Her First Ball, Katherine Mansfield, Analysis, Summary, Themes

"Her First Ball" by Katherine Mansfield is a captivating short story set in the 1920s. Leila, a country girl attending her inaugural dance with her city cousins, experiences a mix of excitement and introspection. As she navigates the crowded ballroom, Leila encounters various dance partners, including a melancholic older man who paints a sobering picture of her future. Mansfield skillfully captures the essence of youth, anticipation, and self-discovery in this poignant tale. Read the Story Katherine Mansfield • Prominent modernist writer of short fiction • Born and brought up in colonial New Zealand Plot Sumamry Leila, a young girl attending her first ball, experiences a mix of excitement and insecurity. She joins her companions in a cab, feeling a sense of anticipation. Leila's lack of previous ball experience surprises the Sheridan girls, who come from a more social background. As they arrive at the ball, Leila is captivated by the new and thrilling atmosphere. L…
Share this post to support us Leave a review or comments using disqus or facebook below
Join the conversation

<script type="text/javascript" src="https://www.blogger.com/static/v1/widgets/984859869-widgets.js"></script>
<script type='text/javascript'>
window['__wavt'] = 'AOuZoY7DXvpjZ5pm4iVtvm1GEHTwFTibtw:1732498492332';_WidgetManager._Init('//www.blogger.com/rearrange?blogID\x3d7166543372327389184','//www.classwithmason.com/2023/06/her-first-ball-katherine-mansfield.html?amp\x3d1','7166543372327389184');
_WidgetManager._SetDataContext([{'name': 'blog', 'data': {'blogId': '7166543372327389184', 'title': 'Class with Mason - School of Literary Studies ', 'url': 'https://www.classwithmason.com/2023/06/her-first-ball-katherine-mansfield.html?amp\x3d1', 'canonicalUrl': 'https://www.classwithmason.com/2023/06/her-first-ball-katherine-mansfield.html', 'homepageUrl': 'https://www.classwithmason.com/?amp\x3d1', 'searchUrl': 'https://www.classwithmason.com/search', 'canonicalHomepageUrl': 'https://www.classwithmason.com/', 'blogspotFaviconUrl': 'https://www.classwithmason.com/favicon.ico', 'bloggerUrl': 'https://www.blogger.com', 'hasCustomDomain': true, 'httpsEnabled': true, 'enabledCommentProfileImages': true, 'gPlusViewType': 'FILTERED_POSTMOD', 'adultContent': false, 'analyticsAccountNumber': 'G-CEKEBW3978', 'analytics4': true, 'encoding': 'UTF-8', 'locale': 'en-GB', 'localeUnderscoreDelimited': 'en_gb', 'languageDirection': 'ltr', 'isPrivate': false, 'isMobile': false, 'isMobileRequest': false, 'mobileClass': '', 'isPrivateBlog': false, 'isDynamicViewsAvailable': true, 'feedLinks': '\x3clink rel\x3d\x22alternate\x22 type\x3d\x22application/atom+xml\x22 title\x3d\x22Class with Mason - School of Literary Studies  - Atom\x22 href\x3d\x22https://www.classwithmason.com/feeds/posts/default\x22 /\x3e\n\x3clink rel\x3d\x22alternate\x22 type\x3d\x22application/rss+xml\x22 title\x3d\x22Class with Mason - School of Literary Studies  - RSS\x22 href\x3d\x22https://www.classwithmason.com/feeds/posts/default?alt\x3drss\x22 /\x3e\n\x3clink rel\x3d\x22service.post\x22 