Question

Which phrases in this passage from “The Doll’s House” illustrate Katherine Mansfield’s use of slang or informal diction most clearly? Choose three options.

Presently our Else nudged up close to her sister. But now she had forgotten the cross lady. She put out a finger and stroked her sister’s quill; she smiled her rare smile.

“I seen the little lamp,” she said, softly.



Responses

A our Elseour Else

B she had forgottenshe had forgotten

C the cross ladythe cross lady

D put out a fingerput out a finger

E her rare smileher rare smile

F I seenI seen

G the little lampthe little lamp

Answer 1

A, D, F

- A "our Else" — colloquial/dialectal use of "our" with a name.
- D "put out a finger" — informal, everyday phrasing rather than formal diction.
- F "I seen" — nonstandard/vernacular grammar (instead of "I saw").