Memoirs of a Midget · Character

Mrs. Ballard

A woman who appears in the social circle.

minor

First appearance: xxv

Mrs. Ballard shows up with force in I. The page is where that presence becomes real.

The cook, who told a fanciful story about the narrator and Miaou, and who gossiped about the narrator's mother.

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In I: The cook, who told a fanciful story about the narrator and Miaou, and who gossiped about the narrator's mother. Later, in IV: The cook, who is dismissed by the narrator's father; she had previously discussed…

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See Mrs. Ballard in xxv

Narrative arc

Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Rising action.

Setup
Escalation
Breaking point

This passage marks the dramatic climax because the narrator achieves a psychological turning point by explicit…

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In the story

Mrs. Ballard appears across 4 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

I
The cook, who told a fanciful story about the narrator and Miaou, and who gossiped about the narrator's mother.
IV
The cook, who is dismissed by the narrator's father; she had previously discussed household affairs with the narrator.
VI
Mentioned in the narrator's recollection of telling dreams to Mrs. Ballard, who used Napoleon's Book of Fate to interpret them.
VII
Mentioned as the source of the Dream Book; Pollie recounts her dream about eggs and subsequent move to London.

Chapter companion notes

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See Mrs. Ballard in xxv

See Mrs. Ballard in I