He also knows the jealous nature of his wife very well.

6. What kind of a person is Rosemary?

Ans:- Rosemary, the main character, is a snobbish kind of person. At the flower shop she would throw her weight around by telling them her likes and dislikes. She is fond of receiving flattery and praise from everyone. Rosemany loves reading books and novels. But she is always lost in the world of dreams, fantasy and romance.

7. Does the girl’s reaction to Rosemary’s invitation surprise you?

Ans:- The girl’s reaction to Rosemary’s invitation is really surprising. There was pain in her voice. She anxiously asks Rosemary if she was not taking her to the police station. Miss Smith feels herself to be a captive, netted very firmly by an unknown person. The girl breaks down in tears and says she cannot go on any longer.

8. Is Rosemary a good kind-hearted lady or a superficial one?

Ans:- Rosemary is not a kind-hearted lady. She shows sympathy towards a poor girl, and instead of giving her the price of tea, she drags her home. Rosemary’s intention in doing so is just to influence her friends, and building an image of godmother in the poor girl’s mind.

9. How was Rosemary’s perception of herself changed by the end of the story?

Ans:- The wealthy Rosemary invited Miss Smith home with her. She really wanted the chance to show off her lavish life style. In order to feel good about herself and her possession, she needed others to tell her that what she had was very good. While chatting with Miss Smith, she considered the differences in their lives and thought herself lucky.

10. In “A Cup of Tea” by Katherine we have the theme of jealousy, insecurity, materialism and class snobbery. Comment.

Ans:- Katherine Mansfield has elaborated various human weaknesses beautifully in this story. Rosemary has a car and by introducing the car into the story it is possible that the writer is further highlighting the class difference that exists between Rosemary and those around her. A word of praise for the girl from Philip makes Rosemary jealous. She felt insecure although her husband loved and adored her. Thus jealousy, the universal human feeling turns her into a hard realist. By telling the reader that Rosemary must have the little box of the antique shop, the writer is highlighting the importance of material things to Rosemary.

11. In what way Rosemary is different from other people ?

Ans:- Rosemary, the main character, is an extremely rich lady. She goes shopping to Paris from London. She is a snobbish kind of person. The antique shop dealer keeps flattering her by which she is carried away. She is young, brilliant, extremely modern and a well dressed lady. But she is a vain person also. She loves reading books and novels. She is always lost in the world of dreams, fantasy. and romanticism. She does not know about the realities of the world. She becomes jealous, when her husband Philip admires the girl’s look.

12. Why was Rosemary unable to buy the box at the antique shop?

Ans:- After admiring the box once again she put on her gloves. She had to take her husband’s permission to buy that box. As men are not interested in these type of things, and women are dependent on men economically so Rosemary could not buy that box.

13. How does Rosemary treat the poor girl at home?

Ans: She takes the girl home, ushers (takes) her into her private bedroom, and makes her comfortable. When the girl begins to cry, she puts her arm around the girl’s thin bird-like shoulders and promises to look after her. When Rosemary’s husband Philip asks about her identity, the young girl tells what is clearly a false name (Smith).

14. How is it beneficial to Rosemary taking the poor girl home?

Ans:- It is interesting that Rosemary, while the poor girl is in her bedroom having tea, leaves the poor girl’s hat and coat on the floor. When the poor girl begins to cry, she caresses her with love and promises to look after her. She considers that in this way she will be able to boast about to her friends.

15. What is the significance of Philip’s role in the story?

Ans:- Although initially surprised, Philip recovers and asks to speak to Rosemary alone in the library. Philip conveys his disapproval when Rosemary resists dismissing Miss Smith. Philip tries another more successful tactic. He says to Rosemary that Miss Smith is very pretty. In this way Philip is a very practical and tactful person.

16. Why does Philip want to send Miss Smith out of his home?

Ans:- Philip, Rosemary’s husband is shocked by two things – First by how attractive Miss Smith is and second by the inappropriate relationship that exists between the two women. The girl might be an unemployed shop girl who is sponging off his wealthy wife, but at a deeper level there is a suggestion that she might be a woman of questionable character. At the time in the early 20th century, the employment of single females in occupation such as miliner (hat maker), shop assistant and other forms of lowly jobs were regarded loosely as prostitutes.

17. Write a brief summary of the story “A cup of Tea”.

Ans:- Rosemary is a young rich woman. She shops in fashionable and expensive parts of Paris. An antique dealer shows her a small enamelled box. She covets but asks to put it for her. Coming out of the shop into the rain, she meets with a poor young girl who asks for the price of a cup of tea. Rosemary invites the girl back home. She gives the girl tea and sandwiches, whilst she herself smokes cigarettes. Her husband Philip points out that the girl is remarkably pretty, but the relationship is not desirable. Rosemary gives the girl some money and asks her to go away. Then she asks her husband if she can have the enamelled box. However, what she really wants to know from him is if she is pretty or not.

18. Describe the use of symbolism in the story.

Ans:- Mansfield appears to be using symbolism utilizing atomospheric setting. Rosemary’s melancholy mood is highlighted after she is unable to buy the little box. There was a cold bitter taste in the air and the new-lighted lamps looked sad. In many ways this setting mirrors how Rosemary may feel about having to leave the shop without buying the little box. The flowers that Rosemary buys may also have symbolic importance. By telling the reader that Rosemary wanted many kinds of flowers and four bunches of roses, Mansfield may be further highlighting how different Rosemary is from other people (due to her wealth) and how extravagant she is.

19. Which is the main turning point in the story?

Ans: Rosemary’s change of attitude towards Miss Smith after Philip tells her that he thinks Miss Smith is pretty is the main turning point in the story. It is from Philip’s remark that the reader realises not only is Rosemary jealous of Miss Smith (because she is pretty) but she also appears to be insecure about her own physical appearance. It may also be the case that Philip is attempting to manipulate or control Rosemary, By telling Rosemary that Miss Smith is pretty, Philip is aware that it will result in Rosemary not only feeling jealous but it will also ensure that Miss Smith leaves their home.

20. How can you say that Rosemary feels insecure about her own physical appearance ?

Ans:- How insecure Rosemary may feel about her physical appearance is noticeable by the fact that after Miss Smith leaves Rosemary’s home, she does up her hair, darkens her eyes a little and puts on her pearls. This action is important enough to suggest that Rosemary is attempting to make herself pretty, at least in Philip’s eyes. The fact that Rosemary asks Philip for money to buy the little box may also be significant as it shows the importance of material things to Rosemary. The story ends with Rosemary asking Philip, “Am I pretty ?” and this shows how insecure Rosemary feels about her physical appearance.