"The Story of an Hour" Comprehension Questions

What evidence in the story indicates that "The Story of an Hour" is set in the late 1800's?

Tags

CCSS.RL.6.3

CCSS.RL.8.3

CCSS.RL.9-10.3

CCSS.RL.11-12.3

CCSS.RL.7.3

What is the significance of the title?

Tags

CCSS.RL.6.3

CCSS.RL.5.3

CCSS.RL.5.7

CCSS.RL.6.9

Why do you think the author mentions in the first paragraph that Mrs. Mallard was afflicted with "heart trouble?"

In the first sentence of the story, two parts of plot already happen. These are

• the exposition and the inciting incident

• the exposition and the rising action

• the rising action and the climax

• the climax and the resolution

Tags

CCSS.RL.8.3

CCSS.RL.9-10.3

CCSS.RL.11-12.3

CCSS.RL.11-12.5

CCSS.RL.9-10.5

The following passage is an example of _________ irony: "Louise, open the door! I beg; open the door--you will make yourself ill. What are you doing, Louise? For heaven's sake open the door."

• situational

• dramatic

• verbal

Tags

CCSS.RL.2.10

CCSS.RL.2.2

CCSS.RL.2.3

CCSS.RL.4.3

CCSS.RL.4.4

In what ways is this passage significant? "She could see in the open square before her house the tops of trees that were all aquiver with the new spring life. The delicious breath of rain was in the air. In the street below a peddler was crying his wares. The notes of a distant song which some one was singing reached her faintly, and countless sparrows were twittering in the eaves."

Tags

CCSS.RI.9-10.4

CCSS.RI.9-10.4

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.11-12.4

CCSS.RL.9-10.4

How do Mrs. Mallard's feelings evolve throughout the story?

• She is initially elated with joy that her husband survives the crash, then becomes distraught when she realized she misses her opportunity to be on her own, and finally is overcome with shock that Josephine and Mr. Richards are having an affair.

• She first cries when she sees her husband on the news, then screams when she realizes she will have to provide for herself, and finally accepts that she will need to marry Mr. Richards in order to survive.

• At first, she weeps wildly, then calms down and is hopeful of her future independence, and finally is so shocked at her husband's return that she dies.

• All answers can be supported with text evidence.

Tags

CCSS.RL.6.3

CCSS.RL.8.3

CCSS.RL.9-10.3

CCSS.RL.7.3

CCSS.RL.11-12.7

The following passage is an example of _________ irony: "Some one was opening the front door with a latchkey. It was Brently Mallard"

• Situational

• Dramatic

• Verbal

Tags

CCSS.RL.2.10

CCSS.RL.2.2

CCSS.RL.2.3

CCSS.RL.4.3

CCSS.RL.4.4

The last line of the story is this: "When the doctors came they said she had died of heart disease - of joy that kills." In what ways is this an ironic statement? What kind of irony is it?

The climax of the story is

• Josephine knocking at the door

• Mr. Mallard walking through the door

• When doctors said she died of joy

• When Richards and Josephine told Mrs. Mallard her husband died

Tags

CCSS.RL.2.10

CCSS.RL.2.2

CCSS.RL.2.3

CCSS.RL.4.3

CCSS.RL.4.4