UNIVERSIDADE FEDERAL DE MINAS GERAIS

Study Questions (5) – “Editha” – William D. Howells.

 NAME !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

". What#s the natu$e o% the $elationshi& 'etween eo$e ea$son and Editha *as+om, -n

what ways +an thei$ $elationshi& itsel% 'e +ha$a+te$ied as a st$ule %o$ &owe$ o/e$

ideals,

0. What ta+ti+s does Editha use to ma1e eo$e 'elie/e as she does a'out the wa$,

2. Howells i/es am&le e/iden+e that Editha is as mu+h inte$ested in “$eadin” he$sel% as

the he$oine o% a sentimental sto$y as she is in eo$e. What e/iden+e in the sto$y

shows this,

3. Howells is +a$e%ul to distinuish 'etween women#s and men#s moti/es when he

des+$i'es Editha#s and eo$e#s $es&onse to the wa$. -n what ways is this a sto$y a'out

ende$ as well as a'out idealism,

5. What is he$ %athe$#s $es&onse to wa$,

4. Why does Howells s&e+i%y that he$ mothe$ sits in a “Sha1e$” +hai$, Who we$e the

Sha1e$s and how do thei$ 'elie%s $e%le+t on the sto$y#s themes,

6. What is the &u$&ose o% Editha#s lette$, She ho&es to a++om&lish he$ o'7e+ti/e 'ut

what does the $eade$ see in this note,

8. Note the des+$i&tion eo$e i/es o% Editha he$ $ed hai$ 'lue eyes and white s1in in

the moonliht. What is the sini%i+an+e o% this des+$i&tion,

9. Editha sees he$sel% as 'ein $eliious. Note the many $e%e$en+es to od in this sto$y:

is she $iht a'out he$ $eliious 'elie%s, -n what ways does the na$$ati/e /oi+e

unde$+ut them, What &la+e does od &lay in the +ondu+t o% wa$ a++o$din to this

sto$y,

";. <omment on the meanin o% this senten+e “=he myste$y that had 'ewilde$ed he$ was

sol/ed 'y the wo$d >the a$tist had +alled eo$e#s mothe$#s +ondu+t “/ula$”?: and

%$om that moment she $ose %$om $o/elin in shame and sel%@&ity and 'ean to li/e

aain in the ideal.” -s the$e e/e$ a time in whi+h Editha t$uly unde$stands what she

has done, Does she e/e$ e&e$ien+e an e&i&hany,