Story of an Hour: Questions and Analysis
1) Chopin heavily utilizes symbolism in her story. Describe three symbols in detail, making sure you discuss their relevance to the story's themes.
2) Mrs. Mallard is described as suffering from a heart condition. How does this malady affect her character and the events in the story?
3) Analyze the plot structure of the story. Is there any foreshadowing? What would you say is the climax of the story?
4) Does this story provide a feminist theme? Why or why not?
There are three main details in “The story of an hour” Mrs. Mallard is an independence woman, role of woman in marriage life and self-assertion. Mrs. Mallard has a heart problem so is very difficult for people around her announce for her about the death of her husband. However, not like any reaction from any women we could imagine, she just weeps at once and comes back to her room by herself. “When the storm of grief had spent itself she went away to her room alone”. Even with the serious heart problem but she is very strong underneath. She overcomes the pain of the loss of her husband and accepts truth that she has to keep moving forward by herself. “And she opened and spread her arms out to them [long years in future] in welcome”. Moreover, the woman’s role in marriage life is one of the theme of the story. In the old time, there is no freedom for married people, especially woman. Even though Mrs. Mallard had been loved by her husband a lot, but when she knows that he passed away, she is waiting for her freedom to come. “”Free! Body and soul free!” she kept whispering”. And self- assertion is the most important ideal that the author want to mention. People always love themselves the most. Even the love for other is still exist, but in the deepest part of their mind they would always put themselves in the most important role. As Mrs. Mallard, even she has a heartbroken for the death of her husband but since then her self-assertion is show up clearly. “But she saw beyond that bitter moment a
2) Mrs. Mallard is described as suffering from a heart condition. How does this malady affect her character and the events in the story?
3) Analyze the plot structure of the story. Is there any foreshadowing? What would you say is the climax of the story?
4) Does this story provide a feminist theme? Why or why not?
There are three main details in “The story of an hour” Mrs. Mallard is an independence woman, role of woman in marriage life and self-assertion. Mrs. Mallard has a heart problem so is very difficult for people around her announce for her about the death of her husband. However, not like any reaction from any women we could imagine, she just weeps at once and comes back to her room by herself. “When the storm of grief had spent itself she went away to her room alone”. Even with the serious heart problem but she is very strong underneath. She overcomes the pain of the loss of her husband and accepts truth that she has to keep moving forward by herself. “And she opened and spread her arms out to them [long years in future] in welcome”. Moreover, the woman’s role in marriage life is one of the theme of the story. In the old time, there is no freedom for married people, especially woman. Even though Mrs. Mallard had been loved by her husband a lot, but when she knows that he passed away, she is waiting for her freedom to come. “”Free! Body and soul free!” she kept whispering”. And self- assertion is the most important ideal that the author want to mention. People always love themselves the most. Even the love for other is still exist, but in the deepest part of their mind they would always put themselves in the most important role. As Mrs. Mallard, even she has a heartbroken for the death of her husband but since then her self-assertion is show up clearly. “But she saw beyond that bitter moment a