# Fräulein Pfaff — Pointed Roofs character guide

> Fräulein Pfaff in Pointed Roofs by Dorothy M. Richardson.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** the Fräulein, Fräulein, tall Fräulein Pfaff

**First appearance:** 0003-i

## Snapshot

The school's tall, devout headmistress, she reads Schiller aloud with pious feeling and watches her pupils with a smile that can turn indulgent or appraising in an instant.

## Who they are

Fräulein Pfaff governs the pension through gentle decisive pronouncements, praising sponge bags at breakfast and directing the reading of German poetry with a voice that seems to whisper piously in a corner. Her fascinated gaze fixes on the beautiful, unhappy Ulrica even as she distributes her wide, cavernous smiles among the other girls. She embodies the school's peculiar blend of piety, surveillance, and genuine feeling that Miriam must learn to read.

## Relationships

### [Miriam](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pointed_roofs_se/characters/miriam)

_professional_

Fräulein Pfaff is Miriam's strict headmistress, overseeing her conduct and education with a firm, often critical hand.

### [Millie](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pointed_roofs_se/characters/millie)

_professional_

Fräulein Pfaff disciplines Millie as a headmistress, often reprimanding her for her lively behavior.

### [Mademoiselle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pointed_roofs_se/characters/mademoiselle)

_professional_

Fräulein Pfaff and Mademoiselle are colleagues who coordinate school operations and student discipline.

### [Miriam](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pointed_roofs_se/characters/miriam)

_professional_

Fräulein Pfaff is Miriam's strict headmistress, overseeing her conduct and education with a firm, often critical hand.

### [Miriam](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pointed_roofs_se/characters/miriam)

_professional_

Fräulein Pfaff is Miriam's strict headmistress, overseeing her conduct and education with a firm, often critical hand.

### [Millie](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pointed_roofs_se/characters/millie)

_professional_

Fräulein Pfaff disciplines Millie as a headmistress, often reprimanding her for her lively behavior.

### [Millie](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pointed_roofs_se/characters/millie)

_professional_

Fräulein Pfaff disciplines Millie as a headmistress, often reprimanding her for her lively behavior.

### [Mademoiselle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pointed_roofs_se/characters/mademoiselle)

_professional_

Fräulein Pfaff and Mademoiselle are colleagues who coordinate school operations and student discipline.

### [Mademoiselle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pointed_roofs_se/characters/mademoiselle)

_professional_

Fräulein Pfaff and Mademoiselle are colleagues who coordinate school operations and student discipline.

## In the story

### [Pointed Roofs](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pointed_roofs_se/chapters/pointed-roofs)

The stern headmistress who criticizes Miriam's manners and enforces strict discipline.

### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pointed_roofs_se/chapters/iii)

Observed by Miriam at the window; later comes to the classroom and sends Miriam to the Saal for music.

### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pointed_roofs_se/chapters/iv)

Mentioned as having accompanied the group to the English church on a previous Sunday; not present at the German church.

### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pointed_roofs_se/chapters/v)

Fills the unstructured days with impromptu occupations; presides over master lectures and prompts students; her departure signals certainty about the day's plans.

### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pointed_roofs_se/chapters/vi)

Commends Miriam's reading, then later laughs cruelly during a screaming argument with Anna over wages; leads the outing to Hoddenheim with forced cheerfulness.

### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pointed_roofs_se/chapters/vii)

Criticizes Miriam for not knowing how to handle soup plates and sarcastically compares her upbringing to that of a countess.

### [VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pointed_roofs_se/chapters/viii)

Assigns Miriam the new room, leads prayers, and manages the girls during the thunderstorm.

### [IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pointed_roofs_se/chapters/ix)

Denies the students' request to dance, and later shows disgust and loathing toward Miriam's silent exchange with Pastor Lahmann.

### [The End of Term and the Norderney Decision](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pointed_roofs_se/chapters/x)

Informs Miriam about the Norderney plan and the need for her to pay her own way; delivers a stern critique of Miriam's 'unfortunate manner' and lack of direct personal influence.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pointed_roofs_se/characters/fraulein_pfaff
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pointed_roofs_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pointed_roofs_se/characters