Pointed Roofs · Character

Mademoiselle

The flustered French teacher, dumpy and easily wounded, whose red swollen face and tinkling laughter betray a dignity forever on the verge of being grossière.

supporting

Also known as silly little Mademoiselle, Little Mademoiselle

First appearance: i

As a supporting figure in Pointed Roofs, Mademoiselle is not background color—the story leans on what they do once the chapter opens.

A teacher at the school, described as silly and somewhat frivolous.

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Mademoiselle trails the English girls along the boulevard, protesting in French that she does not make the advances, and her instant response to Miriam's careless cry about Pastor Lahmann leaves Miriam blushing to her soles. She appears at the head of the basement stairs with a face disfigured by crying, a black hat and black cotton gloves, and Miriam cannot decide whether it is nothing or something. Her raw, comic vulnerability shows Miriam how exposed a woman can be in this closed world.

Continue beside the text

The fuller portrait of Mademoiselle sits in Reading Lens — open the free preview to keep reading with notes on the page.

See Mademoiselle in i

Character Web

25 connections

A slice of how Mademoiselle sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.

Relationship types

Professional
Other

Character groups

German pupils and staff
Protagonist
Minor or passing figures

+20 more in the full Character Web

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Narrative arc

Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Exposition.

Setup
Escalation
Breaking point
Aftermath
Closing

In this passage, the narrative climax occurs as Miriam reaches an emotional and psychological peak of despair,…

Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.

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Relationships

Miriam
professional · ambivalent
Mademoiselle is Miriam's French teacher, maintaining a formal instructional relationship… How this plays out →
Fräulein Pfaff
professional · ambivalent
Miriam
professional · ambivalent
Mademoiselle is Miriam's French teacher, maintaining a formal instructional relationship… How this plays out →
Miriam
professional · ambivalent
Mademoiselle is Miriam's French teacher, maintaining a formal instructional relationship… How this plays out →
Fräulein Pfaff
professional · ambivalent
Fräulein Pfaff
professional · ambivalent

Miriam
Mademoiselle is Miriam's French teacher, maintaining a formal instructional relationship with occasional personal interest.
Fräulein Pfaff
Fräulein Pfaff and Mademoiselle are colleagues who coordinate school operations and student discipline.
Miriam
Mademoiselle is Miriam's French teacher, maintaining a formal instructional relationship with occasional personal interest.
Miriam
Mademoiselle is Miriam's French teacher, maintaining a formal instructional relationship with occasional personal interest.
Fräulein Pfaff
Fräulein Pfaff and Mademoiselle are colleagues who coordinate school operations and student discipline.
Fräulein Pfaff
Fräulein Pfaff and Mademoiselle are colleagues who coordinate school operations and student discipline.

Relationship notes

How these ties play out is in the reading companion — open the free preview.

See Mademoiselle in i

In the story

Mademoiselle appears across 5 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

Pointed Roofs
A teacher at the school, described as silly and somewhat frivolous.
III
Wakes Miriam in the morning with a playful dance; Miriam feels affection for her.
V
Accompanies her duties with despatch; spends time in the Saal with needlework, seemingly insensible to music; Miriam finds her frugality and detachment noteworthy.
VIII
Sobs at the mending table because she must share a room with a married servant, prompting discussion among the girls.
The End of Term and the Norderney Decision
Seen with a red, swollen face from crying; is the subject of gossip after being caught taking letters from the letter box, leading to a row.

Chapter companion notes

Spoil-light check-ins for Mademoiselle unlock in the free preview.

See Mademoiselle in i

See Mademoiselle in Pointed Roofs