type\x3d\x22application/atom+xml\x22 title\x3d\x22Class with Mason - School of Literary Studies  - Atom\x22 href\x3d\x22https://www.blogger.com/feeds/7166543372327389184/posts/default\x22 /\x3e\n\n\x3clink rel\x3d\x22alternate\x22 type\x3d\x22application/atom+xml\x22 title\x3d\x22Class with Mason - School of Literary Studies  - Atom\x22 href\x3d\x22https://www.classwithmason.com/feeds/3866783421468096390/comments/default\x22 /\x3e\n', 'meTag': '', 'adsenseClientId': 'ca-pub-1834392718225762', 'adsenseHostId': 'ca-host-pub-1556223355139109', 'adsenseHasAds': true, 'adsenseAutoAds': true, 'boqCommentIframeForm': true, 'loginRedirectParam': '', 'view': '', 'dynamicViewsCommentsSrc': '//www.blogblog.com/dynamicviews/4224c15c4e7c9321/js/comments.js', 'dynamicViewsScriptSrc': '//www.blogblog.com/dynamicviews/da8f33dd880cc4f1', 'plusOneApiSrc': 'https://apis.google.com/js/platform.js', 'disableGComments': true, 'interstitialAccepted': false, 'sharing': {'platforms': [{'name': 'Get link', 'key': 'link', 'shareMessage': 'Get link', 'target': ''}, {'name': 'Facebook', 'key': 'facebook', 'shareMessage': 'Share to Facebook', 'target': 'facebook'}, {'name': 'BlogThis!', 'key': 'blogThis', 'shareMessage': 'BlogThis!', 'target': 'blog'}, {'name': 'X', 'key': 'twitter', 'shareMessage': 'Share to X', 'target': 'twitter'}, {'name': 'Pinterest', 'key': 'pinterest', 'shareMessage': 'Share to Pinterest', 'target': 'pinterest'}, {'name': 'Email', 'key': 'email', 'shareMessage': 'Email', 'target': 'email'}], 'disableGooglePlus': true, 'googlePlusShareButtonWidth': 0, 'googlePlusBootstrap': '\x3cscript type\x3d\x22text/javascript\x22\x3ewindow.___gcfg \x3d {\x27lang\x27: \x27en_GB\x27};\x3c/script\x3e'}, 'hasCustomJumpLinkMessage': false, 'jumpLinkMessage': 'Read more', 'pageType': 'item', 'postId': '3866783421468096390', 'pageName': 'Her First Ball, Katherine Mansfield, Analysis, Summary, Themes', 'pageTitle': 'Class with Mason - School of Literary Studies : Her First Ball, Katherine Mansfield, Analysis, Summary, Themes', 'metaDescription': ''}}, {'name': 'features', 'data': {}}, {'name': 'messages', 'data': {'edit': 'Edit', 'linkCopiedToClipboard': 'Link copied to clipboard', 'ok': 'Ok', 'postLink': 'Post link'}}, {'name': 'template', 'data': {'name': 'custom', 'localizedName': 'Custom', 'isResponsive': true, 'isAlternateRendering': false, 'isCustom': true}}, {'name': 'view', 'data': {'classic': {'name': 'classic', 'url': '?view\x3dclassic'}, 'flipcard': {'name': 'flipcard', 'url': '?view\x3dflipcard'}, 'magazine': {'name': 'magazine', 'url': '?view\x3dmagazine'}, 'mosaic': {'name': 'mosaic', 'url': '?view\x3dmosaic'}, 'sidebar': {'name': 'sidebar', 'url': '?view\x3dsidebar'}, 'snapshot': {'name': 'snapshot', 'url': '?view\x3dsnapshot'}, 'timeslide': {'name': 'timeslide', 'url': '?view\x3dtimeslide'}, 'isMobile': false, 'title': 'Her First Ball, Katherine Mansfield, Analysis, Summary, Themes', 'description': 'Free Courses on English Literature, Critical Theories, Critical Thinking Skills, Academic Research, Blogging 101, SEO Optimization, and much more!', 'url': 'https://www.classwithmason.com/2023/06/her-first-ball-katherine-mansfield.html?amp\x3d1', 