Pre-Reading Task
As the Europeans settled in New Zealand, Maori became to take in their fashion also. Some outfits of the time mixed the style of Europeans and Maoris. With the emphasis on women--and children--clothes, they wore long dresses, corsets and hats which were popular at the time--especially in Europe. Many of the styles of fashion were based around styles done in London and Paris. in the late years of that era '19th hundreds' practical clothes--knickerbockers (baggy knee-length trousers) for women became more popular, Throughout the years around the 1900s dresses became more laced and `feminine`. The 1920s then changed once more into a much simpler as well as looser fashion. Similarly, children were dressed in victorian-esque clothing babies wearing robes. In the around the same years as women wore knickerbockers, boys wore such as well--knickerbocker suits--girl, dresses. Often New Zealand children were barefoot.
Post Reading- Tasks
In the story, there were three main characters and focus in the story. Pearl Button as the title of the story suggest is the main focus. She is a little child, comprehended-- European, she was blonde-haired and white-skinned. The other characters can be inferred as two Maori women. In contrast to Pearl's clothing which she wore layers upon layers, stockings and shoes; the two women had red and other in yellow-green, both barefoot. The women were described as fat and dark-skinned. In several parts one of the women was as described by Pearl "She was softer than a bed and had a nice smell--a smell that made you bury your head and breathe and breathe it."
The story is can be broken down in five main parts.
- Pearl was in her front yard.
- Two--Maori--women took her to their house.
- They dined and had a laugh, she was 'introduced' to the others in the house (communal village).
- They took Pearl to the beach.
- A police officer came to take Pearl back to her house.
