Structure
“Clara’s Day” by Penelope Lively follows a teenage girl who undresses at school and the consequences of her actions. The plot is focused on the character’s inner conflict and her relationship with adults in her life: the Head, her mother, and St…
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Beginning
The short story begins with a short exposition which presents the intrigue of the plot. The main character undresses at school one day in front of her teachers and colleagues: “When Clara Tilling was fifteen and a half she took off all her clothes one morning in school assembly.” (p. 50, ll. 1-4)
The exposition focuses on the setting of the school, seen from Clara’s perspective:
The entrance lobby was empty. The …
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Middle
The middle of the short story follows Clara after the incident, looking at her interactions with teachers, other students, her mother, and Stan.
After we find out that her peers had a positive reaction to her actions, the rising action builds on the tension between Clara and the Head of the school. Called into the Head’s office, Clara is calmly questioned about the motives behind her decision to take her clothes off: “ ‘There... Well now...So what was all that about, this morning?’ ‘I don’t know,’ said Clara.” (p. 51, ll. 22-23)
As the Head asks Clara about her situation at home, we find out that Clara’s parents are separated– a hint that suggests Clara might be going through a difficult time.
The Head tells Clara that she wants her to talk to her if she has any problems, and that she will also send a letter to her mother about the incident. On the bus ride home, the way Clara looks at other people suggests that she is probably discovering her sexual side: “…road …
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Ending
In the falling action, we see the mother further embarrassing Clara by sharing with Stan private and inappropriate stories about Clara’s shyness over her body: “…when her bust grew she used to sit hunched over like a spoon so no one would notice it, and if she had to strip off for the doctor you’d have thought he’d been about to rape her…” (p. 55, ll. 13-15)
After that, the mother and Stan leave without properly sayi…