'type': 'item', 'isSingleItem': true, 'isMultipleItems': false, 'isError': false, 'isPage': false, 'isPost': true, 'isHomepage': false, 'isArchive': false, 'isLabelSearch': false, 'postId': 3866783421468096390}}, {'name': 'widgets', 'data': [{'title': 'Class with Mason - School of Literary Studies  (Header)', 'type': 'Header', 'sectionId': 'sec_Header_Title', 'id': 'Header01'}, {'title': 'Try \x27Rumi\x27', 'type': 'BlogSearch', 'sectionId': 'sec_Header_Search', 'id': 'BlogSearch01'}, {'title': 'Header Icon', 'type': 'TextList', 'sectionId': 'sec_Header_Icon', 'id': 'TextList01'}, {'title': 'Bookmark Posts', 'type': 'LinkList', 'sectionId': 'sec_Header_Icon', 'id': 'LinkList02'}, {'title': 'Translate', 'type': 'LinkList', 'sectionId': 'sec_Header_Icon', 'id': 'LinkList03'}, {'title': 'Navigation Menu', 'type': 'HTML', 'sectionId': 'sec_Nav_Widgets_1', 'id': 'HTML01'}, {'title': 'Additional Links', 'type': 'PageList', 'sectionId': 'sec_Nav_Widgets_2', 'id': 'PageList02'}, {'title': 'Social Links', 'type': 'LinkList', 'sectionId': 'sec_Nav_Widgets_2', 'id': 'LinkList04'}, {'title': 'Tabbed Menu', 'type': 'LinkList', 'sectionId': 'sec_Notif_Widgets', 'id': 'LinkList05'}, {'title': 'Under Header Ad [Desktop]', 'type': 'LinkList', 'sectionId': 'sec_Horizontal-Ad', 'id': 'LinkList81'}, {'title': 'Pinned Post', 'type': 'FeaturedPost', 'sectionId': 'sec_Top_Widgets', 'id': 'FeaturedPost01', 'postId': '7844201931537701608'}, {'title': 'Blog Posts', 'type': 'Blog', 'sectionId': 'sec_Main_Widgets', 'id': 'Blog01', 'posts': [{'id': '3866783421468096390', 'title': 'Her First Ball, Katherine Mansfield, Analysis, Summary, Themes', 'showInlineAds': false}], 'footerBylines': [{'regionName': 'footer1', 'items': [{'name': 'author', 'label': 'Published by'}, {'name': 'timestamp', 'label': 'On'}, {'name': 'comments', 'label': 'Comment'}, {'name': 'share', 'label': ''}]}, {'regionName': 'footer2', 'items': [{'name': 'labels', 'label': 'in'}]}], 'allBylineItems': [{'name': 'author', 'label': 'Published by'}, {'name': 'timestamp', 'label': 'On'}, {'name': 'comments', 'label': 'Comment'}, {'name': 'share', 'label': ''}, {'name': 'labels', 'label': 'in'}]}, {'title': 'Categorized Posts', 'type': 'LinkList', 'sectionId': 'sec_Main_Widgets', 'id': 'LinkList07'}, {'title': 'Post Middle Ads', 'type': 'LinkList', 'sectionId': 'sec_Main_Widgets', 'id': 'LinkList84'}, {'title': 'Table of contents', 'type': 'HTML', 'sectionId': 'sec_Main_Widgets', 'id': 'HTML11'}, {'title': 'Below Posts Ad', 'type': 'LinkList', 'sectionId': 'sec_Bottom_Widgets', 'id': 'LinkList85'}, {'title': 'Popular Notes', 'type': 'PopularPosts', 'sectionId': 'sec_Side_Widgets', 'id': 'PopularPosts01', 'posts': [{'title': 'So Many Oaks by Sujata Bhatt, Summary, Analysis \x26 Symbolism', 'id': 6189666065763971078}, {'title': 'So Many Oaks by Sujata Bhatt: 20 Questions \x26 Answers', 'id': 6991787543551169152}, {'title': 'The Human Seasons, John Keats, Analysis \x26 Summary', 'id': 8752523764861648100}, {'title': 'The Man in Black by Goldsmith: Summary \x26 Analysis', 'id': 8780696141413210093}, {'title': 'Helen