The Story of an Hour

The Story of an Hour Kate Chopin Analysis We are learning to: revise and analyse Story of an Hour

Homework collection • You had a significant amount of homework over the holidays. • Please put your homework into piles: a Close Reading pile and a Critical Essay pile. • If you emailed essays, I have printed them off! • If you did not complete your homework for today, you should be very worried. It means you were not preparing / studying over the Easter break. I will send letters home to inform parents that this was not completed.

Plan for the week • Today: Reviewing Story of an Hour • Tomorrow: Reviewing Shooting Stars (Andrew, I’ll prepare a In Mrs Tilscher’s Class pack for you) • Thursday: Reviewing The Crucible / Close Reading • Friday: Last Minutes Nerves / Questions Forum (Cakes  ) Remember Supported Study will be on as normal Wednesday and Thursday

Story of an Hour - Revision • We are learning to: • Review how to write a timed critical essay.

Critical Essay Paper • Remember that you complete your both your essays in the one sitting. • This exam is 1 hour and 30 minutes. • Therefore: • 45 minutes for each essay • You cannot rely on an invigilator to remind you of a time so beg, borrow, steal a watch from a family member / friend!

Central concerns • Oppression of women by the institution of marriage • Control • Right to independence • Independence Look for questions about: • a surprising / climactic ending • a situation of / character in conflict (careful!) • a character that changes • a character not in harmony with society • a theme / issue important to you • an appropriate title • a key incident • an effective opening

Remember • Turning Point: Brently Mallard returns home and as a result, Louise dies. • Moment of great importance: The news of Brently Mallard’s death. Leads Louise into thinking she has secured her freedom. • Do not get these mixed up please!

Remember: The Box To Help your use of analysis – look at the box! Some of you still fail to mention the use of techniques within your analysis. If you are struggling – read the box and how you could apply these techniques and features.

Highlight the key words (RTQ) Pick the question you think suits SOAH the best and highlight the key phrases.

For example • Choose a novel or a short story with a message which is still relevant today. • Show how the author’s portrayal of events and character(s) highlight the author’s message. Intro: Story of an Hour by Kate Chopin is a short story in which the author portrays the message of control through marriage. Mrs. Mallard receives news of her husband’s death and as a result, begins to experience a new found freedom that is eventually cruelly snatched from her. This essay will explore how Chopin portrays the message of control through her use of characterisation, word choice and imagery.

Example P.E.A.R (Red = RTQ GREEN = ANALYSIS) • The message of control through the establishment of marriage is immediately introduced to the reader in the opening lines of the story: • “Knowing that Mrs. Mallard was afflicted with a heart trouble, great care was taken to break to her as gently as possible the news of her husband's death.” • The main character is immediately introduced, however, she is introduced by her married name and no forename. As a result, it appears that Mrs. Mallard lacks her own identity. This lack of characterisation creates connotations that she is repressed and therefore controlled through her marriage to Mr. Mallard.

Example P.E.A.R (Red = RTQ GREEN = ANALYSIS) • The message of control through marriage is further exemplified when Mrs. Mallard and the reader discover the source of the tragic news of her husband’s death: • “Her husband's friend Richards was there, too, near her…BrentlyMallard's name leading the list of "killed." • The introduction of the character Richards helps to highlight the message of control throughout marriage as he helps to convey Mrs. Mallard’s lack of identity. “Her husband’s friend” clearly symbolises the theme of repression as it would appear that not only does Mrs. Mallard lack identity but she lacks possessions as his friends are not hers. Also, the news he brings is potentially unreliable; the use of quotation marks around “killed” creates a sense of uncertainty; foreshadowing the turning point in the short story.

