1、The Story of an HourKate Chopin Born in 1850 in St.Louis,Missouri.She married and moved with her husband toNew Orleans.They later lived inLouisiana.From 1892 to 1895,Chopin wrote short stories for both children and adults.Died in 1904 An American author ofshort storiesandnovels.Her major works were
2、two short story collections:Bayou FolkandA Night in Acadie,and two novels:At FaultandThe Awakening.Her important short stories include“The Story of an Hour”and“The Storm.”The Story of An Hour:Summary Mrs.Mallard has a heart problem.When her sister and her husbands friend inform her of her husbands d
3、eath,they choose to be very careful.Mrs.Mallard cries in her sisters arm and then locks herself in her room.Seeing new life springing out of the window,her grief turns into the feeling of freedom.The Story of An Hour:Summary At Josephines repeated request,Mrs.Mallard opens the door and goes downstai
4、rs.Surprisingly,Mr.Mallard appears at the door,alive.Seeing her husband,Mrs.Mallard screams.Later she is said to die of a heart attack“of joy that kills.”Analysis of the story in terms of character Main characters:1.Mrs.Mallard:seems to be physically weak.“Mrs.Mallard was afflicted with a heart trou
5、ble”But she is mentally active.“Free!Body and soul free!”she kept whispering.Analysis of the story in terms of character Her attitude towards the death of her husband:complicated.1)grief of loosing her husband “She wept at once,with sudden,wild abandonment”“She knew that she would weep again when sh
6、e saw the face that had never looked save with love upon her”Analysis of the story in terms of character 2)joy of being independent.“She would live for herself.”“Free!Body and soul free!”she kept whispering.“There was a feverish triumph in her eyes.”Analysis of the story in terms of character 2.Mr.M
7、allard:a loving husband “the kind,tender hands”“the face that had never looked save with love upon her”3.Josephine:a caring sister “It was her sister Josephine who told her,in broken sentences;veiled hints”“Louise,open the door!I beg;open the dooryou will make yourself ill.”Analysis of the story in
8、terms of character 4.Richard:careful and caring.“taken the time to assure himself of its truth by a second telegram”“quick motion to screen him from the view of his wife”Analysis of the story in terms of setting Time:spring Mrs.Mallards newfound freedom.Place:home.Prison.Analysis of the story in ter
9、ms of theme Evils in marriage.Womens self-awakening.Freedom and confinement.Keys to the Questions1.Regarding the characterization of Mrs.Mallard,how much is indicated by the knowledge of other characters and how much is revealed by herself?By other characters(telling):1)“Knowing that Mrs.Mallard was
10、 afflicted with a heart trouble,great care was taken”2)“they said she had died of heart disease”1.Regarding the characterization of Mrs.Mallard,How much is indicated by the knowledge of other characters and how much is revealed by herself?By Mrs.Mallard herself(showing):1)her mental activity.2)her r
11、eaction.The“showing”part gives more information than the“telling”part.2.What is the feeling of Mrs.Mallard towards her husband?Look for details that tell us about their relationship.She has love for her husband,thats why she cries for loosing her husband.However,part of love is gone because she has
12、been controlled a long time.Thats why she desires for freedom.3.Why does the author mention Mrs.Mallards heart trouble?What could the author suggest with this detail?Foreshadowing:an explanation for her death.Societys expectation:dislocation of life and death from the point of view of the public and
13、 heroine.The monopoly power of social discourse.4.Read the last line of the story beginning with“When the doctors came,”what effect does the last statement has on the whole story?It gives an explanation for Mrs.Mallard s death from point of view of the public.The explanation comes from professionals
14、,which makes the end of the novel sound scientific in explaining the death of Mrs.Mallard.And it contrasts with the heroines previous imagination.The novel provides two cognitive perspectives on life and the individual.5.What does Louises death mean to other characters?And to the reader?What point d
15、oes the author try to make with her death?To other characters:a tragedy,an accident and a weak womans misfortune.To the reader:a double tragedy.Knowing the truth about the heroine through her imagination,the reader feel empathy for her.The author shows that social positioning and labels on heroine are constraint on her.The End
