Book Activity #2

a. Read the short story “A Story of an Hour” by

Kate Chopin on pp. 153-156.
b. Answer the following activities.
- Get Started (all three questions) on p.153
- Get Engaged
Activating one’s prior knowledge on a story read
(p.156);
Analyzing and understanding the text/The Story
Frame (pp.158-159)
Does love require sacrifice?
Is independence pleasurable?
 Is marriage
characteristically
oppressive?
A Story of an Hour
by Kate Chopin
 American Life in the 1890s

“The Story of an Hour” was written and published in 1894,

right as the 1800s were coming to a close. 

As the world moved into the new century, American life was
also changing rapidly. For instance, the workplace. However,
work was different for women.
 Working women as a
whole were looked down
upon by society, no
matter why they found
themselves in need of a
job.  Women of high social
rank were expected to not
work at all. In the 1890s,
working was only for lower
class women who In reaction to this, the
could not afford a life of National American Woman Suffrage Associati
leisure. on
 was created in 1890, which fought for
women’s social and political rights.
Kate Chopin • She is one of the most important American
writers of the 19th century.
• She grew up during the U.S. Civil War.
• Kate began to write to support her family
and immediately found success as a writer.
• She was also known as a fast and inventive
writer, and by the end of the 1900s she had
written over 100 stories, articles, and
essays.
• Her works mostly focused on the lives of
sensitive and intelligent women.
• First American woman writer who rebelled
against tradition and authority, and exposed
the harsh reality of women’s suppressed life.
1850-1904
Elements of a Short Story
A.
Summary
Mrs. Louise Mallard is at home when her sister, Josephine, and her
husband’s friend, Richards, come to tell her that her husband, Brently
Mallard, has been killed in a railroad accident.

Louise’s husband’s friend, Richards, learned about a railroad disaster

when he was in the newspaper office and saw the name Brently, on the
list of those killed. Louise begins sobbing when Josephine tells her of
Brently’s death and goes upstairs to be alone in her room.
 While this painting by Johann Georg Meyer
From here, the story shifts in tone. Louise sits down
 wasn't specifically of Louise Mallard, "Young
and looks out an open window. She sees trees, smells Woman Looking Through a Window" is a
approaching rain, and hears a peddler yelling out what depiction of what Louise might have looked like
as she realized her freedom.
he’s selling. She hears someone singing as well as the
sounds of sparrows, and there are fluffy white clouds
in the sky.

She is young, with lines around her eyes. Still crying,

she gazes into the distance. She feels apprehensive
and tries to suppress the building emotions within her,
but can’t. Her heart beats quickly, and she feels very
warm.
At first she’s scared to
admit it, but Louise
quickly finds peace and She keeps repeating
joy in her admission. the word “free” as
She realizes that, she comes to terms
although she will be sad with what her
about her husband (“she “Free! Body and soul husband’s death
had loved him— means for her
sometimes,” Chopin free!” – Louise life. She feels
writes), Louise is Mallard ecstatic with her
excited for the newfound sense of
opportunity to live for independence.
herself.
Josephine comes to her
door, begging Louise to
come out, warning her
that she’ll get sick if she
doesn’t. Louise tells her to
go away. She fantasizes
about all the days and
years ahead and hopes
that she lives a long life.
Then she opens the
door, and she and
Josephine start
walking down the
stairs, where Richards
is waiting.
The front door unexpectedly
opens, and Brently comes in.
He hadn’t been in the train
accident or even aware that
one had happened. Josephine
screams, and Richards tries
to block Louise from seeing
him.
Unfortunately, he was unsuccessful. Louise dies
suddenly, which the doctors later attribute to
“heart disease—of the joy that kills.”
B. Setting
Time: Late 19th century
- takes place within an hour

Place: Mallard residence

How do these conditions affect the

characters’ lives?
C.
Characters
Louise Mallard Brently Mallard
• Young, fair, clam face, and
• Kind and tender
strength
• Married • Loved his wife dearly
• Has a heart condition • His treatment to his
• Reacts strongly to bad news wife is described – “a
• Delicate and sensitive kind intention or a
cruel intention” makes
“Knowing that Mrs. Mallard was the repression “no less
afflicted with a heart trouble, great a crime.” 
care was taken to break to her as
gently as possible the news of her
husband’s death.”
C.
Characters
Josephine Richards

• Louise’s sister • Works as a writer, editor

• Breaks the news of or otherwise an employee
Brently’s death of the newspaper
• Delivers the unfortunate
• Cares greatly for her
news of Brently’s death
sister • Known as a thoughtful
• Unaware of how person and a considerate
miserable Louise finds friend
her life
D. Point of
View
Third- person Omniscient

Why did the author use this point of view?

The use of an omniscient third-person narrator enables Chopin to tell a

complete story that's not limited to the protagonist's point of view. This
is key because the opening of the story begins with us readers knowing
something Mrs. Mallard doesn't, and because the story ends after Mrs.
Mallard has already died.
 E. Plot
Development
 E. Plot
Development
 F. Conflict
Development Is the conflict Man vs Himself
resolved?
E. Plot

Man vs Society
Ultimately, after Louise Mallard is told
that her husband has died, she
experiences an epiphany amid her
turbulent emotions. In her widowhood,
Louise Mallard will be able to enjoy true
personal agency for the first time in her
life. Thus, her defining struggle is one
against the sexist and chauvinistic society
she inhabits.
G. Theme
The Meaning of Love

The Forbidden Joy of

Independence

The Inherent
Oppressiveness of
Marriage
 Does the story have a moral or
human significance? If so, is the
significance universal?
References:
• https://www.sparknotes.com/short-stories/the-story-of-an-hour/
summary/
• https://blog.prepscholar.com/kate-chopin-the-story-of-an-hour-s
ummary
• https://www.katechopin.org/the-story-of-an-hour/#:~:text=The%20
story%20is%20set%20in,of%20Brently%20and%20Louise%20Mallard
.
• https://www.shmoop.com/study-guides/literature/story-of-hour/a
nalysis/narrator-point-of-view
• https://www.enotes.com/homework-help/what-is-the-main-conflic
t-in-the-story-of-an-hour-130779#:~:text=The%20main%20conflict%
20in%20%22The%20Story%20of%20an%20Hour%22%20is,epiphany%20a
mid%20her%20turbulent%20emotions