Main Idea & Theme in The Story of an Hour

Making connections:

Why is independence important to you at this age? What are some things that make you feel free—or restricted?

What do you already know about how women were treated in the 1800s?

• They had very few rights and were expected to focus on being wives and mothers.

• Most women could vote and make their own legal and financial decisions.

• Women had the same freedoms and job opportunities as men.

• Women were encouraged to speak out and live independently from men.

This is your opinion (no right or wrong answer here):

How do people today react to shocking or life-changing news?

Again, your opinion (not a right or wrong answer):

Why might someone feel sad and relieved at the same time?

What is it called when you come across a word you don’t know, so you look at the sentences before, after, or around it to help you infer or guess what it means...

(a)  

Are you enjoying the video lesson?

• Yes

• No

Symbolism is when a writer uses a (a)   to stand for a bigger idea or feeling, instead of just what it normally means.

The symbolism here is the spring time setting. Spring signifies new beginnings and fresh starts. Remember this...

She was beginning to recognize this thing that

was approaching to possess her, and she was striving to beat it back with her will—as powerless

as her two white slender hands would have been.

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

said it over and over under her breath: "free, free, free!"

Think about the way the story describes her trying to fight back this emotion but she becomes powerless to her will and how Mrs. Mallard repeats "free" three times after.

How has her feelings changed from the beginning where she wept immediately upon hearing the news of her husband's death to what she is experiencing now?

What theme best fits this story?

• The strength of family bonds in times of loss

• Freedom and identity can be found in unexpected moments

• True love always overcomes hardship

What message is the author trying to teach us? Not just about Mrs. Mallard, but about people in general.

• Marriage is the only source of true happiness in life.

• Everyone should always follow society’s rules without question.

• People never experience mixed or conflicting emotions.

• People often find freedom and happiness in unexpected and complicated ways.