Keller, Langston Hughes: Summary \x26 Analysis', 'id': 7669991146026607242}]}, {'title': 'Labels', 'type': 'Label', 'sectionId': 'sec_Side_Widgets', 'id': 'Label01'}, {'title': 'Sticky Ad [Desktop]', 'type': 'LinkList', 'sectionId': 'sec_Side_Sticky', 'id': 'LinkList86'}, {'title': 'Take me back', 'type': 'HTML', 'sectionId': 'sec_Error_404', 'id': 'HTML404'}, {'title': 'Class with Mason', 'type': 'Image', 'sectionId': 'sec_Footer_Widgets_1', 'id': 'Image21'}, {'title': 'Social Media Links', 'type': 'LinkList', 'sectionId': 'sec_Footer_Widgets_1', 'id': 'LinkList21'}, {'title': 'English Literature', 'type': 'LinkList', 'sectionId': 'sec_Footer_Widgets_2', 'id': 'LinkList22'}, {'title': 'Language Lab', 'type': 'LinkList', 'sectionId': 'sec_Footer_Widgets_3', 'id': 'LinkList23'}, {'title': 'Interactive Learning', 'type': 'LinkList', 'sectionId': 'sec_Footer_Widgets_4', 'id': 'LinkList24'}, {'title': 'Credit', 'type': 'HTML', 'sectionId': 'sec_Footer_Credit', 'id': 'HTML21'}, {'title': 'Mobile Menu', 'type': 'TextList', 'sectionId': 'sec_Mobile_Menu', 'id': 'TextList99'}, {'title': 'Labels', 'type': 'Label', 'sectionId': 'sec_Theme_Hidden', 'id': 'Label41'}, {'title': '\u09af\u09cb\u0997\u09be\u09af\u09cb\u0997 \u09ab\u09b0\u09cd\u09ae', 'type': 'ContactForm', 'sectionId': 'sec_Theme_Hidden', 'id': 'ContactForm41'}, {'title': 'Pageviews last month', 'type': 'Stats', 'sectionId': 'sec_Theme_Hidden', 'id': 'Stats41'}, {'title': 'Firebase Configurations', 'type': 'LinkList', 'sectionId': 'sec_Addon_Widgets', 'id': 'LinkList61'}, {'title': 'Progressive Web App', 'type': 'LinkList', 'sectionId': 'sec_Addon_Widgets', 'id': 'LinkList62'}, {'title': 'Cookie Consent [NoTitle]', 'type': 'LinkList', 'sectionId': 'sec_Addon_Widgets', 'id': 'LinkList63'}, {'title': 'AdBlock detected!', 'type': 'HTML', 'sectionId': 'sec_Addon_Widgets', 'id': 'HTML61'}, {'title': 'Image Uploader', 'type': 'Image', 'sectionId': 'sec_Addon_Widgets', 'id': 'Image61'}]}]);
_WidgetManager._RegisterWidget('_HeaderView', new _WidgetInfo('Header01', 'sec_Header_Title', document.getElementById('Header01'), {}, 'displayModeFull'));
_WidgetManager._RegisterWidget('_BlogSearchView', new _WidgetInfo('BlogSearch01', 'sec_Header_Search', document.getElementById('BlogSearch01'), {}, 'displayModeFull'));
_WidgetManager._RegisterWidget('_TextListView', new _WidgetInfo('TextList01', 'sec_Header_Icon', document.getElementById('TextList01'), {}, 'displayModeFull'));
_WidgetManager._RegisterWidget('_LinkListView', new _WidgetInfo('LinkList02', 'sec_Header_Icon', document.getElementById('LinkList02'), {}, 'displayModeFull'));
_WidgetManager._RegisterWidget('_LinkListView', new _WidgetInfo('LinkList03', 'sec_Header_Icon', document.getElementById('LinkList03'), {}, 'displayModeFull'));
_WidgetManager._RegisterWidget('_HTMLView', new _WidgetInfo('HTML01', 'sec_Nav_Widgets_1', document.getElementById('HTML01'), {}, 'displayModeFull'));
