The Yellow Wallpaper Flashcard 1st

Front

What is the primary theme of 'The Yellow Wallpaper'?

Back

The primary theme is the oppression of women and the impact of mental illness.

Front

How does the setting of the nursery contribute to the story?

Back

The nursery symbolizes the infantilization of the narrator and her lack of autonomy.

Front

What role does the narrator's husband, John, play in her mental state?

Back

John's controlling nature exacerbates the narrator's mental decline by dismissing her feelings and needs.

Front

What is the significance of the yellow wallpaper itself?

Back

The yellow wallpaper represents the narrator's mental state and her struggle for freedom.

Front

How does the narrator's writing serve as a form of resistance?

Back

Writing allows the narrator to express herself and assert her identity against her husband's control.

Front

What does the narrator's brother's profession as a physician imply about her treatment?

Back

It implies a lack of understanding and empathy towards her mental health, as he is part of the medical establishment that dismisses her condition.

Front

What does the act of tearing down the wallpaper symbolize?

Back

It symbolizes the narrator's rebellion against her oppression and her quest for freedom.

Front

How does the story reflect the historical context of women's mental health treatment?

Back

It reflects the patriarchal attitudes and the 'rest cure' treatment that often ignored women's voices and experiences.

Front

What is the significance of the narrator's isolation in the story?

Back

Isolation contributes to her mental deterioration and highlights the effects of confinement on her psyche.

Front

How does the narrator's perception of the wallpaper change throughout the story?

Back

Initially, she finds it repulsive, but as her mental state deteriorates, she becomes obsessed with it, seeing it as a reflection of her own entrapment.