THE STORY OF AN HOUR By Kate Chopin

THE STORY OF AN HOUR By: Kate Chopin 1894

LEARNING TARGET: HOW CAN MRS. MALLARD BE CHARACTERIZED AS THE STEREOTYPICAL HOUSEWIFE? Warm Up: Statement, Quotation, Explanation S: Answer in a complete sentence. Q: Find a supporting quote. E: Explain how this supports your response. How does Mrs. Mallard’s reaction to his death reflect her love for Mr. Mallard?

GROUP WORK v Each Group will receive an excerpt from a 1950’s Home Economics Textbook. v In your group, examine your excerpt. Identify the following: • What is the expectation of a wife? • Who is the main focus? • How might this affect females? • Do you think these are realistic expectations given the time period? • Do you think these are realistic expectation for a wife in today’s society?

EXCERPT FROM A 1950 S HOME ECONOMICS TEXTBOOK Have dinner ready: Plan ahead even the night before to have a delicious meal on time. This is a way of letting him know that you have been thinking about him and are concerned about his needs. Most men are hungry when they come home and the prospects of a good meal are part of the warm welcome needed.

EXCERPT FROM A 1950 S HOME ECONOMICS TEXTBOOK Prepare yourself: Take 15 minutes to rest so you will be refreshed when he arrives. Touch up your makeup, put a ribbon in your hair and be fresh looking. He has just been with a lot of work-wary people. Be a little gay and a little more interesting. His boring day may need a lift.

EXCERPT FROM A 1950 S HOME ECONOMICS TEXTBOOK Clear away the clutter: Make one last trip through the main part of the house just before your husband arrives, gathering up school books, toys, paper, etc. Then run a dust cloth over the tables. Your husband will feel he has reached a haven of rest and order, and it will give you a lift, too.

EXCERPT FROM A 1950 S HOME ECONOMICS TEXTBOOK Prepare the children: Take a few minutes to wash the children's hands and faces (if they are small), comb their hair, and if necessary, change their clothes. They are little treasures and he would like to see them playing the part.

EXCERPT FROM A 1950 S HOME ECONOMICS TEXTBOOK Minimize all noise: At the time of his arrival, eliminate all noise of washer, dryer, dishwasher, or vacuum. Try to encourage the children to be quite. Be happy to see him. Greet him with a warm smile and be glad to see him.

EXCERPT FROM A 1950 S HOME ECONOMICS TEXTBOOK Some don'ts: Don't greet him with problems or complaints. Don't complain if he's late for dinner. Count this as minor compared with what he might have gone through that day. Listen to him: You may have a dozen things to tell him, but the moment of his arrival is not the time. Let him talk first.

EXCERPT FROM A 1950 S HOME ECONOMICS TEXTBOOK Make him comfortable: Have him lean back in a comfortable chair or suggest he lie down in the bedroom. Have a cool or warm drink ready for him. Arrange his pillow and offer to take off his shoes. Speak in a low, soft soothing and pleasant voice. Allow him to relax-unwind.

EXCERPT FROM A 1950 S HOME ECONOMICS TEXTBOOK Make the evening his: Never complain if he does not take you out to dinner or to other places of entertainment. Instead, try to understand his world of strain and pressure, his need to be home and relax.

EXCERPT FROM A 1950 S HOME ECONOMICS TEXTBOOK The goal: Try to make your home a place of peace and order where your husband can renew himself in body and spirit. Source: http: //www. coax. net/people/lwf/TEXTBOOK. HTM

HOW DO YOU THINK THESE EXPECTATIONS HAVE EFFECTED MRS. MALLARD?

LEARNING TARGET : HOW DOES KATE CHOPIN’S STORY END ON AN IRONIC NOTE? Warm Up: Identify and explain a central idea present in the story. Find a quote to support your response. Central Idea: The central idea is the central, unifying element of the story, which ties together all of the other elements of fiction used by the author to tell the story. The central ideacan be best described as the dominant impression or the universal, generic truth found in the story (Theme, Main idea, Motif) Homework: Read “Lamb to the Slaughter”

WHAT IS THE CENTRAL IDEA?

CLASS DISCUSSION 1. What news has Richards learned? 2. Who tells Mrs. Mallard the news? 3. Why is there a rush to tell her the news? 4. How does Mrs. Mallard react initially? 5. What happens to Mrs. Mallard when her husband comes home from work?

DO YOU THINK LOUISE MALLARD IS A SYMPATHETIC CHARACTER? v Before you respond, ask yourself: • Is Louise Mallard a protagonist? Is she sympathetic, or is she cold? • Must all protagonists be of heroic moral fiber, or are they allowed to have thoughts and desires that are objectionable or uncouth? • Do these thoughts make her an antagonist? • Was hers a loveless, unhappy marriage? • How does she react to the news of her husbands death? • Why does she react the way she does to her husband's surprise return?

HOW DOES CHOPIN’S USE OF THIRD PERSON AFFECT THE NARRATIVE? v. Is the use of third person affective? v. Would first person have been more affective?

IDE NTIFY CHOPIN’S USE OF LANGUAGE v. How does Chopin use figurative language to express Louise Mallard’s emotions? v. Ask yourself: • What does the room symbolize? • The view out the window? • How does Chopin use external setting as a metaphor for Louise Mallard’s inner feelings?

“…SHE HAD DIED OF HEART DISEASE – OF JOY THAT KILLS. ” v. What do you make of the story’s final line? v Is Chopin being ironic, or insincere? v. What is her tone in this final piece of narration?

IS THIS JUST A STORY ABOUT THE MALLARDS? v. Is Chopin’s story about the individual, or society? v. Is this simply a story of an hour, or are her characters vessels for larger social issues and concerns? v. What might these issues and concerns be?

WHAT’S THE CENTRAL IDEA ? v. Turn and talk to the person next to you, v. What do you think is the main idea of the story? v. Is there more than one central idea? v. What message is Chopin sending to the reader?