Ethan Frome By Edith Wharton Edith Wharton Edith
Ethan Frome By: Edith Wharton
Edith Wharton
Edith Wharton n n Born on January 24, 1862 Educated at home Enjoyed literature and writing Family tried to discourage her interest in literature Led a luxurious life, entering society at the age of seventeen
Edith Wharton n Edith married Teddy Wharton (a Boston banker) q q luxurious life with homes in NY, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts not a fulfilled marriage
Edith Wharton n Discovered Teddy had taken money from her to set up a mistress in Boston q q q marriage began to disintegrate met and fell in love with Morton Fullerton led to her interest in the thoughts behind the actions of her characters
Edith Wharton n n Wrote numerous novels between 1900 -37 Recognized as a major writer of the first two decades of the 20 th C. First woman to receive an honorary degree from Yale in 1921 Died on August 11, 1937, in France.
Edith Wharton n Themes found in most of her literature q q q Corrupting power of wealth Social pressure among the poor Moral action Negative portrayals of men Complex psychology of her characters
Ethan Frome n Most often read of Wharton's novels Published in 1911 n Introduction n q The story of a man who, following the death of his father, gives up his education and other opportunities to return to the family farm in Starkfield, Massachusetts, to support his sick mother
Characters n Narrator q q Entire story is told from the POINT OF VIEW of an unnamed narrator Comes to Starkfield on business and must remain there all winter
Characters n Ethan Frome q q q 28 yrs. old Married his mother’s nurse Works in lumber
Characters n Zenobia (Zeena) Frome q q q Ethan’s wife 35 yrs. old Hypochondriac
Characters n Mattie Silver q q q Beautiful young relative of Zeena Come’s to the Frome farm after her father dies Helps around the house because Zeena is ill
Characters n Dennis Eady q n Harmon Gow q n A builder, friend of Ethan Ruth Varnum q n Knows the history of everyone in Starkfield Andrew Hale q n Son of Michael Eady, the town grocer Middle aged widow Jotham Powell q Works for the Frome’s
Introduction n Prologue q q Introductory chapter to a novel Gives details & background info. about n n q q n setting characters Begins in the future Uses foreshadowing Epilogue q q q Concluding section of a literary work Characters in their future Tells what eventually happened to the characters
Introduction n What are husband wife responsible for in a marriage? What are some situations that would make a husband wife frustrated in their marriage? What are some situations that would make a husband wife lonely in their marriage?
Themes n n n Frustration Responsibility Loneliness
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