The Story of an Hour by Kate Chopin
| About the Author | Summary | Analysis | Quiz |
Quick facts about the Author by Fatima
The
info about Kate Chopin is taken from
http://bcs.bedfordstmartins.com/virtualit/fiction/StoryofanHour/bio.asp
Picture taken from:
www.womenwriters.net/domesticgoddess/ chopin1.htm
Kate Chopin was born in 1851 in St. Louis
In 1870 she married Oscar Chopin who was a cotton broker
When she was nearly 40 years old she published her first novel, At Fault (1890)
Her stories began to appear in Century and Harper's Magazine
Two collections followed after that that was entitled Bayou Folk (1894) and A Night in Arcadie (1897)
Her last major work was a novel named The Awakening (1899)
Surprisingly, The Awakening was denied membership in the St. Louis Fine Arts Club
After her mother died in 1899, she wrote freely about sex and love
Her works was rediscovered in the 1960s and a third collection of her stories was published in 1991 entitled A Vocation and a Voice
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Summary of "The Story of an Hour"
This short story is about an hour in the life of the main character, Mrs. Millard. She is afflicted with a heart problem. Bad news has come about that her husband has died in a train accident. Her sister Josephine and Richard who is her husband's friend has to break the horrifying news to her as gently as possible. They both were concerned that the news might somehow put her in great danger with her health. Ironically, Mrs. Millard reacts to the news with excitement. Even though the news is heartbreaking she is finally free from the depressing life she was living. She keeps whispering "Free! Body and soul free!". She now is happy because she doesn't have to live for anyone but herself now. At the end of the story, Mr. Millard opens the door and is surprised by Josephine's cry. Mr. Millard didn't have a faintest idea about the accident. With a quick motion, Richard tried to block Mr. Millard's view of his wife but it was too late. The doctors said she died of a heart disease. The story ends with a short phrase "of joy that kills".
By Fatima
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Analysis of "The Story of An Hour" by Josefina
Because Mrs. Millard had a fragile heart, her sister was hesitant in breaking her the news of her husband's death. Unlike most women who find themselves in denial after being told something of this magnitude she wept at once. Once she composed herself she locked herself in her room and would let no one in. She was noticing things outside her window she had never noticed before. Things that we take for granted and only appreciate when we are happy. But how could this be if her husband had just passed? She began to weep again and then she was young she was new she was somehow reborn. For with her husband she had been restrained and now she had all this new found freedom she did not enjoyed before. She was ready for he world to the amazement of her sister and that of her husband's friend, Mr. Richards as well. When she saw her husband she passed and the doctor said she died of a joy that kills but they did not understand that she actually died of sadness. Because now she was to be repressed in her husbands presence once more and this she could not bare.
Analysis of "The Story of An Hour" by Dominique
The short story " Story of an Hour" by, Kate Chopin, was a story about a woman, named Mrs. Millard and she is told the news of her husband's death. With this news she locks herself in her room and strangely finds some joy and sense of liberation in this death. When she finally emerges from her room she goes downstairs to find her husband returning home and she dies from shock and disappointment, rather than joy as the doctors diagnosed.
The theme of the story is things that we want in life might come too late so live life for yourself to the fullest while you can . Some of the major literary elements within the story are imagery, similes, metaphors and irony. These literary terms enhance the meaning because they allow you to feel the emotion of the character and the irony enhances the bittersweetness of the ending.
Analysis of "The Story of An Hour" by Fatima
The short story to be analyzed is entitled "The Story of an hour". The author of the short story is Kate Chopin. This short story is exceptionally different from other short stories. The author uses different literary techniques to convey the meaning of the story. The story is about a lady that is in a marriage that is not fulfilling to her. The author uses many elements to bring out the message of the poem and make the story more enticing to a reader.
The main idea of the short story is that a woman name Mrs. Millard has been told some very bad news that has left her heartbroken and depressed. She has been told that her husband has died in a accident. She feels relieved from her former lifestyle that included him. All she ever wanted was freedom from the marriage and not to feel entitled to her husband at all times. In the poem, her feelings are expressed when she says "Free! Body and soul free!". She now feels that her soul is free from the torture her husband has brought upon her. Her sister Josephine was the one to break the horrifying news to her. At the end of the story, her husband returns. He doesn't have a faintest idea of the accident. When she sees him she dies instantly from heart attack for she had heart problems. Also, because she has to continue living a depressing life that has no meaning or excitement included.
The author uses many literary elements in the short story. Some are personification, imagery, and similes. Personification is stated in the line that follows: "she was young, with a fair, calm face, whose lines bespoke repression,”. This element shows how strongly she is in repression. It makes the reader actually feel how depressing her life with her husband was. She could see in the open square before her house the tops of trees that were all aquiver with the new spring life. "The delicious breath of rain was in the air. In the street below a peddler was crying his wares. The notes of a distant song which some one was singing reached her faintly, and countless sparrows were twittering in the eaves." Imagery is portrayed in these sentences. By using imagery, the author can help the reader see and feel the environment the character is in. This helps the reader understand the poem on a next level. “She carried herself unwittingly like a goddess of Victory”. The author uses simile to describe how calm and happy she is now. She really feels free of all negative vibes now.
In conclusion, the message of the poem is that freedom is a prize possession in Mrs. Millard life and now she feels that at last she has captured it back in her life. The author uses many literary techniques to convey the message and the author also used many hints to help explain the meaning.
Analysis of "The Story of an Hour" by Jeffrey
The main idea of "The story of an hour" by Kate Chopin is repression and a chance of freedom. Mrs. Millard is the main character that had a heart disease. Due to her condition she was treated as if not a human being but a lower life form. This is why the news of her husband in an accident was broken down to her cautiously. After this bad news something happened to her after she wept, she stood in an open window and had a new sense of life and life was no longer a mystery to her. A new feeling came upon her and she knew she would be changed forever. This was not a sad thought but a life of freedom for Mrs. Millard. Freedom in which she would live for herself and not by any one else's intentions.
The theme of the story of an hour is society's treatment of the disabled, "There would be no powerful will bending hers in that blind persistence with which men and women believe they have a right to impose a private will upon a fellow creature" This let's us know that not just her husband was repressing her but men and women around her.
The major literary elements used in the story is: Personification, Imagery, Irony, Simile, metaphor,
Literary elements enhance the meaning by giving examples and expression to make it understandable. This is also created for people to draw out their own conclusion or meaning from a literary piece. This also creates imagination for the words.
Image borrowed from http://www.medact.org/tbx/images/hourglass.jpg
