Choose one of the following five prompts and respond to it on the blog. Remember that we are not turning in reading responses on Thursday. Instead, we are discussing Chopin’s stories here.
1. Point to examples in both “The Storm” and “Story of an Hour” where Chopin uses the setting to reflect the emotions of the characters. Do you like this technique? How is it different than being told what the characters think and feel?
2. Interpret the last line of “The Storm”: “So the storm passed and everyone was happy.” Do you believe this? Has the storm passed? Is everyone better off and happier because of what has happened? I’m not looking for a specific answer. Respond to the story’s last line any way you wish.
3. This question is related to the last one. Can an affair actually be a good thing for a relationship in some cases?
4. The last line of “Story of an Hour” is, “When the doctors came they said she died of heart disease--of joy that kills.” Argue that the doctors were right about what Mrs. Mallard died of.
5. Who is more like Nora in A Doll’s House, Calixta or Mrs. Mallard? Point to specific examples when making your claim.
Thank you. Blog away!
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A Storm was Created
ReplyDeleteLike Norah, Calixta now has a major secret because she had an affair. At the beginning of the story of A Doll's House everything seems to be picture perfect but it just isn't realistic, Norah's life and relationship with her husband was fake and the realness came out once the secret was revealed. Maybe Calixta won't tell her husband and everthing will "seem" to be happy but it won't be real happiness because she will have to keep something from her husband. I feel that Calixta has created a storm because now she has to have that in the back of her mind until she reveals it and the storm won't end until the affair is revealed to Babinot.
I really liked the technique of using surroundings to reflect emotions. With the storm it was really intense while they were kissing each other. What I especially liked was how sudden the storm came. She said that they hadn't seen a storm like this for years, and how she hadn't seen Alcee very much since she had been married. This affair was very sudden and unexpected but very intense just like the storm.
ReplyDeleteMrs. Hallard went into a room alone with and open window and a comfortable roomy chair. She sank into the chair being pressed by exhaustion. To me the surroundings were describing her death and how it was for her. It wasn't anything scary. The window was open and the chair was comfortable. In my opinion she was accepting death with open arms and through the window drinking in the elixer of life as it said. I loved both stories how they described surroundings. In a way it got you inside the character's mind without having to actually describe what they were thinking. By describing the surroundings you know how they are perceiving there situations and what they are feeling.