1. The Story of an Hour by Kate Chopin
Feature Menu
Introducing the Story
Literary Skills Focus: Irony
Reading Skills Focus: Analyzing Historical Context
Writing Skills Focus: Think as a Reader/Writer
Tech Focus

2. The Story of an Hour by Kate Chopin
What forces shape human character?

3. The Story of an Hour by Kate Chopin
Click on the title to start the video.

4. The Story of an Hour Introducing the Story
In the Victorian era, a proper woman living an ideal life would have understood her place of importance . . .
. . . as the most cherished of all her husband’s . . .
. . . possessions.

5. The Story of an Hour Introducing the Story
Those closest to Mrs. Mallard hope that the news of Mr. Mallard’s accidental death will not break the young wife.
After “the storm of grief had spent itself,” what would become of Brently Mallard’s widow?
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6. The Story of an Hour Literary Skills Focus: Irony
Irony occurs when there is a discrepancy between appearance and reality.
Known to his colleagues as reserved and hard-working, Dmitri is recognized by his family as the life of the party.

7. The Story of an Hour Literary Skills Focus: Irony
Situational irony occurs when an event turns out to be different from what we expect.
An ironic twist can send a narrative in an unexpected or surprising direction.
As you read, note how Mrs. Mallard’s emotional development and the story’s conclusion unfold in unexpected ways.
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8. The Story of an Hour Reading Skills Focus: Analyzing Historical Context
In the 1890s, when Chopin wrote this story, women in the United States lived without many of the rights and liberties we take for granted today.
Women . . .
could not vote
had few opportunities for education or employment
could not live outside prescribed gender roles

9. The Story of an Hour Reading Skills Focus: Analyzing Historical Context
Although women’s rights activists were beginning to seek social justice in the late 1800s, progress was slow.
Chopin’s story illuminates the position of women in Victorian society and marriage.
Note how this historical context helps set up the story’s ironic twists.

10. The Story of an Hour Reading Skills Focus: Analyzing Historical Context
Into Action As you read, use a chart to record attitudes toward marriage or women that the text reflects. In the second column, note how Mrs. Mallard’s responses contrast with those attitudes and expectations.
Attitude Toward Women
Mrs. Mallard’s Response
Women are too fragile to be told bad news in a direct fashion.
Hearing the bad news actually strengthens, rather than weakens her.
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11. The Story of an Hour Writing Skills Focus: Think as a Reader/Writer
Find It in Your Reading In this story, Mrs. Mallard’s reactions are not always what readers expect. As you read, consider the reactions that you find most surprising.
Note the way in which you expect her to respond to each situation.
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12. The Story of an Hour Writing Skills Focus: Think as a Reader/Writer
Tech Focus A deeper knowledge of women’s social status at the end of the nineteenth century can give you insight into Chopin’s perspective in this story.
As you read, consider how you might use online resources to help you better understand some of the issues presented in the text.
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13. Vocabulary 13

14. The Story of an Hour Vocabulary
abandonment n.: a yielding to natural impulses; freedom from self-control or restraint.
tumultuously adv.: violently.
vacant adj.: empty of thought.
illumination n.: intellectual or spiritual enlightenment.
feverish adj.: excited; restless. 14

15. The Story of an Hour Vocabulary
Action taken with a sense of abandonment is done on impulse . . .
. . . and without any feelings of restraint. 15

16. The Story of an Hour Vocabulary
At a job interview, you might not want to indicate that your weekends are lived in a state of wild abandonment.
What news could make an employee react with this level of abandonment?
A new vending machine? A paid month off? A dollar-an-hour raise? 16

17. The Story of an Hour Vocabulary
The word tumultuously is an adverb built from the noun tumult.
stormy upheaval or violence n.
tumult
adj.
tumult-uous
stormy or violent
done in a stormy or stormily violent way
adv.
tumult-uous-ly 17

18. The Story of an Hour Vocabulary
Anyone might react tumultuously to extremely bad news, but young children are notorious for their emotional outbursts.
Which youngster pictured here will win the prize for crying the most tumultuously? 18

19. The Story of an Hour Vocabulary
An individual’s response to shocking news is not always predictable.
Sometimes people react with nothing more than a vacant stare: They look as if their minds have gone blank.
Stunned by the loss of his loyal dog, Berto could only gaze at the floor in a vacant way. 19

20. The Story of an Hour Vocabulary
When someone’s expression is vacant, that person may be feeling too much—rather than too little—emotion.
Which is least likely to cause an individual’s vacant look?
A. receipt of a letter
B. loss of a coupon
C. damage to an heirloom 20

21. The Story of an Hour Vocabulary
When someone’s expression is vacant, that person may be feeling too much—rather than too little—emotion.
Which is least likely to cause an individual’s vacant look?
A. receipt of a letter
B. loss of a coupon
C. damage to an heirloom 21

22. The Story of an Hour Vocabulary
A moment of illumination brings intellectual or spiritual enlightenment.
Expect bright change after experiencing illumination. 22

23. The Story of an Hour Vocabulary
No one can schedule personal illumination on a calendar: Moments of enlightenment often come unexpectedly.
What events might lead to someone’s intellectual or spiritual enlightenment? 23

24. The Story of an Hour Vocabulary
The word feverish suggests an excited and restless state of mind.
In which photo do the workers appear to toil in a feverish manner? 24

25. The Story of an Hour Vocabulary
As he started opening the birthday box that had just arrived, the boy’s movements were feverish.
What three words in the list below mean almost the same thing as feverish?
deliberate doubtful
excited restless
rushed careful
lethargic cautious
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26. The End