empathy

Through Kezia the reader understands a child's inner world. In exams notice signs related to child psychology.

Kezia sees hidden affection in her father so closeness grows. In exams choose emotion words carefully.

Inner feelings connect the reader with characters. In exams underline emotional clues.

She understands that her father gets tired from work. In exams identify the human side of a character.

The punishment lacks understanding of intention so fear increases. In exams identify lack of empathy.

The story shows that affection improves relationships more than fear. In exams write the message directly.

Making the pincushion shows her love and sensitivity. In exams identify qualities through small actions.

At the end, when Kezia is frightened by a nightmare, her father takes her to his bed and comforts her. She realises that his stern manner does not mean that he lacks love; he is also tired after working hard and cares for her. Thus, the ending strengthens empathy because Kezia begins to understand her father’s feelings and situation from his point of view. Option A is incorrect because her fear decreases rather than increases. Exam tip: For theme-based questions, compare a character’s attitude at the beginning and at the end of the story.

She understands the situation behind her father's behaviour. In exams define empathy as understanding context.

The story shows that understanding feelings improves relationships. In exams keep the theme's essence clear.

A new experience helps Kezia understand her father's love and tiredness. In exams connect empathy with changing understanding.

Understanding the feeling behind someone's outward behaviour is empathy. In exams identifying hidden emotion is important.

Kezia understands her father's gentle side when she personally experiences it. In exams identify change created by experience.

Kezia's fear shows that children need understanding and safety. In exams focus on the needs of a child's mind.

Kezia initially sees her father as stern and frightening. After her nightmare, he lets her sleep beside him and comforts her lovingly, making her realise that he cares for her. This changes her image of him. The Macdonald family makes her reflect on fathers, but her father’s comforting behaviour is the decisive turning point. Exam tip: Remember the nightmare episode as the key event behind Kezia’s changed understanding.

Empathy understands the situation behind outward behaviour. In exams look at the cause of strictness.

The father punished her without understanding her good intention. In exams separate intention and result.

The attempt to make a gift shows that she wanted to please her father. In exams notice the feeling behind an action.

This scene shows Kezia another form of family affection. In exams understand scenes of comparison.

At first, Kezia fears her father because she notices only his strict behaviour. When he comforts her after her nightmare, she begins to understand his love and tiredness. Therefore, her decreasing fear shows the development of emotional understanding and empathy. Financial understanding or sporting skills are unrelated to this incident. Exam tip: Explain a character’s change by linking the experience to its result.