This article evaluates Katherine Mansfield’s pivotal role in redefining the short story as a sophisticated and independent literary genre within the Modernist movement. Unlike the traditional short story, which often relied on a linear plot and a conclusive ending, Mansfield’s work shifted the focus toward "moments of being," interiority, and epiphanies. The research examines how her rejection of conventional narrative structures allowed for a more nuanced exploration of character psychology, social class, and gender dynamics. By analyzing iconic stories such as "The Garden Party," "Bliss," and "The Fly," the study illustrates Mansfield’s use of symbolism, oblique narration, and the "slice of life" technique to capture the fleeting complexities of human experience. The paper argues that Mansfield’s contribution was essential in elevating the short story from a secondary form of entertainment to a primary vehicle for Modernist aesthetic experimentation. Her influence is traced through her unique ability to infuse mundane details with profound emotional significance, a technique that paved the way for future practitioners of the genre. The study concludes that Katherine Mansfield’s legacy lies in her mastery of the "unsaid," where the silences and shifts in consciousness become more telling than the external action, forever changing the trajectory of short fiction in English literature.

Keywords: Katherine Mansfield, Short Story Genre, Modernism, Stream of Consciousness, Epiphany, Narrative Technique.