_WidgetManager._RegisterWidget('_PageListView', new _WidgetInfo('PageList02', 'sec_Nav_Widgets_2', document.getElementById('PageList02'), {'title': 'Additional Links', 'links': [{'isCurrentPage': false, 'href': '/p/sitemap.html', 'title': 'Sitemap'}, {'isCurrentPage': false, 'href': '#', 'title': 'Disclaimer'}, {'isCurrentPage': false, 'href': '#', 'title': 'Privacy'}], 'mobile': false, 'showPlaceholder': true, 'hasCurrentPage': false}, 'displayModeFull'));
_WidgetManager._RegisterWidget('_LinkListView', new _WidgetInfo('LinkList04', 'sec_Nav_Widgets_2', document.getElementById('LinkList04'), {}, 'displayModeFull'));
_WidgetManager._RegisterWidget('_LinkListView', new _WidgetInfo('LinkList05', 'sec_Notif_Widgets', document.getElementById('LinkList05'), {}, 'displayModeFull'));
_WidgetManager._RegisterWidget('_LinkListView', new _WidgetInfo('LinkList81', 'sec_Horizontal-Ad', document.getElementById('LinkList81'), {}, 'displayModeFull'));
_WidgetManager._RegisterWidget('_FeaturedPostView', new _WidgetInfo('FeaturedPost01', 'sec_Top_Widgets', document.getElementById('FeaturedPost01'), {}, 'displayModeFull'));
_WidgetManager._RegisterWidget('_BlogView', new _WidgetInfo('Blog01', 'sec_Main_Widgets', document.getElementById('Blog01'), {'cmtInteractionsEnabled': false}, 'displayModeFull'));
_WidgetManager._RegisterWidget('_LinkListView', new _WidgetInfo('LinkList07', 'sec_Main_Widgets', document.getElementById('LinkList07'), {}, 'displayModeFull'));
_WidgetManager._RegisterWidget('_LinkListView', new _WidgetInfo('LinkList84', 'sec_Main_Widgets', document.getElementById('LinkList84'), {}, 'displayModeFull'));
_WidgetManager._RegisterWidget('_HTMLView', new _WidgetInfo('HTML11', 'sec_Main_Widgets', document.getElementById('HTML11'), {}, 'displayModeFull'));
_WidgetManager._RegisterWidget('_LinkListView', new _WidgetInfo('LinkList85', 'sec_Bottom_Widgets', document.getElementById('LinkList85'), {}, 'displayModeFull'));
_WidgetManager._RegisterWidget('_PopularPostsView', new _WidgetInfo('PopularPosts01', 'sec_Side_Widgets', document.getElementById('PopularPosts01'), {}, 'displayModeFull'));
_WidgetManager._RegisterWidget('_LabelView', new _WidgetInfo('Label01', 'sec_Side_Widgets', document.getElementById('Label01'), {}, 'displayModeFull'));
_WidgetManager._RegisterWidget('_LinkListView', new _WidgetInfo('LinkList86', 'sec_Side_Sticky', document.getElementById('LinkList86'), {}, 'displayModeFull'));
_WidgetManager._RegisterWidget('_HTMLView', new _WidgetInfo('HTML404', 'sec_Error_404', document.getElementById('HTML404'), {}, 'displayModeFull'));
_WidgetManager._RegisterWidget('_ImageView', new _WidgetInfo('Image21', 'sec_Footer_Widgets_1', document.getElementById('Image21'), {'resize': true}, 'displayModeFull'));
_WidgetManager._RegisterWidget('_LinkListView', new _WidgetInfo('LinkList21', 'sec_Footer_Widgets_1', document.getElementById('LinkList21'), {}, 'displayModeFull'));
_WidgetManager._RegisterWidget('_LinkListView', new _WidgetInfo('LinkList22', 'sec_Footer_Widgets_2', document.getElementById('LinkList22'), {}, 'displayModeFull'));
_WidgetManager._RegisterWidget('_LinkListView', new _WidgetInfo('LinkList23', 'sec_Footer_Widgets_3', document.getElementById('LinkList23'), {}, 'displayModeFull'));
_WidgetManager._RegisterWidget('_LinkListView', new _WidgetInfo('LinkList24', 'sec_Footer_Widgets_4', document.getElementById('LinkList24'), {}, 'displayModeFull'));