Bullet-point what you are going to discuss within your essay – this will help you develop your Points! Planning Important message

Planning • 1. Select best question for you to answer • 2. Highlight the key words to help you RTQ • 3. Quickly Plan your Essay • 4. Tick off as you write the essay

Bullet-point your plan • Choose a novel or a short story with a message which is still relevant today. • Show how the author’s portrayal of events and character(s) highlight the author’s message. • Introduction • Opening paragraph – Mrs Mallard – lack of identity • Richards – his friend not hers • Reaction to the death – lack of repression • New found freedom – free, free, free • Imagery – the window • Turning point – returns home, stealing her freedom • Death – joy that kills - ironic • Conclusion

Turn your Plan into pears…. Point, Evidence, Analysis, Refer to question Use your quick plan to create PEAR paragraphs. Remember a good essay should have a minimum of 6 PEAR paragraphs

Your plan becomes your P.E.A.Rs • Introduction • Opening paragraph – Mrs Mallard – lack of identity • Richards – his friend not hers • Reaction to the death – lack of repression • New found freedom – free, free, free • Imagery – the window • Turning point – returns home, stealing her freedom • Death – joy that kills - ironic • Conclusion 2. The message of control through the establishment of marriage is immediately introduced to the reader in the opening lines of the story. 3. The message of control through marriage is further exemplified when Mrs. Mallard and the reader discover the source of the tragic news of her husband’s death. 4. Mrs. Mallard’s reaction to her husband’s death is not typical of a grieving widow and therefore conveys the control she suffered throughout her marriage. 5. Mrs. Mallard begins to take pleasure in the new found freedom she has gained through the end of her marriage. 6. Chopin clearly explores the message of control throughout marriage through her use of techniques as Louise describes what she can see through her window.

Revision You do have to study! Get onto the wiki and look at all the materials you have there at your disposal!

Revision of the short story • 1. Revise and remember your quotes. Get them onto post-it notes or flashcards. • 2. Review your analysis of the quotes • 3. Look at the resources on the Wiki and the revision materials you have been given throughout the year. • 4. Write timed essays (45 minutes!)

Knowing that Mrs Mallard was afflicted with a heart trouble, great care was taken to break to her as gently as possible the news of her husband’s death. First impression Married title status Suggestion of great illness delicate Opening sentence

It was her sister Josephine who told her, in broken sentences; veiled hints that revealed in half concealing. Her husband’s friend Richards was there, too, near her. use of euphemism fragile husband’s friend not hers Informed of the death

Brently Mallard’s name leading the list of ‘killed’. use of inverted commas suggests a claim, not fact Prefiguring the end

She did not hear the story as many women have heard the same, with a paralysed inability to accept its significance. She wept at once, with sudden, wild abandonment, in her sister’s arms. Immediate reaction to the death sets her apart from other women surrenders to grief – no repression unseemly! Setting her apart

When the storm of grief had spent itself she went away to her room alone. She would have no one follow her. Imagery to suggest power of grief but also something that passes Rejects other would-be rulers First assertion of independence

There stood, facing the open window, a comfortable, roomy armchair. Into this she sank, pressed down by a physical exhaustion that haunted her body and seemed to reach into her soul. Chooses to find open window Symbolises opportunity / possibilities Adjectives to describe armchair substantiate this But also hints to the “exhaustion” that plagues her Ghostly language to prefigure her death Symbolic setting

She could see in the open square before her house the tops of trees that were all aquiver with the new spring life. The delicious breath of rain was in the air. In the street below a peddler was crying his wares. Symbolism of “open square” / “new spring life” Someone selling something that she can buy, if she wants Suggests new opportunities / possibilities “aquiver” begins the use of sexual language to suggest her delight / excitement: trees reflect her state Possibilities

There were patches of blue sky showing here and there through the clouds that had met and piled one above the other in the west facing her window. Weather symbolises her previous, oppressive life (clouds) which will now give way to freedom (blue sky) A future

…except when a sob came up into her throat and shook her, as a child who has cried itself to sleep continues to sob in its dreams. She is sad only because she had been, and knows she should be - nothing is troubling her now as she “dreams” Leaving the past

She was young, with a fair, calm face, whose lines bespoke repression and even a certain strength. But now there was a dull stare in her eyes, whose gaze was fixed away off yonder on one of those patches of blue sky. First physical description as she leaves her old life She had been used to keeping her true feelings within Chopin credits her with “strength” But now she looks ahead to the future Appearance

There was something coming towards her and she was waiting for it, fearfully. What was it? She did not know; it was too subtle and elusive to name. But she felt it, creeping out of the sky, reaching toward her through the sounds, the scents, the colour that filled the air. unidentifiable afraid initially tentative but the linked with the seductive elements of before Freedom approaches

