April Showers By Edith Wharton And by, C O’Toole, L Nguyen, A Varma, Period 5, AP English III

Thesis or Claim The short story reflects America’s attitude towards women in society during the late 19 th and early 20 th centuries "I don't believe in feeding youngsters on sentimental trash; it's like sewer-gas -- doesn't smell bad, and infects the system without your knowing it." Women were meant to stay home and be the house wife and caretaker, not a figure with authoritative status

Tone or Attitude Wharton uses a sympathetic tone to further emphasize the need for women to gain more rights and equality during this time period in the U.S.

Purpose To show the need for women to break out through literary expression and gain rights inside the U.S. during the time period Being an educated woman, Wharton seemed to hope that her works would influence other women to follow in her path

Audience and Occasion The audience is meant for the American society naïve to the hardships of women. The occasion is a casual reference to the hardships of women

Evidence or Data The data can be seen clearly in Theodora’s father wanting Theodora to stay at home and take care of her siblings rather than allowing her to do what she wants, writing "It was all a mistake, you know -- about my story. They didn't want it; they won't have it!" More evidence is seen in the fact that her book is not published in the end of the short story

Appeals Logos: Being an educated women, Wharton presents her facts in a logical and realistic manner Ethos: Women deserve the right to be heard and a have a secure and just place in society Pathos: The irony touches the heart

Assumptions or Warrants Wharton’s assumptions in her writing is that the American people do not realize the need for women to be recognized and have their own rights.

Styles To get her point across, Wharton uses irony, Wharton is also an educated women which is reflected throughout her work

Citations "Edith Wharton." Wikipedia Wikimedia Foundation, Inc.. 15 Mar Warlick, David. "Son of Citation Machine." Son of Citation Machine The Landmark Project. 5 Oct Kinsella, Kate, Kevin Feldman, Colleen Shea Stump, Joyce Armstrong Carroll, and Edward E. Wilson. Prentice Hall Literature: Timeless Voices, Timeless Themes. 1st ed. Upper Saddle River NJ: Pearson Education, Inc., 2002.