The Story of an Hour

Question 1

The Story of an Hour: Author

Answer 1

Kate Chopin

Question 2

The Story of an Hour: Year

Answer 2

1894

Question 3

What is the name of the main character in The Story of an Hour?

Answer 3

Louise Mallard

Question 4

Who is Mrs. Mallard’s husband?

Answer 4

Brently Mallard

Question 5

The Story of an Hour: Summary

Answer 5

A young woman learns that her husband has died, and after overcoming her initial shock, she is filled with joy and a sense of freedom. At the end of the story, her husband appears (alive and unharmed) at her door, and she dies (of shock, we presume).

Question 6

The Story of an Hour: Irony

Answer 6

• Doctors state that Mrs. Mallard died of “joy that kills”, but we as readers know that the reason was the exact opposite.

Question 7

The Story of an Hour: Repetition

Answer 7

• The word “free” is repeated throughout the story. She says “free, free free!” and then some time later, “free! body and soul free!”. This highlights her feelings of subordination in her marriage.

Question 8

The Story of an Hour: Themes

Answer 8

• Life and death
• Identity
• Development of technology (which Chopin had a phobia of, and the train crash could represent that)

Question 9

The Story of an Hour: Syntax

Answer 9

• Placements of the word “her” and “she” reflect Mrs. Mallard’s redirection of her attention inwards, prioritizing herself. For instance: “There would be no one to live for her during those coming years; she would live for herself.” placement of “her” is widely discussed because it indicates that Mr. Mallard has been controlling his wife’s life

Question 10

The Story of an Hour: Metaphor

Answer 10

• Metaphors highlight Mrs. Mallard’s joy: “she was drinking in a very elixir of life through that open window.”

Question 11

The Story of an Hour: Personification

Answer 11

• Implies the revitalizing nature of the news that Mrs. Mallard has been given. Shows that things feel as if they have been brought to life: “her fancy was running riot along those days ahead of her”
• Another example: “There was something coming to her and she was waiting for it, fearfully. What was it? She did not know; it was too subtle and elusive to name. But she felt it, creeping out of the sky, reaching toward her through the sounds, the scents, the color that filled the air….She was beginning to recognize this thing that was approaching to possess her, and she was striving to beat it back with her will—as powerless as her two white slender hands would have been.”