Mrs. Slade and Mrs. Ansley Analysis

In Edith Wharton's 'Roman Fever,' Mrs. Ansley and Mrs. Slade, two middle-aged women, reflect on their past while overlooking Rome. Their conversation reveals a long-standing rivalry, culminating in the revelation that Mrs. Slade once sent a fake love letter to Mrs. Ansley, hoping to sabotage her. However, Mrs. Ansley reveals she met the man, resulting in her daughter, Barbara. The story explores themes of jealousy, deception, and the complexities of female relationships.

What are Mrs. Ansley and Mrs. Slade doing at the beginning of the story?

• Shopping in Rome

• Attending a concert

• Enjoying a view from a rooftop

• Visiting a museum

Why does Mrs. Ansley take out her knitting?

• To show off her skills

• To make Mrs. Slade jealous

• To prove her daughter right

• To pass the time

What do Mrs. Ansley and Mrs. Slade decide to do for the afternoon?

• Attend a play

• Go shopping

• Visit a museum

• Spend time on the terrace

How does Mrs. Slade view her daughter Jenny compared to Barbara?

• More rebellious

• More lively and interesting

• More cautious and quiet

• More adventurous

What does Mrs. Slade reflect on during the afternoon?

• Her career

• Her late husband Delphin

• Her travels

• Her childhood

What story does Mrs. Slade recall about Roman fever?

• A story of a jealous aunt

• A myth about a cursed ring

• A tale of a lost treasure

• A legend of a haunted house

What does Mrs. Slade reveal about the love letter?

• It was a misunderstanding

• It was written by Delphin

• It was a prank by their daughters

• She wrote it herself

What surprising information does Mrs. Ansley reveal?

• She was never in love with Delphin

• She met Delphin at the Coliseum

• She wrote a letter back

• She never received the letter

What does Mrs. Ansley reveal about her daughter Barbara?

• Barbara is adopted

• Barbara was born from her meeting with Delphin

• Barbara is unaware of her past

• Barbara is not her daughter

What notable achievement did Edith Wharton accomplish?

• First woman to fly solo across the Atlantic

• First woman to win the Pulitzer Prize for fiction

• First woman to win the Nobel Prize

• First woman to become a U.S. senator