RNA - Real Women Lesson

Please view the following presentation, which will give you information about two female writers in the Realism time period: Kate Chopin and Charlotte Perkins Gilman. Please be patient while the presentation loads - depending on your internet connection, it may take some time. Ensure that your speakers are turned up, and use the controls at the bottom of the presentation to pause and re-watch parts as you need.

Reading Assignment: Kate Chopin - "The Story of an Hour"

It is now time to read "The Story of an Hour."  This story takes place in one single hour at the end of the 19th century. The main character, Louise, hears about her husband's death and reacts with obvious grief. Once alone, however, Louise realizes that she is now an independent woman, free from the traditional roles that keep her in the house managing household duties and children. This realization enlivens and excites her. When Louise finally acknowledges the joy she feels in this independence, she knows that the society in which she lives will never understand why she feels this way. These extreme circumstances give Louise a taste of freedom that she has never experienced before.

As you read, look for examples of foreshadowing (which hints about what will happen later in the story ) that will help you figure out what will happen in Chopin's surprise ending. Surprise endings are usually ironic because irony involves a contrast of one kind or another. Pay close attention to how Chopin uses all three types of irony: verbal irony (occurs when a character states one thing and means another), dramatic irony (occurs when the reader knows more about a situation or character than the characters in the story do), and situational irony (contrast between what the reader expects to happen and what actually happens) - throughout the story and in the surprise ending.  

The Story of an Hour Text Link Links to an external site.

Reading Assignment: Charlotte Perkins Gillman - "The Yellow Wallpaper"

It is now time to read "The Yellow Wallpaper."  As you learned in the presentation earlier, the story, which was first published in a magazine in 1892, presents a female protagonist who suffers from "nervousness" and so is confined to her room to rest under her doctor's orders, just as Gilman experienced herself. As you read, document specific descriptions of the actual wallpaper. This will help you with a future assignment. In addition, you can also read an article by Gilman explaining why she wrote this story. This article is also linked below.

"The Yellow Wallpaper" Text Link Links to an external site.

Why I Wrote "The Yellow Wallpaper" Text Link Links to an external site.

RESOURCES IN THIS MODULE ARE OPEN EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES (OER) OR CREATED BY GAVS UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED. SOME IMAGES USED UNDER SUBSCRIPTION.