_WidgetManager._RegisterWidget('_HTMLView', new _WidgetInfo('HTML21', 'sec_Footer_Credit', document.getElementById('HTML21'), {}, 'displayModeFull'));
_WidgetManager._RegisterWidget('_TextListView', new _WidgetInfo('TextList99', 'sec_Mobile_Menu', document.getElementById('TextList99'), {}, 'displayModeFull'));
_WidgetManager._RegisterWidget('_LabelView', new _WidgetInfo('Label41', 'sec_Theme_Hidden', document.getElementById('Label41'), {}, 'displayModeFull'));
_WidgetManager._RegisterWidget('_ContactFormView', new _WidgetInfo('ContactForm41', 'sec_Theme_Hidden', document.getElementById('ContactForm41'), {'contactFormMessageSendingMsg': 'Sending...', 'contactFormMessageSentMsg': 'Your message has been sent.', 'contactFormMessageNotSentMsg': 'Message could not be sent. Please try again later.', 'contactFormInvalidEmailMsg': 'A valid email address is required.', 'contactFormEmptyMessageMsg': 'Message field cannot be empty.', 'title': '\u09af\u09cb\u0997\u09be\u09af\u09cb\u0997 \u09ab\u09b0\u09cd\u09ae', 'blogId': '7166543372327389184', 'contactFormNameMsg': 'Name', 'contactFormEmailMsg': 'Email', 'contactFormMessageMsg': 'Message', 'contactFormSendMsg': 'Send', 'contactFormToken': 'AOuZoY7FOXRCAOyTFyaLpw-LxjlWcstNrw:1732498492333', 'submitUrl': 'https://www.blogger.com/contact-form.do'}, 'displayModeFull'));
_WidgetManager._RegisterWidget('_StatsView', new _WidgetInfo('Stats41', 'sec_Theme_Hidden', document.getElementById('Stats41'), {'title': 'Pageviews last month', 'showGraphicalCounter': false, 'showAnimatedCounter': false, 'showSparkline': true, 'statsUrl': '//www.classwithmason.com/b/stats?amp\x3d1\x26style\x3dBLACK_TRANSPARENT\x26timeRange\x3dLAST_WEEK\x26token\x3dAPq4FmAZHTJ3c0PCtAno2e7cVsuTr-cbzMJlZWsPjdYEsuwYvP6GpXZfntw-ogj8SGyb0FTuHhnAZTHYoM1bkl6Ocai56mxKWA'}, 'displayModeFull'));
_WidgetManager._RegisterWidget('_LinkListView', new _WidgetInfo('LinkList61', 'sec_Addon_Widgets', document.getElementById('LinkList61'), {}, 'displayModeFull'));
_WidgetManager._RegisterWidget('_LinkListView', new _WidgetInfo('LinkList62', 'sec_Addon_Widgets', document.getElementById('LinkList62'), {}, 'displayModeFull'));
_WidgetManager._RegisterWidget('_LinkListView', new _WidgetInfo('LinkList63', 'sec_Addon_Widgets', document.getElementById('LinkList63'), {}, 'displayModeFull'));
_WidgetManager._RegisterWidget('_HTMLView', new _WidgetInfo('HTML61', 'sec_Addon_Widgets', document.getElementById('HTML61'), {}, 'displayModeFull'));
_WidgetManager._RegisterWidget('_ImageView', new _WidgetInfo('Image61', 'sec_Addon_Widgets', document.getElementById('Image61'), {'resize': false}, 'displayModeFull'));
</script>
</body>
Class with Mason - School of Literary Studies

Her First Ball, Katherine Mansfield, Analysis, Summary, Themes

Join the conversation

Join the conversation

So Many Oaks by Sujata Bhatt, Summary, Analysis & Symbolism

So Many Oaks by Sujata Bhatt: 20 Questions & Answers

The Human Seasons, John Keats, Analysis & Summary

The Man in Black by Goldsmith: Summary & Analysis

Helen Keller, Langston Hughes: Summary & Analysis

Class with Mason
