The Yellow Wallpaper Flashcards
(134 cards)
1
Q
What is the main theme of ‘The Yellow Wallpaper’?
A
The main theme is the oppression of women and the impact of mental illness.
2
Q
Who is the narrator of ‘The Yellow Wallpaper’?
A
The narrator is an unnamed woman suffering from postpartum depression.
3
Q
In what setting does ‘The Yellow Wallpaper’ take place?
A
It takes place in a secluded mansion, specifically in a room with yellow wallpaper.
4
Q
True or False: The narrator’s husband is supportive of her mental health needs.
A
False.
5
Q
What does the yellow wallpaper symbolize?
A
The yellow wallpaper symbolizes the oppression and confinement of the narrator.
6
Q
Fill in the blank: The narrator is prescribed a ‘rest cure’ by her husband, which involves __________.
A
complete isolation and inactivity.
7
Q
What happens to the narrator’s mental state throughout the story?
A
Her mental state deteriorates as she becomes increasingly obsessed with the wallpaper.
8
Q
Who is John in relation to the narrator?
A
John is the narrator’s husband and a physician.
9
Q
What does the narrator begin to see in the wallpaper?
A
She begins to see a woman trapped behind the patterns of the wallpaper.
10
Q
True or False: The story is written in the form of a diary.
A
True.
11
Q
Multiple Choice: What does the narrator ultimately do to the wallpaper?
A
She tears it down.
12
Q
What does tearing down the wallpaper represent?
A
It represents her desire to escape confinement and reclaim her identity.
13
Q
Fill in the blank: The narrator’s descent into madness is exacerbated by __________.
A
the lack of autonomy and social isolation.
14
Q
Who are the other characters that the narrator interacts with?
A
She primarily interacts with her husband John and her sister-in-law Jennie.
15
Q
What is the significance of the ending of the story?
A
It signifies the culmination of the narrator’s breakdown and her rejection of societal norms.
16
Q
True or False: The story criticizes the medical practices of the time.
A
True.
17
Q
What does the narrator hope to find in the wallpaper?
A
She hopes to find a way to understand and free the woman she believes is trapped within it.
18
Q
What literary movement is ‘The Yellow Wallpaper’ often associated with?
A
It is associated with feminism and early 20th-century literature.
19
Q
Multiple Choice: How does the narrator’s relationship with her husband change throughout the story?
A
It becomes increasingly strained as she feels misunderstood and oppressed.
20
Q
What writing style is used in ‘The Yellow Wallpaper’?
A
The writing style is first-person and stream-of-consciousness.
21
Q
Fill in the blank: The story was published in __________.
A
1892.
22
Q
How does the narrator describe the wallpaper at the beginning of the story?
A
She describes it as a sickly yellow with a chaotic pattern.
23
Q
What role does Jennie play in the narrator’s life?
A
Jennie acts as a caretaker and enforcer of the domestic sphere.
24
Q
What does the narrator realize about the woman in the wallpaper by the end of the story?
A
She realizes that the woman is a reflection of her own entrapment.
25
True or False: The narrator's diary entries are consistent and rational throughout the story.
False.
26
What does the narrator's obsession with the wallpaper reflect about her own life?
It reflects her struggle for identity and freedom from societal expectations.
27
What does the narrator write in her journal in The first entry?
That she is now living in a country house at the prescription of her husband, John who is a doctor
28
What does John believe about the narrator?
That the narrator needs rest and fresh air to recover from a "nervous condition"
29
What does John instruct the narrator to do?
To avoid engaging in work, includsing writing. This meant to help the narrator heal from her "slight hysterical tendency"
30
31
What is the definition of connotation?
An idea or feeling which a word invokes in addition to its literal or primary meaning.
32
What are some common positive connotations associated with the color yellow?
* Sunshine and Light
* Energy and Creativity
* Hope and Renewal
33
What are some common negative connotations associated with the color yellow?
* Cowardice and Deceit
* Illness and Decay
* Jealousy and Envy
34
What is the genre of 'The Yellow Wallpaper'?
'The Yellow Wallpaper' is considered to be gothic fiction.
35
What is the significance of the setting in 'The Yellow Wallpaper'?
The setting reflects the narrator's mental state and reinforces themes of repression and isolation.
36
What is the primary theme of 'The Yellow Wallpaper'?
The critique of medical treatment and societal norms that restricted women's autonomy.
