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

Short Answer Questions

1. What does the character not perceive?

2. Of what does Robert often daydream?

3. How is Edna going to pay for her move?

4. Where does the main character live?

5. What explanation does Edna give Robert for having a photo of Alcée in her house?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. What does Edna start attending?

3. What does the creature finally do?

4. Describe Edna's last swim.

5. Describe Edna's terrifying water experience.

6. What happens when the cage door is left open by accident one day?

7. What does the letter say that Mildred receives from her family?

8. What story does Edna tell and how does she explain knowing of the story?

9. What is the creature's situation like at the opening of the story?

10. Describe the Pontellier family.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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?

Essay Topic 2

Certainly The Awakening and also most of Chopin's other short stories in this volume deal with the subject of gender. Discuss the following:

1. Define the term "gender."

2. Does gender only refer to whether a person is male or female? Is gender easy to identify?

3. Discuss the Creole cultural definitions of gender during the era of The Awakening and the expectations for each gender. Do any of those expectations exist today?

4. Discuss two short stories in which gender seems to be a theme. How is the theme treated? Would you like to live in a culture that has those expectations for men and women?

5. Are women the only ones harmed by gender-based expectations? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

Often titles reveal much about one or more aspects of a novel. Discuss the following:

1. What do you think is the purpose of a title? How closely related to a major theme(s) of a book do you think a title should be? Or should it be?

2. The Awakening seems to suggest someone has awakened who was asleep. Discuss this title and the theme behind it.

3. If you were the writer of The Awakening and your editor says the title must be changed, what would you choose? Why?

4. Discuss the titles of two of the short stories and their meanings in the context of the story. Evaluate the effectiveness of the title.

(see the answer keys)

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