Ethan Frome By Edith Wharton Theme 1 Journal

Ethan Frome By Edith Wharton

Theme 1 - Journal Conflicts existing between personal inclinations and group obligations. Think about a movie, TV show, or book that deals with theme of sacrificing individual wishes or the benefit of someone else. What dilemma does the protagonist face? Who is asking him or her to make the choice? Does this person have that right? What, ultimately, influences the protagonist’s decision? Was the decision the “right” one for him/her as well as the other person involved?

Theme 2 – Crystal Ball How much control do we have over the choices we make? Predictions: What will this person probably be like? How will this attitude affect the way he/she deals with the difficulties in life?

Theme 3 – Open Forum Is suicide a solution or a “cop out”? We sort of discussed this during Philosophical Chairs, so we’re not going to spend much time on this.

Theme 4 – Role Play People need people. Student/Parent – student is telling parent @ a problem or success, but the parent is too busy to listen. Breaking up w/ significant other who refuses to admit anything is wrong.

Prologue 1. What does the name Starkfield suggest about the setting? How does Herman Gow corroborate this later? 2. What is the stereotype of an engineer? How is the narrator/engineer atypical? Can the reader therefore trust what he tells us? Why did Wharton have the narrator say that he “…began to piece together this vision” (rather than “version”) of Frome’s story? 3. What is significant about the missing “L”-structure on the farm? 4. What places do Herman Gow and Mrs. Ned Hale occupy in the story?

Collage Create a collage to represent the contrast between vitality and inertia, as mentioned by the narrator in the prologue. Definitions: Vitality - a lively or energetic quality; the power or ability of something to continue to live, be successful, etc. Inertia - lack of movement or activity especially when movement or activity is wanted or needed; a feeling of not having the energy or desire that is needed to move, change, etc.