Parent-child relationships

Kezia tore up her father’s speech papers unknowingly because she needed paper to make a pin-cushion for her grandmother’s birthday. She did not intend to harm him or take revenge. Therefore, ‘Unknowingly’ is correct. Exam tip: Focus on a character’s intention behind an action.

The father punished Kezia when the papers were torn. This incident increases her fear in the story.

Kezia decided to make a pin-cushion for her father’s birthday because she wanted to make him happy. She tore up the papers by mistake to fill the cushion, so destroying the papers was not her intention. Exam tip: In questions about a character’s purpose, distinguish between intention and an accidental action.

After the punishment her fear of her father increased. Write the relation between incident and mental effect in exams.

Kezia had frightening dreams at night. She was afraid of her father’s strict manner and would wake up terrified after bad dreams. Pleasant or adventurous dreams do not match her early feelings of fear and insecurity. Exam tip: For questions about Kezia, remember her fear of her father and how her understanding of him changes later.

In Kezia’s frightening dream, a butcher came carrying a knife. Therefore, ‘Butcher’ is the correct answer. Kezia is afraid of her father in the story, but the person with the knife in her dream is not her father; it is a butcher. Exam tip: Distinguish between a character’s fears and the actual details of an event.

When Kezia was frightened, she called out to her grandmother. Her grandmother was her usual source of comfort and security, so Grandmother is the correct answer. Her father comforts her in one important scene after a nightmare, but he is not presented as her usual comforter. Exam tip: Remember Kezia’s cry, “Grandma! Grandma!”, during her nightmare.

Alice was the cook who worked in Kezia's house. In the story, she helps Kezia make a pin-cushion for her father's birthday at Kezia's mother's request. Therefore, she was neither Kezia's sister nor her teacher. Exam tip: remember characters along with their roles and relationships.

Kezia’s mother was ill and went to the hospital, while her grandmother went with her. Therefore, Kezia was away from both her mother and grandmother and was left at home with her father. The option mentioning her father and Alice is incorrect because they had not gone away from her. Exam tip: Link this incident with Kezia’s fear of her father and her later change in understanding.

On the frightening night, Kezia had a nightmare and cried in fear. Her father came into her room, took her into his arms, and slept beside her. Therefore, her father is the correct answer. Although Grandmother cares for Kezia in the story, it is her father who comforts her that night. Exam tip: Link this incident with the father's hidden affection behind his strict appearance.

After Kezia woke up frightened from a nightmare, her father made a little bed of pillows for her beside him. This moment helps Kezia realise his love and protection. The garden, kitchen, and doorway are not mentioned as her sleeping place in this incident. Exam tip: Remember this scene as Kezia’s new understanding of her father’s affection.

While sleeping beside her father, Kezia felt safe and comforted. After her nightmare, her father lets her sleep close to him, and her fear of him begins to lessen. Loneliness is the opposite feeling in this situation. Exam tip: Connect this incident with Kezia’s changing attitude towards her father.

With her head on her father’s chest, Kezia feels his warmth, heartbeat, and protection. She realizes that his stern outward manner does not mean he lacks love; he has deep affection for her. Option C may seem partly plausible, but the central realization in the story is her father’s loving heart. Exam tip: Focus on how Kezia’s attitude towards her father changes at the end of the story.

At the end of the story, Kezia’s father comforts her after she has a nightmare and lets her sleep beside him. Kezia then realises that, though he may appear strict, he has a big heart. “He is a stranger” is incorrect because she finally recognises his love and care. Exam tip: Focus on how Kezia’s opinion of her father changes by the end.

When Kezia is frightened by a nightmare, her father takes her to his bed and comforts her. This makes her realise that, although he appears strict, he loves and cares for her. Therefore, option A is correct. Mr Macdonald’s affectionate behaviour provides a comparison, but the decisive change in Kezia’s thinking comes from her father’s comfort at night. Exam tip: Remember the final bedtime incident as the turning point in the story.

Mr Macdonald played openly with his children. In exams write the comparison of different fatherly behaviour.

Mr Macdonald played with his children. Remember him as an example of open affection.

In the Macdonald family the father plays happily with his children. This relation is useful for comparison with Kezia's family.

Both fathers had love but their ways of showing it were different. Understand the difference in behaviour.

Kezia’s father often returned from work tired and serious. As a result, he could not express his affection openly, so Kezia initially considered him harsh. He did not hate children; by the end of the story, Kezia experiences his love and protection. Exam tip: Remember the contrast between the father’s strict outward manner and his hidden affection.