The Story of an Hour Kate Chopin English 11

The Story of an Hour Kate Chopin

Kate Chopin   Wife, mother of 6  Considered scandalous for a woman of her time  “Ahead of her time”  The Awakening (ended her career)  Exploring women’s freedoms

Directions  You have 10 minutes to read this short story.  Number the paragraphs. (there should be 20)  Define unknown words (use your phone)  Box characters as they are introduced.  Look for symbols.  Annotate.

 Title  refers to the time elapsed between the moment the protagonist gets the news of her husband’s death and then discovers that he is alive after all. The Story of an Hour Kate Chopin

 Characters  Mrs. Louise Mallard is the protagonist of the story. She is introduced as being "afflicted with a heart trouble", which is why great care is taken in telling her of her husband's death. She mourns her husband, but then begins to feel relieved and liberated.  Mr. Brently Mallard is assumed dead until the end of the story when it is revealed that the news of his death was a mistake. The Story of an Hour Kate Chopin

 Characters  Josephine is Louise's sister who tells Louise of her husband's death. She embodies the feminine ideals of the time, acting as the picture perfect wife figure.  Richards represents the standard image and expectations of the man during the time period - responsible for protecting women. However, he fails which could have been a bit controversial for the time period. The Story of an Hour Kate Chopin

 Tone  An ironically detached and melancholy tone.  Louise’s reacts with bitter joy.  His death represents freedom from her role as a wife. The Story of an Hour Kate Chopin

 Time period  Story was considered controversial during the 1890s.  Deals with a female protagonist who feels liberated by her husband’s death.  In Unveiling Kate Chopin, Emily Toth argues that Chopin "had to have her heroine die" in order to make the story publishable. The Story of an Hour Kate Chopin

 Women's Liberation Movement  A housewife, who has been confined to the social norms of the obedient wife, has an unorthodox reaction to the death of her husband.  She thinks of her newfound freedom and is invigorated by it.  This idea is one of the key values of the feminist movement, and thus "The Story of an Hour" was an important literary work to show a woman breaking from the norm of society. The Story of an Hour Kate Chopin

 Marriage vs. Freedom  Mrs. Mallard believes that both women and men limit each other in matrimony.  The story focuses on the individual's inner desires for freedom.  Louise's desire for freedom far exceeds her love for him - a controversial idea that goes against the norms of society. The Story of an Hour Kate Chopin

 Symbolism  Spring –This symbolizes a new beginning which represents life and that is what Mrs. Mallard gains as a widow. It also helps to note that spring comes after winter.  Mrs. Mallard’s Heart: She dies of heart failure triggered by overwhelming emotional stress. No one will ever know that the overwhelming emotional stress was due to her loss of hope for the future. The Story of an Hour Kate Chopin

Quote “She did not hear the story as many women have heard the same, with a paralyzed inability to accept its significance. She wept at once, with sudden, wild abandonment, in her sister’s arms. When the storm of grief had spent itself she went away to her room alone. She would have no one follow her.” What would be the expected response?

“She could see in the open square before her house the tops of trees that were all aquiver with the new spring life. The delicious breath of rain was in the air. In the street below a peddler was crying his wares. The notes of a distant song which someone was singing reached her faintly, and countless sparrows were twittering in the eaves” Quote Why did Chopin mention that it is spring?

“When she had abandoned herself, a little whispered word escaped her slightly parted lips. She said it over and over under her breath; ‘Free, Free, Free!’ The vacant stare and the look of terror that had followed it went from her eyes. They stayed keen and bright. Her pulses beat fast, and the coursing blood warmed and relaxed every inch of her body” Quote What is Mrs. Mallard’s victory? Explain why she says, “Free, Free, Free!”

“There would be no one to live for during those coming years; she would live for herself. There would be no powerful will bending hers in that blind persistence with which men and women believe they have a right to impose a private will upon a fellow creature.” Quote What is the conflict Mrs. Mallard faced? What is the resolution?

“She arose at length and opened the doors to her sister’s importunities. There was a feverish triumph in her eyes, and she carried herself like a goddess of Victory.” Quote What does Mrs. Mallard decide in this moment?

Quote “He stood amazed at Josephine’s piercing cry; at Richards’ quick motion to screen him from the view of his wife. But Richards was too late. When the doctors came they said she had died of heart disease- of joy that kills.” How does the story end?