Story of an Hour Reading Quiz

Into this she sank, pressed down by a physical exhaustion that haunted her body and seemed to reach into her soul.

Based on the context, what do you think is the best definition of haunted?

• frequented by a ghost

• to be persistently on someone's mind

• showing signs of mental anguish or struggle

• to go somewhere often

She did not hear the story as many women have heard the same, with a paralyzed inability to accept its significance. She wept at once, with sudden, wild abandonment, in her sister's arms. When the storm of grief had spent itself she went away to her room alone. She would have no one follow her.

Which of the following phrases is the metaphor?

• sudden, wild abandonment

• storm of grief

• paralyzed inability

• she went away to her room

When the storm of grief had spent itself she went away to her room alone.

How does the metaphor "storm of grief" function in the sentence?

• it describes the weather outside of her window

• it describes how chaotic and intense Mrs. Mallard's sadness is

• it shows how excited Mrs. Mallard feels to be independent

• it highlights how intensely sad Josephine is

Which sentence most strongly suggests that Mrs. Mallard was hesitant to say what was on her mind?

• When she abandoned herself a little whispered word escaped her slightly parted lips.

• The vacant stare and the look of terror that had followed it went from her eyes.

• Her pulses beat fast, and the coursing blood warmed and relaxed every inch of her body.

• She knew that she would weep again when she saw the kind, tender hands folded in death;

There was something coming to her and she was waiting for it, fearfully. What was it? She did not know; it was too subtle and elusive to name. But she felt it, creeping out of the sky...

Which phrase from the excerpt provides a clue to the meaning of the words subtle and elusive?

• There was something coming to her

• she was waiting for it

• What was it? She did not know

• But she felt it, creeping out of the sky

What is the name of the widow in this story?

• Mrs. Malloy

• Mrs. Mallard

• Mrs. McCaffrey

• Mrs. Moi

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.

• 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.

• 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.

• All answers can be supported with text evidence.

How does Mrs. Mallard's thought process demonstrate that she is different from other women?

• Most women would have been unable to accept news of their husband's death, but she comes to terms with it rather quickly and realizes she loves the idea of living independently more than she loves him.

• Most women would have been ecstatic that such an abusive spouse died in an ironic twist of fate, but Mrs. Mallard fails to see the irony.

• The fact that she is unable to process her husband's death shows how she is actually far less emotionally intelligent than other women like her sister, Josephine.

• Mrs. Mallard is actually not different from other women. She is an example of how all women are only good as housewives.

At the end of the story we learn that Brently Mallard

• was cheating on Mrs. Mallard with Josephine.

• jumped off the train before it crashed.

• was never even on the train in the first place.

• made up the entire story to play a joke on his wife.

In 1894, this story was probably controversial because

• Railroad accidents were common and this story made people lobby for safer railroads.

• Women were not supposed to think independently and Mrs. Mallard's thought process was too extreme.

• Authors did not commonly use irony and Kate Chopin's use of irony was groundbreaking.

• None of the above.