5-a-Day Why does Chopin open the narrative by telling the reader that Mrs Mallard was afflicted with heart trouble? Chopin describes a ‘storm of grief’ – what method has she used here? Effect? ‘The tops of trees that were all aquiver with the new spring life. The delicious breath of rain was in the air.’ What’s the significance of these words to describe the setting? What method does Chopin use here? ‘She breathed a quick prayer that life might be long. It was only yesterday she had thought with a shudder that life might be long.’ ‘When the doctors came they said she had died of heart disease--of the joy that kills.’ How would you describe the tone of the final line? Link to story