37
What does the yellow wallpaper symbolize in the story?
The yellow wallpaper symbolizes the narrator's mental entrapment and societal oppression.
38
Who is the protagonist in 'The Yellow Wallpaper'?
The protagonist is an unnamed woman suffering from what is described as 'nervous depression'.
39
What type of depression is the narrator experiencing?
Post partum depression.
40
What does John, the narrator's husband, represent in the story?
John represents patriarchal and medical attitudes of the time.
41
What is the climax of 'The Yellow Wallpaper'?
The climax occurs when the narrator locks herself in the room and begins to tear down the wallpaper.
42
True or False: The narrator's husband takes her feelings seriously.
False.
43
Fill in the blank: The narrator is confined to a room in a country mansion that her husband John has rented for the _______.
summer.
44
What are the characteristics of the house in 'The Yellow Wallpaper'?
* Secluded
* Possibly haunted
* Elicits dread
45
What does the narrator believe about the women trapped behind the wallpaper?
She believes that there are women trapped behind its patterns.
46
What literary devices are used in 'The Yellow Wallpaper'?
Psychological horror and first-person narrative.
47
How does the husband's treatment affect the narrator?
It leads to further isolation and a deterioration of her mental health.
48
What is the significance of the narrator's secret journal entries?
They provide insight into her deteriorating mental state and feelings of oppression.
49
What does the term 'yellow-bellied' refer to?
A negative connotation of cowardice in English-speaking cultures.
50
What does the narrator want to do that John forbids?
Read, write, and socialize.
51
What does the narrator's anger towards John signify?
It signifies her growing frustration with her lack of autonomy and control.
52
What does the garden surrounding the mansion represent?
It symbolizes beauty but also reflects the narrator's feelings of entrapment.
53
What does the phrase 'nervous depression' imply in the context of the story?
It implies a lack of understanding of women's mental health during the 19th century.
54
What does the narrator's feeling of being 'basely ungrateful' illustrate?
It illustrates her internal conflict and societal pressure to conform to her husband's wishes.
55
What does the phrase 'haunted house' suggest in the narrator's description?
It suggests an eerie atmosphere and potential danger.
56
What does the narrator reflect on regarding her own behavior in 'The Yellow Wall Paper'?
She sees her thoughts and feelings as unreasonable and judges herself rationally.
57
Who holds all the power in the narrator's life in 'The Yellow Wall Paper'?
John holds all the power and makes all the decisions.
58
Describe the room where the narrator is confined in 'The Yellow Wall Paper'.
It is a big, airy room with barred windows and remnants of a nursery, playground, and gymnasium.
59
What does the wallpaper in 'The Yellow Wall Paper' symbolize?
The wallpaper symbolizes the narrator's confinement and mental state.
60
What societal norms influenced women's roles during the late 19th century in America?
Women were largely confined to the private sphere, expected to focus on home-making and child-rearing.
61
What is the prevailing ideology regarding women during the Gilded Age?
The Cult of Domesticity idealized female virtue, emphasizing piety, purity, submission, and domesticity.
62
True or False: Education for women was prioritized in the late 19th century.
False
63
What does the narrator's husband's attitude reflect in 'The Yellow Wall Paper'?
His patronizing attitude undermines her feelings and reflects broader societal tendencies to dismiss women's experiences.
64
Fill in the blank: The narrator's confinement to the nursery represents the larger societal constraints placed on _______.
[women]
65
What does the narrator wish to do that highlights the therapeutic potential of creative expression?
She desires to write.
66
How does the narrator describe the wallpaper's pattern in 'The Yellow Wall Paper'?
The pattern is sprawling, flamboyant, dull, and irritating, leading to confusion and distress.
67
What does the term 'rest cure' refer to in the context of 'The Yellow Wall Paper'?
A medical treatment prescribed to women, which often involved isolation and enforced inactivity.
68
What does the narrator's repeated desire to help John signify?
It reflects the internalization of societal expectations for women to prioritize the well-being of others.
69
What does the narrator compare the wallpaper to in terms of its influence on her?
She feels the wallpaper knows the vicious influence it has on her mental state.
70
What does the narrator mean by describing furniture as having a 'kindly wink'?
It suggests her desperate search for comfort within her oppressive environment.
71
How does the narrator's mental health decline in 'The Yellow Wall Paper'?
Her language reflects emotional distress and depression, exacerbated by the rest cure.
