Structure

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Title

The title of the short story is very explicit, as it reveals the object around which the main events take place: a doll’s house which the Burnell sisters received as a present from an acquaintance. Consequently, the title indicates that the main characters of the short story are...

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Beginning

The exposition of the short story introduces readers to the main event in the life of the Burnell sisters; this is also the event that sets the intrigue: Mrs. Hay, an acquaintance, has sent the children an expensive-looking doll’s house.

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Middle

The rising action introduces readers to the school environment and the way in which the Burnell sisters are viewed by others. Their popularity increases when Isabel Burnell, the eldest sister, decides that she should choose which two girls she is to invite in their courtyard to see the doll’s house:

Playtime came and Isabel was surrounded. The girls of her class nearly fought to put their arms around her, to walk away with her, to beam flatteringly, to be her special friend. She held quite a court under the huge pine trees at the side of the playground. Nudging, giggling together, the little girls pressed up close. And the only two who stayed outside the ring were the two who were always outside, the little Kelveys. They knew better than to come anywhere near the Burnells.

As you have seen, the above fragment introduces two other characters – the Kelvey sisters. The middle of the story offers a thorough description of the girls, who are the daughters of a washerwoman, who are very poor and whose father is rumoured to be in prison. Also, we get to know that Else Kelvey is the shyer of the two sisters and always follows Lil Kelvey around:

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Ending

The falling action of the short story is very brief: the Kelvey sisters are ashamed and run away, while Kezia is scolded by her proud aunt. Also, the falling action reveals that Aunt Beryl was frustrated because of...

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