View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does Edna think she understands?

2. Where does Edna plan to move?

3. What does Léonce write to Edna?

4. How many children does Edna have?

5. What is the first kiss to which Edna has ever responded?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Robert confess when he and Edna go back to the pigeon house and what is Edna's response?

2. What does Edna find when she visits Mademoiselle Reisz and how does Edna react?

3. About what do Edna and her father argue and what does her father say to Léonce?

4. What does the creature finally do?

5. What is Edna's life like in New Orleans?

6. Why does Edna decide to move into a smaller house and what does the staff call the house?

7. How does Edna feel about living in the pigeon house?

8. What happens between Robert and Edna by the end of Chapter 35?

9. Why do Edna and her husband argue and what does each do?

10. Describe Edna's terrifying water experience.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Setting as far as place and time play an important role in The Awakening and many of Chopin's short stories. Discuss the following:

1. Compare/contrast several aspects of the setting of that time (late 1800s) from how it would be today. Consider things such as cultural norms/expectations, technology, religion and medicine.

2. Do you The Awakening or any of the short stories would be different if it were set in another state in the United States, such as California, in that same era? Consider particularly the fact that Creole people often have a strong identification with the area around New Orleans.

3. What issues that are present in the time of The Awakening would still be issues today? What would no longer be issues? Consider such things as class, racism, alcoholism, sexual freedom, rugged individualism and integrity.

Essay Topic 2

Edna commits suicide (presumably) at the end of the story, The Awakening. Discuss the following:

1. Trace and analyze five major events that leads up to Edna's suicide. Could any of them have been altered? What does each event contribute to Edna's fateful decision?

2. Suicide is often considered by people who feel they have no other options. Do you think Edna is at that point when she kills herself? What other options does Edna have (consider the times and culture in which Edna lives)?

3. Is Edna's suicide an act of courage? Stupidity? Selfishness? Do you hold her responsible for the impact her death will have on those who love her? How do you think they will be affected?

4. Do you think Edna's husband is partly to blame for the woman's problems? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

The Creole culture and the culture of the United States at that time in general in the late 1800s is fertile ground for sexism. Discuss one of the following:

1. Research the existence of sexism in the South and the United States and analyze The Awakening and one other short story for its accuracy and/or inaccuracy in its portrayal of sexism.

2. Trace and analyze the theme of sexism throughout The Awakening. Who are the most obvious sexist? Who are perhaps subtly sexist? Are any of the characters free of sexism? Who? Why do you say so?

3. Trace and analyze the theme of sexism in three of the short stories. Who are the most obvious sexist? Who are perhaps subtly sexist? Are any of the characters free of sexism? Who? Why do you say so?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,184 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample