Outline Story of an Hour
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B. Author’s use elements of fiction to help develop a central message in their narrative. Choose one story from the short story unit (not collateral) this term and discuss how the theme of the story is conveyed through the use of at least three significant literary elements.
Thesis Statement: Kate Chopin’s use of irony, symbolism and imagery throughout the narrative develops the theme of the the oppression felt by a woman in a marriage.
Theme:
1st attempt: multiple emotions felt by an individual of being free from the built-in oppression of marriage. 2nd: oppression felt by a woman in a marriage. Important quotations:
● “When the doctors came, they said she had died of heart disease—of the joy that kills.” (125) – irony ● “She said it over and over under the breath: ‘free, free, free!” (124) – irony ● “She could see in the open square before her house the tops of trees that were all aquiver with the new spring life. The delicious breath of rain was in the air. In the street below a peddler was crying his wares.The notes of a distant song which someone was singing reached her faintly, and countless sparrows were twittering in the eaves.” (123) – imagery ● “When the storm of grief has spent itself she went away to her room alone” (123) – imagery ●
Literary elements in Story of an hour that help develop the theme:
Irony: ❖ Situational irony is used in this story to show how Mrs. Mallard is happy rather than sad for her husband’s death and how she is happy to be free. ❖ Dramatic irony is used in this story to also show the oppressive nature of marriage since when Mrs. Mallard dies in the end the doctor says it was because of joy, but the readers are aware that it was not because she was happy to see her husband. Instead, it was because she was shocked and was disappointed and sad. As she realized that she wouldn’t truly have the freedom that was extremely happy about.
Imagery:
❖ When Mrs. Mallard is told the new about the death of her husband, her first reaction is described as the storm of grief. Which adds on to the weather imagery since an archetype of storm is sadness or death. ❖ Kate Chopin’s use of spring time imagery shows her freedom and her happiness. An archetype of spring is hope, which we are able to clearly see in Mrs. Mallard because of her sudden hope to be free.
Symbolism:
❖ Open window: symbolizes her new found freedom and all of the opportunities that she had now that she husband was not alive. ❖ Arm chair: symbolizes the comfort of being free from the oppression