Snowdrops (Leslie Norris)

The passage opens with language of a parent talking to a young child, showing this is about young children.

The father seems especially big compared to the small children. He almost seems to keep them safe and warm from the harsh weather outside.

The Meredith boy is being buried, at only 20 this is a clear tragedy. He was friendly with Miss Webster, the young boy’s teacher.

School seems a happy place, with warmth, laughter and interesting things to do.

There is a large build up to seeing the snowdrops, it is an exciting voyage of discovery for the boys.

Miss Webster arrives later, all in black from the funeral. She is clearly upset, but tries to put on a brave face.

The boy doesn't understand what has happened and thinks she is sad because of her trapped finger.

Miss Webster doesn’t finish the story but takes them to see the snowdrops at the time the funeral is due to begin.

The snowdrops are examined, to the backdrop of the funeral.

When the boy wants to ask Miss Webster suddenly she is gone and her back is to them. There is a hardness about her as she is now fully adult and not involved in their childish world.

The snowdrops are fragile, like human life and human emotions.

The ending is sad, with the children frightened as Miss Webster cries in the middle of them, unable to contain her grief anymore.

There is a clear gap between the harsh adult world and the innocence of children.