1. “The Story of an Hour” By: Kate Chopin
American Literature
Mrs. Jeanneret

2. Summary Mrs. Mallard has “heart trouble”.
She finds out that her husband has died in a train accident.
In the privacy of her room, she realizes she is actually happy her husband died.
She "suspend[s] intelligent thought" and fearfully waits for a "subtle and elusive" idea to "possess her." She begins to comprehend that she is joyful that her husband is dead, but she attempts to suppress the thought.

3. Summary Continued:
She is ecstatic that she will never have to bend her will to his again.
Now that her husband is dead, she will be free to assert herself in ways she never before dreamed while he was alive.
She recognizes that she had loved her husband sometimes, but that now she would be "Free! Body and soul free!"

4. Summary Continued:
Mrs. Mallard leaves her room and rejoins her sister who has been outside the door worrying.
They hear the front door open and see Mr. Mallard walk in. He had been no where near the accident scene.
The short story ends with the abrupt death of Mrs. Mallard, whose heart gives out. Her doctors explain that she died "of joy that kills."

5. 1. Mrs. Mallard has “heart trouble
1. Mrs. Mallard has “heart trouble.” It is symbolic because she carries remorse in her heart during her marriage.
2. Limitation of the setting helps contribute to the overall theme of Mrs. Mallard’s feeling of lifelessness during her marriage.
3. The sensory images address sound and taste. The vision of the open window symbolizes freedom.
4. The Mallards are amicable, but they are not soul mates. She can assert herself and be in control of her life. She loves him, but she loves the idea of her freedom of expression more.

6. 5. Josephine represents the identity that Mrs. Mallard wants to abandon. Josephine will remind Mrs. Mallard to mourn the loss of her husband, whereas the open window allows Mrs. Mallard to consider her freedom.
6. Josephine represents an ideal wife and the role of women in marriage. Richards represents reality.
7. She earned her right to be a “free woman”.

7. 8. Josephine and Richards would never have guessed that Mrs
8. Josephine and Richards would never have guessed that Mrs. Mallard would die of shock in seeing her husband alive. The statement made by the doctor is most ironic because doctors are supposed to know the real reason a person passes away. However, the doctor was completely incorrect to say she died of a heart attack due to the joy of seeing her husband.
9. Open ended.
10. Open ended.