72
What does the figure the narrator perceives in the wallpaper represent?
It represents her feelings of being trapped and her deteriorating mental health.
73
What does the narrator's comparison of the wallpaper to a 'sulk[ing]' figure indicate?
It highlights her projection of feelings onto the wallpaper, intensifying her sense of unease.
74
True or False: The narrator feels a sense of freedom and joy in her current state.
False
75
What does John’s sister represent in 'The Yellow Wall Paper'?
She represents the ideal woman of the period, content with domestic roles.
76
What is the protagonist's emotional state at the beginning of the story?
Tired and feeling isolated
## Footnote
The protagonist expresses feelings of tiredness and isolation, indicating a decline in mental health.
77
Who does John suggest the protagonist might see for her condition?
Weir Mitchell
## Footnote
Weir Mitchell was known for his treatment of women's mental health issues during this period.
78
What does the wallpaper symbolize in the story?
Inability to express inner life and need for creativity
## Footnote
The wallpaper represents societal constraints and the protagonist's struggle for self-expression.
79
Fill in the blank: The protagonist is getting fond of the room _______.
in spite of the wallpaper
## Footnote
The protagonist's growing fondness for the room reflects her complex feelings towards her confinement.
80
What does the protagonist compare the wallpaper's pattern to?
Wallowing seaweeds and slanting waves of optic horror
## Footnote
This imagery conveys her growing obsession and horror with her surroundings.
81
How does the protagonist's relationship with John reflect societal gender dynamics?
John's role reinforces traditional gender roles and power imbalance
## Footnote
John's authority as both husband and doctor limits the protagonist's autonomy.
82
True or False: The protagonist feels she is improving under John's care.
False
## Footnote
The protagonist expresses feelings of no improvement, contrasting with John's insistence that she is doing better.
83
What does the protagonist mean when she refers to her 'false and foolish fancy'?
Her feelings of not improving and her mental struggles
## Footnote
This reflects the stigmatization of mental health issues during the time.
84
How does the writing style of the diary entries change throughout the story?
From structured and coherent to fragmented and disjointed
## Footnote
The change in style mirrors the protagonist's declining mental state.
85
Fill in the blank: The protagonist begins to identify with the _______ she sees in the wallpaper.
trapped figure
## Footnote
This identification indicates a loss of her sense of self and increasing obsession.
86
What does the moonlight symbolize for the protagonist?
A creeping sense of anxiety
## Footnote
The moonlight's slow movement reflects her growing discomfort and paranoia.
87
What is the significance of the protagonist's diary?
It serves as her only outlet for self-expression
## Footnote
The diary reflects her mental state and her struggle for autonomy.
88
How does the protagonist feel about the nursery and the wallpaper's effect on children?
She believes it would harm a child
## Footnote
This reveals her protective instincts and the perceived threat of the wallpaper.
89
What is the effect of the protagonist's enforced isolation?
It leads to her growing obsession with the wallpaper
## Footnote
The isolation exacerbates her mental deterioration.
90
True or False: The protagonist trusts John's medical opinions completely.
False
## Footnote
The protagonist struggles with trusting John's authority as she feels her own needs are ignored.
91
What does the protagonist's mention of 'nervous weakness' indicate?
Her declining mental health
## Footnote
This term was often used historically to describe women's mental health issues.
92
Fill in the blank: The protagonist feels that her creative impulses are _______ by her husband's treatment.
stifled
## Footnote
This stifling reflects broader societal beliefs about women's roles.
93
What does the protagonist's final realization about the wallpaper suggest?
A complete break from reality
## Footnote
Her obsession culminates in a delusion about the figure trapped within the wallpaper.
94
What literary technique does Perkins Gilman use to represent the narrator’s thoughts in 'The Yellow Wall Paper'?
Stream of consciousness
## Footnote
This technique reflects the narrator's mental decline as she becomes increasingly confined.
95
How does the structure of the diary entries change throughout 'The Yellow Wall Paper'?
Entries become rambling, erratic, and lack logical connections
## Footnote
This change signals the narrator's mental decline.
96
What does the term 'unreliable narrator' refer to?
A narrator whose credibility has been seriously compromised
## Footnote
This technique adds depth and complexity to narratives.
97
What role does the first-person point of view play in 'The Yellow Wall Paper'?
Emphasizes the shift from reliable to unreliable narrator
## Footnote
It shows the narrator's lack of control over her own story.
