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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. Why does Clarisse follow Alcée to the ball?

2. What does Elodie not tell Gabriel?

3. What is Louise imagining in her room?

4. How does Mrs. Baroda feel when she speaks to Gouvernail?

5. Where did Elizabeth Stock work?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Calixta become involved with Alcée Laballière?

2. Why does Mr. Sublet change his attitude towards Evariste?

3. How does Louise Mallard respond to the news?

4. How does Elizabeth help Mr. Brightman?

5. What is the difference between Calixta and Clarissa?

6. How does Mrs. Sommers spend her fifteen dollars?

7. What does Gabriel tell Tnate Elodie and what does she say in response?

8. How does Athénaïse develop a relationship with Gouvernail?

9. How does Mrs. Baroda feel towards Gourvernail at the opening of the story, and what does she do as a result?

10. What does Clarisse do when she learns Alcée is going to see Calixta and why does she do what she does?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss one of the following:

1. Define irony in literary terms. Discuss the irony of the situation whereby Edna's husband tells her she is safe when she swims out too far because he is watching her versus when Edna takes her last swim alone. Discuss the use of irony in two of the short stories.

2. Define symbolism in literary terms. Discuss the use of and meaning of five symbols found in The Awakening.

3. Discuss the use of and meaning of five symbols found in three of the short stories.

4. Discuss the use of foreshadowing in literature. What is the purpose of foreshadowing? Cite 3 examples of foreshadowing and how it is used to indicate events to come in The Awakening and/or several of the short stories.

Essay Topic 2

Any work of fiction has some similarities, yet the structure can engender differences. Discuss the following:

1. Compare/contrast how the structure of the novelette, The Awakening, informs the reading experience to how the structure of one of the short stories does the same.

2. Many readers love novels and are indifferent to short stories, and vice versa. Discuss why you think some readers would enjoy one format over another.

3. Choose a short, one-act play and compare it to one of the short stories as far as how structure affects the reading experience.

Essay Topic 3

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?

(see the answer keys)

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