Realism: Chopin December 4

Do Now – 7 Min Textbook Page – 640 Reading: Background on Kate Chopin Task: Based on the details of Chopin’s life and ideals, what sort of themes might we see in her writing? (3-5 Sentences)

Our Focus Text: “The Story of an Hour” p. 642 Author: Kate Chopin Our Marks: Evidence of Irony Characteristics of Realism Use of Figurative Language

Introduction to Realism

Historical Context Population of the United States is growing rapidly. ( ) Science, industry and transportation are expanding. Literature also was growing, but most new writers were not Romantics or Transcendentalists. They are Realists. The “Frontier” did not exist as before; its legacy changed and impacted Realists in its new form. The aftermath of the Civil War meant that Americans were less certain and optimistic about the future. The idealism of the Romantics and philosophy of Transcendentalists seemed out of date and irrelevant to many readers.

Realism vs. Romanticism “The trapper was placed on a rude seat which had been made with studied care…His body was placed so as to let the light of the setting sun fall full upon the solemn features. His head was bare, the long thin locks of gray fluttering lightly in the evening breeze. ” He was most fifty and he looked it. His hair was long and tangled and greasy, and you could see his eyes shining through…there warn’t no color in his face; it was white…a white to make a body sick…a tree-toad white, a fish belly white. As for his clothes, just rags, that’s all.

Realism in American Literature The purpose of the writing is “to instruct and entertain” Character is more important than plot. Subject matter is drawn from real life experience. The realists reject symbolism and romanticizing of subjects. Settings are usually those familiar to the author – Local Stories Daily Life Ordinary characters Personal Convictions v. Normal Conventions

Focus on Irony 3 Forms of Irony Verbal – What one says contradicts what they mean Situational – Something happens that is the opposite of our expectations Dramatic – we are aware of something the character is not

Taking Aim Characteristics of Realism 1.Emphasis on Character 2.Irony 3.Focus on Daily Life 4.Ordinary Characters 5.Conventions v. Individual

Reading – 5 Min Page 644: Paragraphs Why did they need to break the news gently to Mrs. Mallard? 2. Who gave Mrs. Mallard the news? 3. Who received the news first? How did he make sure that the news was correct?

Reading – 5 Min Page 644: Paragraphs Mrs. Mallard “did not hear the story as many women have heard the same”. What does this reaction suggest about her? Does it suggest how “ladies” were expected to react? 1.Why does Chopin use the metaphor “storm of grief”, to describe Mrs. Mallard’s reaction? 1.What does she see outside her window? Why is this ironic?

Reading – 5 Min Page 645: Paragraphs How is Mrs. Mallard described? 2. Why does Chopin repeatedly reference the “patches of blue sky” following the “storm of grief”?

Reading- 5 Min Page 645: Paragraphs 4-6 Dino: Why are Mrs. Mallard’s whispered words ironic? Dino: Identify the evidence of personification. Why might Chopin have chosen to personify this “elusive feeling”? Dino: Why might some perceive Mrs. Mallard’s joy as “Monstrous”?

Reading Page 645: Paragraphs 7-9 She-Ra: How is the convention of marriage described in paragraph 7? She-Ra: What is Chopin saying about marital conventions in paragraph 7: “A kind intention or a cruel intention made the act seem no less a crime”? She –Ra: How is Josephine’s concern a form of dramatic irony? She-Ra: What powerful metaphor is used to convey Mrs. Mallard’s rejuvenation?

Reading – 5 Min Page What might we infer about the way Mrs. Mallard prays for a long life versus the “shudder” of the thought a day ago? 2.What are we meant to infer about Mrs. Mallard’s attitude by the use of the simile “Goddess of Victory”? 3.What is ironic about the story’s climax?

Devil’s Advocate Answer the following: What was the benefit of this story being told from a third-person omniscient perspective? How might the story have changed if Chopin told it only through the eyes of Mrs. Mallard?