98
Who is identified as the antagonist in 'The Yellow Wall Paper'?
John
## Footnote
His decisions contribute to the narrator's worsening condition.
99
What does the wallpaper symbolize in relation to the narrator's mental state?
Her growing obsession and frustration
## Footnote
The wallpaper becomes a focal point of her existence.
100
True or False: The narrator initially describes the wallpaper in a positive light.
False
## Footnote
The narrator finds the wallpaper hideous and infuriating.
101
Fill in the blank: The color yellow traditionally symbolizes _______ and decay.
sickness
## Footnote
This aligns with the narrator's growing madness.
102
What narrative technique is used to convey the chaos in the narrator's mind?
Fragmentation and disjointed thought processes
## Footnote
This is evident in her erratic writing style.
103
What does the narrator mean when she refers to the 'dim sub-pattern'?
A woman trapped behind the wallpaper
## Footnote
The narrator identifies with this figure, reflecting her own feelings of entrapment.
104
What is the significance of the narrator's secretive behavior towards John?
It suggests a profound disconnection from her surroundings
## Footnote
This behavior indicates her descent into paranoia.
105
How does the use of dashes and interruptions in the narrative affect the reader's perception?
Contributes to a sense of fragmentation
## Footnote
This emphasizes the narrator's disjointed thought processes.
106
What does the narrator's obsession with the wallpaper ultimately reveal about her mental state?
Her reality and hallucinations have become one
## Footnote
This indicates significant mental decline.
107
What does the narrator mean when she states, 'the pattern strangles so'?
It signifies her feelings of entrapment and suffocation
## Footnote
The pattern symbolizes societal constraints on women.
108
Fill in the blank: The narrator believes that the wallpaper has a _______ of its own.
will
## Footnote
This personification intensifies the conflict between her and her environment.
109
What does the repetition of 'creeping' in the text suggest?
An eerie, unsettling atmosphere and obsession
## Footnote
It emphasizes the secretive and shamed nature of the woman's actions.
110
How does the narrator's perception of the wallpaper change by the end of the story?
She becomes fixated on it, believing she must uncover its secrets
## Footnote
This reflects her detachment from reality.
111
What does the narrator's fear of John suggest about her mental condition?
A growing paranoia and fear of authority
## Footnote
This fear indicates her increasing instability.
112
What does the narrator often wonder about in relation to the woman she sees?
If she could see her out of all the windows at once
113
How does the narrator describe her ability to observe the woman?
She can only see out of one window at a time
114
What does the narrator imply about the speed of the woman she observes?
She may be able to creep faster than the narrator can turn
115
What narrative style is used in 'The Yellow Wall Paper'?
Deeply personal and introspective
116
How does the first-person perspective affect the reader's understanding of the narrator?
It allows insight into her obsession, paranoia, and deteriorating mental state
117
What does the narrator believe about the reader of her diary?
That the reader is untrustworthy
118
What does the narrator plan to do with the wallpaper?
Try to get it off little by little
119
How does the narrator feel about John’s attention to her sleeping habits?
She doesn't like the look in his eyes
120
How does the narrator perceive John's questions about her?
As pretended loving and kind behavior
121
What does the narrator do with the wallpaper on the last day?
Peels off yards of it
122
What does the narrator's language reveal about her emotional state?
Marked by exclamation points and dramatic declarations
123
What does the narrator express about her actions with the wallpaper?
She feels a sense of urgency and intensity
124
What does the narrator do to assert control over her environment?
Peels off the wallpaper
125
Fill in the blank: The narrator's irrational action of locking the door and throwing the key out of the window symbolizes her ______.
[desperation and loss of control]
126
What does the narrator think about the creeping women she observes?
They creep very fast
127
What does the narrator do when John tries to enter the room?
She tells him the key is down by the front steps
128
What does the narrator mean by saying she has 'got out at last'?
She has escaped from the constraints imposed on her
129
What is the significance of the narrator pulling off the wallpaper?
It represents her attempt to reclaim her identity
130
True or False: The narrator fully trusts John throughout the story.
False
131
What is the final action the narrator takes regarding John?
Creeps over him after he faints
132
What does the narrator do to prevent anyone from entering the room?
Locks the door and throws out the key
133
What does the narrator's fragmented thoughts indicate?
Her chaotic mental state
134
What does the narrator express about her feelings towards the wallpaper?
That it mocks her
