Analysis of "Story of an Hour" - Kate Chopin
- Created by: hellodarknessmaoldfriend
- Created on: 14-06-19 10:21
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- Story of an hour
- Structure
- Short, dense structure
- Story is made up of a series of short paragraphs and covers only an hour of Ms. Mallard's life
- Mirrors the intense hour Louise spends contemplating her new independence
- Story is made up of a series of short paragraphs and covers only an hour of Ms. Mallard's life
- Echoing
- "heart disease"
- The first paragraph is echoed in the last paragraph
- Intensifies the twist ending and brings the story to a satisfying close
- "heart trouble"
- The first paragraph is echoed in the last paragraph
- "heart trouble"
- "heart disease"
- Identical phrasing
- "She breathed ... that life might be long"
- Reveals how drastically Louise's life has changed with the supposed death of her husband.
- "She breathed ... that life might be long"
- Time
- During the story nobody leaves the home. Men come in but no one leaves.
- Initially the outside world seems more dangerous.
- I isnt dangerous for people we care about but there is no escaping death when it comes for us - even in our own houses.
- During the story nobody leaves the home. Men come in but no one leaves.
- Omniscient third-person narrative
- Enables Chopin to tell a complete story without limiting to the protagonist's view points.
- Keeps Mrs. Mallard more sympathetic and understandable.
- "There was ... the color that filled the air."
- Makes it seem like Mrs. Mallard is helpless under the greater weight of human truths.
- "There was ... the color that filled the air."
- Short, dense structure
- Important Quotations
- "But now there was a ... intelligent thought"
- Our first hint that Louise's reaction to Brently's death will be surprising.
- What she sees as she gazes out of the window is different form what other women would see after their husband's have passed away.
- her "intelligent thought" will engage again as she processes the feelings of freedom.
- "But now there was a ... intelligent thought"
- Characters
- Mrs. Mallard
- "as gently as possible"
- Mrs. Mallard has to be guarded against a potential shock which could lead to her death.
- No one understands her
- Untitled
- Someone who brushes off the notions of love and even the best of marriages for the glorious idea of pure freedom.
- "as gently as possible"
- Mrs. Mallard
- Context
- Literary Devices
- Repetition
- "open"
- "free"
- One of the few words Louise speaks aloud.
- Indicates how she cherishes her new found freedom.
- Symbols
- Heart
- Hearts are frequently used a symbol of love in western culture.
- "heart trouble"
- Its a polite way of describing her condition, but it also reinforces the "trouble" Mrs Mallard is havign with her "heart" within her marriage.
- Makes it easier for her to dismiss the concept of love "What did it matter"!
- Even if Mrs.Mallard wasn't physical sick she would still have emotional "heart trouble"
- Heart
- Repetition
- Structure
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