A look at Character

Development

• What do you think the title means? Can you make any predictions about the story from the title?

• Read about the author, Kate Chopin, and discuss the author’s view about gender differences.

Go to the following websites to read about Kate Chopin:

• www.katechopin.org

• www.pbs.org/katechopin

• www.angelfire.com/nv/English243/Chopin.html

Pre-reading for “Story of an Hour”

SynopsisThis short story is about an hour in the life of the main

character, Mrs. Mallard. She is afflicted with a heart problem. Bad news has come that her husband has died in a train accident. Her sister Josephine and her husband’s friend Richards have to break the painful news to her as gently as possible considering the danger to her health.

Ironically, Mrs. Mallard reacts to the news with excitement. She feels she is finally free from the depressing life she was living. She can now live for herself and nobody else.

At the end of the story, Mr. Mallard opens the door. He doesn’t know anything about an accident. With a quick motion, Richards tries to block Mr. Mallard’s view of his wife, but it is too late. The doctors say she died of a heart disease. The story ends with the short phrase “of joy that kills.”

The Story of an HourRead the story and then

create Character Trading Cards.

Go to the Character Trading Cards online tool. You will apply what you have learned about the characters through your knowledge of the author, the author’s historical period, and the setting of the story.

For this story, students will analyze the main character, Mrs. Mallard, and then exchange cards to learn what others think about the character.

In Class AssignmentAnswer the following questions within your group

• Mrs. Mallard “did not hear the story as many women have heard the same”(story quote). What does this reaction suggest about her? Does it suggest how “ladies” were expected to react?

• What does the setting description tell us about her ordinary life?

• Who could consider Mrs. Mallard’s joy “monstrous”? Do you judge her negatively at this point?

• How would this story change if it had been Mr. Mallard at home with heart problems hearing about Mrs. Mallard’s death?

Group ProjectYou will film your own

movie version of this short story.

Film needs to be less than 10 minutes long

The main goal is to convey the message of “Free! Body and soul free,” & “The joy that kills.”

Visit the following YouTube site to watch a student made movie about “The Story of an Hour” to get ideas.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DvaBbnLGoMw

Group Project