The Story of an Hour Quiz

Which of the following best describes a major theme of the text?

• Men and women should be equal, but they are too different to get along properly.

• Death can be unexpected and can cause anyone to feel sorrow, even for someone they did not love.

• True happiness comes from within rather than from circumstances outside of one's control.

• Newfound independence can bring the promise of freedom and happiness into a person's life.

Which of the following quotes best supports the answer to Part A?

• But now there was a dull stare in her eyes... It was not a glance of reflection, but rather indicated a suspension of intelligent thought. (Paragraph 8)

• There would be no one to live for during those coming years; she would live for herself. There would be no powerful will bending hers (Paragraph 12)

• And yet she had loved him — sometimes. Often she had not. What did it matter! (Paragraph 13)

• There was a feverish triumph in her eyes, and she carried herself unwittingly like a goddess of Victory. (Paragraph 18)

How does the news of her husband's death affect Mrs. Mallard?

• She is at first overcome with grief, but soon she realizes that his death will allow her to lead an independent life.

• She pretends to mourn her husband, but she is privately happy to rid herself of the man whom she never loved.

• She is physically upset by the news, and this distress triggers her heart condition and kills her.

• She is at first happy to hear that he is dead, but she comes to realize that she will still miss him.

What do paragraphs 15-16 reveal about Josephine's and Louise's different points of view in the passage?

• Josephine misunderstands Louise and believes she is sick with grief, but in reality, Louise feels freed by her husband's death.

• Josephine believes that Louise is too frail to be left alone, but Louise knows that she is healthier than everyone believes her to be.

• Josephine worries that Louise's imagination is worsening her heart condition, but Louise is too distracted by her fantasies to notice her erratic heart rate.

• Josephine cannot understand why Louise wants to be alone while grieving, but Louise actually wants to be alone to celebrate the death of her husband.

How does Mrs. Mallard's death in the conclusion contribute to the story's overall meaning? Cite evidence in your answer.

Why do you think Mrs. Mallard married Brently? Do you think Mrs. Mallard loves her husband? Explain your answer.

Were the moments before Mrs. Mallard's death happy? What do you think is significant about the last line? Explain your answer.

How is this text a critique of Victorian social norms? What, if any, reform does it suggest? Cite evidence from this text, your own experience, and other literature, art, or history in your answer.

In the context of this text, what are the effects of discrimination against women? Cite evidence from this text, your own experience, and other literature, art, or history in your answer.