Characters
Desiree (name the vocabulary word)
What is the protagonist?
When the baby was about three months old, Desiree awoke one day to the conviction that there was something in the air menacing her peace. It was at first too subtle to grasp. It had only been a disquieting suggestion; an air of mystery
What is foreshadowing?
Why, it seemed but yesterday that Desiree was little more than a baby herself (Double points if you name another literary device)
What is irony? (Double points: hyperbole)
The baby found under the stone pillar in shadows and adopted by the Valmondes
Who is Desiree?
Give an example of the theme of racism from the story
VARIES: (i.e. Armand kicks Desiree out for supposedly being black, father rejecting son, slavery, etc.)
Desiree's husband (first AND last name for points)
Armand Aubigny
“Ah!” It was a cry that she could not help; which she was not conscious of having uttered. The blood turned like ice in her veins, and a clammy moisture gathered upon her face.
What is imagery?
She sat in her room, one hot afternoon, in her peignoir, listlessly drawing through her fingers the strands of her long, silky brown hair that hung about her shoulders. The baby, half naked, lay asleep upon her own great mahogany bed, that was like a sumptuous throne, with its satin-lined half-canopy. One of La Blanche’s little quadroon boys — half naked too — stood fanning the child slowly with a fan of peacock feathers.
What is imagery?
The type of point of view the story is written in HINT: the prefix of the word means "to know all"
What is third person omniscient?
Give an example of the theme of irony/the unexpected in the story.
VARIES: many twists, the letter reveals the secret, etc.
The name of Desiree's baby
What is unknown/no name ever revealed?
The roof came down steep and black like a cowl, reaching out beyond the wide galleries that encircled the yellow stuccoed house. Big, solemn oaks grew close to it, and their thick-leaved, far-reaching branches shadowed it like a pall.
What is foreshadowing and symbolism?
Madame Valmonde bent her portly figure over Desiree and kissed her, holding her an instant tenderly in her arms. Then she turned to the child. “This is not the baby!” she exclaimed, in startled tones. French was the language spoken at Valmonde in those days. “I knew you would be astonished,” laughed Desiree, “at the way he has grown"
What is verbal irony?
The main type(s) of conflict at the center of the story
What is man vs. society or self?
Give an example of the theme of identity in the story.
VARIES: race affecting life and how people treat each other, gender roles, etc.
Both Desiree and Armand are best described as __________ and a ___________ characters.
What are dynamic and round?
“But above all,” she wrote, “night and day, I thank the good God for having so arranged our lives that our dear Armand will never know that his mother, who adores him, belongs to the race that is cursed with the brand of slavery.”
What is situational irony?
“It is a lie; it is not true, I am white! Look at my hair, it is brown; and my eyes are gray, Armand, you know they are gray. And my skin is fair,” seizing his wrist. “Look at my hand; whiter than yours, Armand,” she laughed hysterically. “As white as La Blanche’s,” he returned cruelly; and went away leaving her alone with their child.
What is verbal irony?
The setting of the story is near New Orleans, Louisiana and takes place at this specific location
What is the L'Abri Cotton Plantation?
Give an example of hypocracy.
Desiree is white, while Armand is black; his anger toward her is misplaced, unfair, and ironic.
Madame Valmonde is best described as a _________ and ___________ character.
When she reached L’Abri she shuddered at the first sight of it, as she always did. It was a sad looking place, which for many years had not known the gentle presence of a mistress, old Monsieur Aubigny having married and buried his wife in France, and she having loved her own land too well ever to leave it. (HINT: What is the quote good for explaining if you were writing on MCAS)
What is mood?
This was what made the gentle Desiree so happy, for she loved him desperately. When he frowned she trembled, but loved him. When he smiled, she asked no greater blessing of God. HINT: STEAL method is great for this
What is characterization?
The truth is revealed to Armand about his origin through this
What is a letter from his mother to his father?
Give an example of feminism from the story. HINT: Feminism is believing all genders are equal, so authors often portray women with "strong" qualities