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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 are Elodie and Gabriel playing?

2. Why is Elizabeth fired from her job?

3. Why is Louise feeling relieved?

4. What does Elodie not tell Gabriel?

5. What is one other Chopin piece in which Gouvernail appears?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Alcée write to his wife and what is her response?

2. How does Mrs. Baroda's feelings alter towards Gouvernail and what does she do?

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

4. Why does Elizabeth lose her job at the post office?

5. How does Calixta become involved with Alcée Laballière?

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

7. What does Désirée do after Armand tells her to leave?

8. How does Louise Mallard respond to the news?

9. What changes everything for Athénaïse and what does she do?

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

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

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 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)

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