1.

2 Graphic Representative
1.2.1 The Plot

1.2.2 The Main Theme

Realism

Integrity and honesty

1.2.3 Setting

A cottage maintained by an
orphanage in the Carolina
Mountain.

A Mother in Mannville

On the first half of the 20th

century.

Late spring season.

1.2.4 Characters

The Author

A compassionate
person.

Respects Jerrys
integrity and selfreliance.

1.2.5 The main ideas and supporting details.

2

Jerry

An orphan

Self-reliant and
honorable.

Seeking
sympathy.

Honesty and integrity

Jerry never fails to

come back to the cabin
to cut the woods or to
take care of the authors
dog.

1.3 Summary
3

Jerry was standing back

of his own careless for
breaking the ax.

The dog was put under

Jerrys charge. He gave
his breakfast to the dog
because he would never
let anything happen to it.

A Mother in Mannville

The narrator is a writer who has rented a cabin in the Carolina Mountains. She asks the
nearby orphanage to send a boy to chop firewood for her.
The orphanage sends twelve-year-old Jerry. He does such a good job that the
writer hires him to do other chores. The writer is impressed with Jerrys integrity and initiative.
Soon Jerry becomes friends with the writer and with her dog.
One day, Jerry reveals that he has a mother in Mannville. He tells the
writer that his mother sometimes sends him gifts, such as the roller skates. The writer wonders
why the woman has abandoned her son and feels angry toward the mother.
The writers work and future plans cause her to put aside her
concern about the boys mother. When the time comes for her to leave, she tells Jerry that she is
leaving, but he does not respond.
The next day, she stops by the orphanage office to leave her keys.
She asks for Jerry, who is nowhere to be found. When the writer mentions the boys mother to
the office worker, the writer learns that Jerry has no mother and has never owned a pair of skates.
(198 words)

1.4.1 Plot Analysis

I thought this story was shocking but interesting. It is about companionship and love. On
the same time the story shows a great ways of responsibility and integrity where can be seen
4

through Jerrys character. At first I did not like how Jerry just showed up on her doorstep and
how he said that even though he is small, he can chop well. After he had made such a big pile of
wood on the first day, the narrator invited him to come back the next day. He continues to do a
good job and at this point I am starting to like him. One night he knocks on the narrator's door
and the narrator invites him in. He starts making good conversation and brings up his mother.
This is where suspected that there would be a twist near the end of the story. If there wasn't a
twist at then end, this part would have been pointless.
The narrator was really nice to Jerry during the story. When Jerry mentioned his
mother, she was shocked that anyone would let such a nice boy go. I though it was great that she
actually cared about him, not just as a kid who chops wood. I think it would be a whole different
story if Jerry had not of lied to the narrator. I am kind of curious what would have happened if
that were the case. I think the narrator would have stayed to help Jerry, but then she wouldn't
have been able to get her writing done.

1.4.2 Characters Analysis

Rawlings creates a story rich in characterization. The character types used in this story is
round for Jerry. Jerry's character type is round because he would always change from being
5

quiet to being talkative and friendly. I can tell this because of the different parts of the story. In
the beginning, he starts off very quiet, but as he gets to know the narrator he becomes more
talkative. On the other hand, Jerry is a strong boy because he can do good job chopping the
wood.
The character type for the narrator is flat. Her character type is flat because she is always
very open and friendly toward Jerry. She has a loving heart and sympathizing toward Jerry and
being like a mother to him.

1.4.3 Theme Analysis

Rawlings approached her writing with honesty and integrity; A Mother in Mannville is
no exception. Through her use of characterization and dialogue, the readers easily join the
narrator in loving and sympathizing with Jerry. A Mother in Mannville is a poignant,
heartbreaking tale.
This story involves a young boy, Jerry, who develops a close relationship with the
narrator. The narrator finds out that Jerry who acted honest and trustworthy told her a lie about
having a mother in Mannville. This short story with its surprise ending is a boys coming of age
genre meaning it is about a boy learning to live in an adult world.
I have never lived in an orphanage like Jerry did, but I can understand why he wanted to
please Marjorie and why he was afraid of her knowing he didnt have a mother. To me, Jerry lied
because he was afraid the person he liked would leave him like his mother did. The irony is that
by

lying

he

lost

his

integrity

which

is

what

the

narrator

admired

in

him.

The message the author was trying to share with the readers is that being honest with yourself
and others is not always easy especially, when you are afraid it will spoil a relationship. What I
liked best about the story was the twist at the end. I really did not expect the narrator to be fooled
by Jerry.

1.5 Informal Letter

Dear Marjorie,

Children are usually powerful and can not be separate with their family. These fortunate
angels get all the love and attention they call for. But for children less fortunate, they are also in
need of love and care. For example, Jerry, the twelve year old orphan you met in Carolina
Mountain. He had experienced his young life without a family since he was four.
Both of you became very close and, hence, developed a strong relationship. For Jerry
and all children, a child's true wish is for their mother's love because a period of time after Jerry
had been with you, he developed a strong affection towards you. The night, he was sitting with
you in front of the warm fire, Jerry became sentimental, telling you that you looked a little like
his mother and even he told a moving story about his mother, who lived in Mannville, and how
she always sent gifts to him on Christmas and on his birthdays. But later it was revealed that
Jerry never had a mother in Mannville.
Why cant you see that he invented the lie because he loved you just as much as he
would love his own mother? Actually, Jerry felt that you are very close to him, and being with
you gave him a warm feeling-a feeling like home. Even your dog, Pat, was intimate to him and
never barked at him. To Jerry, you and Pat were a part of his life.
In my point of view, if Jerry never felt this kind of motherly love from you, he would
not have lied about his "mother in Mannville." In other words, if you were not as nice and
understanding, Jerry would not have lied. He would never want a mother who does not care
about him. I know that when Jerry lied about his mother, he wanted you to realize that he was
really referring to you as his "mother." There was no distance between you. Jerry always felt safe
and comfortable to talk to you. But if Jerry never sensed the passion and security from you, he
would not know what and how mothers truly are. Hence, Jerry would not have made up the story.
Children who have the gift of motherly love are always more happy and fulfilled than
those who does not. We should encourage people who love children to adopt orphans and give
them the love and care they deserve. These children should have the same privileges as those
with a family. When kind parents adopt these orphans, they are also providing the children hope
and happiness for their future.
Sometimes kids make up stories to cover up or avoid sadness and pain. He may have
wanted to create an artificial "happy place" and draw someone else into that fantasy to make it
more real so that he can deal with the loss psychologically. So in my opinion, why dont you
7

adopt Jerry and raise him like your own child? Please think about it, as I can see that you also
love him and you need someone to fulfill the emptiness in your heart.
Yours sincerely,

Juwita
( JUWITA )

REFERENCES
Majorie Kinnan Rawlings. 1936. A Mother in Mannville. Cross Creek, Florida.

Patricia Ann Benner. 1988. Contemporarys Pre-GED Critical Reading Skills. New York,
Chicago: Contemporary Books, INC.
William H. Sadlier, Inc. 1964. Patterns in English. New York, Chicago.