Week 2: Story of An Hour

Dr. Peih-ying Lu

Mar. 4, 2010

Elements of a Story

1. plot2. conflict3. setting4. climax5. character

Pre-reading Questions • Who are the main characters? What

do you know about them?

• Where does the story take place?

• When does the story take place?

Pre-reading Questions• What happens?

• What changes occur in the story?

1. How much time passes in this story?

2. Describe Mrs. Mallard's changing emotions by putting the following in correct order:

grief joy fear relaxation emptiness anticipation

In-class Discussion

In-class Discussion3. How dose the scene from her window

apparently contrast with her emotional state? How does this apparent contrast change?

4. Re-read page 458, paragraph 9. What is the "something" that Mrs. Mallard

senses coming toward her?

In-class Discussion5. Re-read page 459, paragraph 14. What is meant by "crime"? Whose crime?

6. What kind of husband was Mr. Mallard? How do you know?

7. Did Mrs. Mallard love her husband? How do you know?

In-class Discussion

8. Account for Mrs. Mallard's joy

9. What sentence from the story best present the change in Mrs. Mallard's attitude to life?

What sentence best represents the change in

her attitude to herself?

In-class Discussion10. This story is doubly ironic.

How might the tragedy be ironic for characters in the story. (Mr. Richards, Josephine)?

How is the story ironic for the reader? (Look at the last sentence.)