Now her bosom rose and fell tumultuously. She was beginning to recognise this thing that was approaching to possess her, and she was striving to beat it back with her will – as powerless as her two white slender hands would have been. her body responds instinctively Personification of freedom to liken it with a lover We are reminded of her fragility She is seduced…

When she abandoned herself a little whispered word escaped her tightly parted lips. She said it over and over under her breath: ‘free, free, free’ …. Her pulses beat fast, and the coursing blood warmed and relaxed every inch of her body. Sexualised language to suggest an awakening Discovery / life Repetition to emphasise importance of epiphany …and rewarded

She knew that she would weep again when she saw the kind, tender hands folded in death; the face that had never looked save with love upon her, fixed and grey and dead. Husband not blamed Affectionate, fond language used to describe him Chopin credits him with goodness – society to blame Forgiveness

But she saw beyond that bitter moment a long procession of years to come that would belong to her absolutely. And she opened and spread her arms out to them in welcome. There would be no one to live for her during those coming years; she would live for herself. She is sad But structure of sentences shows her joy at independence Suggests previously she’s lived for him Realism

There would be no powerful will bending hers in that blind persistence with which men and women believe they have a right to impose a private will upon a fellow creature. Someone else has been in charge of her choices and destiny both men and women are blamed men for being the oppressors women for acquiescing “impose” = to force upon Society condemned

A kind intention or a cruel intention made the act seem no less a crime as she looked upon it in that brief moment of illumination. The reasoning for controlling someone else does not matter, whether it is supposedly for their good or not Strongly worded condemnation She is having the very definition of an epiphany No justification

And yet she had loved him – sometimes. Often she had not. What did it matter? What could love, the unsolved mystery, count for in face of this possession of self-assertion which she suddenly realised as the strongest impulse of her being! Shocking admission Structure highlights caveat Love is insignificant compared to being in control of oneself And it feels completely natural: impulsive, not considered Instinctive autonomy

‘Free! Body and soul free!’ she kept whispering. Repetition reveals her wonder and delight at her new freedom Disbelief

‘Louise, open the door! I beg; open the door – you will make yourself ill. What are you doing, Louise? For heaven’s sake open the door.’ ‘Go away. I am not making myself ill.’ No; she was drinking in a very elixir of life through that open window. Josephine, her sister, is complicit is her oppression Refuses to accept that she can cope alone Another cruel reminder of her ill health Louise is defiant Irony of the life-affirming metaphor A partner in crime

Her fancy was running riot along those days ahead of her. Spring days, and summer days, and all sorts of days that would be her own. She breathed a quick prayer that life might be long. It was only yesterday she had thought with a shudder that life might be long. Metaphor suggests her exuberance A loss of control? Structure highlights numerous possibilities of independence Irony of her prayer Word choice reveals her erstwhile misery A woman uninhibited

There was a feverish triumph in her eyes, and she carried herself unwittingly like a goddess of Victory. She clasped her sister’s waist Word choice indicates her pride, but also reminds us of her health Simile suggests winning a battle; ironic “goddess” also prefigures imminent departure from the world Assumes the role of male: guide, comforter Her new role

Someone was opening the front door with a latchkey. It was Brently Mallard who entered, a little travel-stained, composedly carrying his grip-sack and umbrella. He had been far from the scene of accident, and did not even know there had been one. Her new lover freedom?! He gets his full name Ignorant of the epiphany experienced by his wife Thwarted!

But Richards was too late. When the doctors came they said she had died of heart disease – of joy that kills. The man has returned: Louise reverts to the invisible woman; we’re not even told what happens to her Doctors claim her death Bitter irony as Louise’s death is attributed to womanly delight at her husband’s return, when really it’s despair at being re-caged, having tasted freedom. Ironic twist

Feminist or coward? • Chopin asserts that everyone is complicit in a society that is geared towards controlling women • She suggests, if women knew what they were missing, they’d revolt and never more accept it • But: she kills her heroine, rather than have her leave her husband and live an independent life • is this also a cop-out?

The Story of an Hour