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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 Elodie take from Everson?

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

3. Who is the successful planter?

4. What does Mr. Sublet want the 'Cadian man to do?

5. What does Armand's mother say in a letter to Armand's father?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Calixta become involved with Alcée Laballière?

2. How does Elizabeth help Mr. Brightman?

3. What does Mrs. Sommers receive and what does she plan to do with it?

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

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

6. What does Louise Mallard learn and how does she learn of it?

7. Why does Armand withdraw from Désirée?

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

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

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

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

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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