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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. Where does Mr. Brightman go for a meeting?

2. How does Gabriel die?

3. Why does Clarisse follow Alcée to the ball?

4. Who does Evariste save?

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

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Mr. Sublet ask Evariste Bonamour and what Sublet give Evariste?

2. What is the difference between Calixta and Clarissa?

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

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

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

6. What does Elodie learn while at a wedding reception?

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

8. How does Calixta become involved with Alcée Laballière?

9. How does Louise Mallard respond to the news?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Chopin's life may have greatly informed her writing. Discuss the following:

1. Research Kate Chopin and write a 2-3 informative essay about her life.

2. Choose one theme that occurs throughout most of Chopin's work and discuss it in relation to what you learned in your research about Chopin.

3. Can an author write an entirely objective piece of fiction without her/his own experiences influencing the work? Why or why not (in your opinion).

Essay Topic 2

Oftentimes, a novel is more of a character-driven plot rather than action driven, and oftentimes the other way. Some books seem to balance the two. Discuss the following:

1. What do you think it means to say that a plot is character driven? Action driven?

2. How do you think a plot differs if it is character driven versus action driven?

3. Which type of plot do you find more interesting? Why?

4. Do you think it is possible to have a plot where action and character development share equal time? Why or why not.

5. What type of plot do you think The Awakening is? Explain your response.

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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