Characters
What literary term is “joy that kills”?
Oxymoron
What is one way that the setting impacts the characters in the story?
female roles
communication issues
What is the meaning of "veiled hints"?
not giving all the information, not being honest and forthright
What kind of conflict is Mrs. Mallard experiencing during most of the story?
person vs. self (internal)
What does Louise do when she hears that her husband's name is on the list of "killed"? A. She kills herself. B. She cries and goes to her room. C. She demands to see his body. D. She says his name and then faints.
B.
What literary term is used in the following excerpt:
“... 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 dream”?
Simile
What literary term is used in the following excerpt: “Knowing that Mrs. Mallard was afflicted with a heart condition, great care was taken to break to her as gently as possible the news of her husband’s death.”
foreshadow
What is the effect of the author's choice of introducing the main character by "Mrs. Mallard," rather than "Louise"?
It is less personal, it keeps the reader at a distance.
TRUE or FALSE - Richards received a third telegram that stated Brently Mallard was not actually killed in a train accident.
FALSE - Richards only received two telegrams.
What type of conflict is shown by Mrs. Mallard's unhappiness in the story? (NOT person vs. self)
person vs. society (Mrs. Mallard vs. the "institution of marriage")
What is the impact of using words like "broken sentences," "veiled hints," and "half concealing"?
They warn the reader that there will be secrets and not everything in the story will be straightforward.
Who is Richards?
Richards is Brently Mallard's friend - and the person who brings Mrs. Mallard the "news" of his death.
True or False:
Mrs. Mallard confides in her sister that she is glad that her husband is dead.
FALSE
What TWO literary elements are exemplified in the following excerpt:
"...she carried herself unwittingly like a goddess of Victory."
simile AND allusion
Why is this story called "The Story of an Hour"?
Because the entire incident took place in one hour (from Mrs. Mallard hearing the news all the way to the point where she died).
What is the impact of the phrase "intelligence of the railroad disaster"?
It ensures the reader that the information is official, and not gossip. It gives the reader confidence in the information.
What does it mean that "[Mr. Mallard] had a powerful will" that bent [Mrs. Mallard] sometimes?
She sometimes has to do things that he wants, or his way, even if they are not her choice.
True or False:
The story is told from a third-person omniscient point-of-view.
False - it is told in 3rd person limited
Explain why The Story of an Hour is ironic.
Mrs. Mallard finds out that her husband is dead and she ends up dying.
Why was this story controversial when it first came out?
Because the main character is a woman who the author describes as "only sometimes" loves her husband, and she did not follow a traditional women's mindset.
How does the diction suddenly change in the fifth paragraph as Mrs. Mallard looks out the window?
It goes from sad to hopeful (blue skies, open window).