The Story of an Hour Student's Note

“The Story of an Hour” p. 548

Author: Kate Chopin

Realism

Summary: Woman finds out her husband has been killed. She goes to her room and begins to realize the freedom that she will have now that her husband has passed away. She embraces her freedom and goes downstairs. As she does, her husband walks in – he was never in the railroad accident. She dies when she sees that he is alive.

Setting:

-Mallard’s house, late 1800s

-very important in understanding this story.

-turn of the century ( women have few rights and have lots of social

confinements.

-Chopin’s work realistically portrays women who feel trapped and are unhappy in

their lives. This was controversial.

Characterization: the methods a writer uses to reveal the personality of a character.

Direct characterization – writer makes explicit statements about a character

(“She was young, with a fair, calm face” (549))

Indirect characterization – writer reveals a character through his/her words,

thoughts, and actions and through what others think and say about that character.

(“’Free! Body and soul free!’ she kept whispering.” (550))

(“…she went to her room alone. She would have no one follow her.(549))

-lots of characterization in this story

-Realisms focus on psychology and human behavior makes characterization

important.

Conflict: central struggle between 2 opposing forces

External Conflict – character vs. outside force (nature, society, a person)

Ex: Man vs. cold weather

-Mrs. Mallard sees that her husband is alive

Internal Conflict – character vs. self (feelings, desires, goals)

Ex. You want to go to friend’s house vs. you need to go to work

-“Story of an Hour” has an internal conflict

-Mrs. Mallard is afraid of the feelings of happiness that are coming

(She was beginning to recognize this thing that was approaching to possess her, and she was striving to beat it back with her will.” (549)) this thing =...