Historical Context for Kate Chopin

Introduction

As you begin to read the novel The Awakening, it will help if you have some contextual understanding of Kate Chopin's background and how this has influenced the themes and purposes in the book. In this lesson, you will be introduced to Chopin and what she is trying to achieve with her work.

Download and Read - Kate Chopin's The Awakening

Download Kate Chopin's The Awakening (PDF). You may also purchase a copy or borrow one from your local library.

You will be reading the entire novel.

Historical Context - Video Lesson

Kate Chopin's The Awakening is representative of fiction written during its time. Watch the video presentation below to learn more about the historical contexts of this novel.

Activity

Before you read The Awakening, it will help if you can match the traditional plot structure to points within the novel.

Warning: spoilers ahead, but close reading and study assumes knowledge of the plot.

Final Thoughts

Now that you have some background into the purpose of the novel and some of the larger themes, it is time to start working on a close reading of the novel. Remember that understanding the themes and purpose is often the first part of studying a text; once you have determined the larger themes and purpose you must use close reading to analyze how the author conveys this larger meaning.

[CC BY-NC-SA 4.0] UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED | IMAGES: LICENSED AND USED ACCORDING TO TERMS OF SUBSCRIPTION - INTENDED ONLY FOR USE WITHIN LESSON.
arisara/Shutterstock.com. Image used under license from Shutterstock.com and may not be repurposed.