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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. About what do Mrs. Sommers' neighbors gossip?

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

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

4. How much money does Mrs. Sommers receive?

5. Why does Clarisse follow Alcée to the ball?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. Why does Armand withdraw from Désirée?

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

4. How does Elizabeth help Mr. Brightman?

5. How does Calixta become involved with Alcée Laballière?

6. How does Louise Mallard respond to the news?

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

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

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

There are a number of interesting questions raised by this book. Questions that Chopin may have wanted readers to consider and think through carefully. Discuss the following:

1. What does the term "author agenda" mean?

2. Name one idea/concept you think may have been a part of the Chopin's agenda. Analyze that idea throughout the book and discuss Chopin's probable agenda concerning that idea.

2. Do you think writers who have an agenda for writing should point it out in a preface?

3. How often do you think fiction is written with a clear agenda in mind by the author?

4. Research the life of Kate Chopin and see if/where her life may have influenced her writing.

Essay Topic 2

The Awakening could be said to be a "bildungsroman" of Edna Pontellier, the narrator. Discuss the following:

1. Define the concepts "bildungsroman" and "coming of age."

2. Thoroughly trace and analyze The Awakening as a bildungsroman of Edna Pontellier. Give specific examples. What does Edna learn? How has she changed? Is the change for the better?

3. Thoroughly trace and analyze Athénaïse as a coming of age story. Give specific examples. What does Athénaïse learn? How has she changed? Is the change for the better?

Essay Topic 3

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.

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