Name
Date
“The Story of an Hour” by Kate Chopin
Reading Warm-up A
Read the following passage. Pay special attention to the underlined words. Then, read it again,
and complete the activities. Use a separate sheet of paper for your written answers.
You may have heard irony mentioned countless times:
“Isn’t it ironic?” Yet, as you will discover if you ask for a
definition, many people who talk about irony do not
really understand the significance of the word.
One reason for this confusion is that irony can mean
several different things. For instance, there is verbal
irony, in which the speaker’s intention is the opposite of
what he or she is saying. “Can’t wait to run out and buy
that,” your friend says after a commercial. Her tone of
voice, however, makes it clear that she has absolutely no
desire to do so.
Have you ever sat motionless in a movie theater, staring in paralyzed horror at the screen as the main character strolls into danger? “Watch out!” you want to scream.
“The bad guy’s right behind that door!” This is an example of dramatic irony, in which there is a conflict between
the character’s perception of events and that of the audience (or reader). You see things differently than the character because more has been revealed to you: an earlier
scene showed the “bad guy” in his hiding place.
Dramatic irony often has a strong impact on our emotions, but a third type, situational irony, can be even
more powerful. Situational irony occurs when something
happens that contradicts our expectations.
In the classic novel Howard’s End, a dying woman
writes a note in which she leaves her home to a young
friend, Margaret. Her rich widower and children burn the
note and keep the house. Since nobody else knows about
the note, we do not expect that the friend will ever own
the house. Ironically, however, the widower later falls in
love with Margaret. In the end, he marries her and gives
her the house that should have been hers all along.
1. Circle a word in this paragraph that means something
similar to countless. What is
an antonym of countless?
2. Circle a word that, like
significance, has to do with
meaning. If you wanted to
know the significance of a
word, what would you do?
3. Underline what shows the
friend’s true intention. If your
intention was to spend
money, where would you
start?
4. Underline what the friend has
absolutely no wish to do.
Would somebody who was
absolutely full order dessert?
5. Circle the word that means
almost the same as paralyzed.
If you were paralyzed with
laughter, would you be rolling
around on the floor?
6. Underline the words that
mean “You have a different
perception.” What could
change your perception of
someone?
7. Circle the word that means
revealed. How do you feel
when the ending of a movie
is revealed before you see it?
8. Circle the word that means
the same as powerful. What
else might be described as
powerful?
Unit 3 Resources: Division, Reconciliation, and Expansion
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Name
Date
“The Story of an Hour” by Kate Chopin
Literary Analysis: Irony
Irony is a contrast or a difference between what is stated and what is meant, or between
what is expected to happen and what actually happens. Situational irony occurs when a result
turns out differently than expected. For example, from the actions of Mrs. Mallard and her
friends, readers expect that she will be overcome with grief at the news of her husband’s death.
Instead she exults in her freedom. Dramatic irony occurs when readers know something a
character does not know. Readers know a few seconds before Mrs. Mallard, for example, that
her husband is actually alive. Think of other stories you have read that use irony.
DIRECTIONS: On the lines provided, identify stories you have read that use irony. Quote or
summarize a passage that is an example of situational irony and one that is an example of
dramatic irony. Then explain the irony in each passage.
1. Situational irony:
2. Dramatic irony:
Unit 3 Resources: Division, Reconciliation, and Expansion
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Name
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“The Story of an Hour” by Kate Chopin
Reading Strategy: Analyze the Philosophical Argument
In their stories, authors sometimes express philosophical arguments in which they believe.
When you analyze the philosophical argument, you examine details about the story’s plot,
characterization, or other story elements that illustrate or convey the argument.
DIRECTIONS: On the chart below, list details about the plot and characters of Kate Chopin’s story
and explain how they illustrate or convey her philosophy.
Details
How It Illustrates the Author’s
Philosophy
Unit 3 Resources: Division, Reconciliation, and Expansion
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Name
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“The Story of an Hour” by Kate Chopin
Vocabulary Builder
Using the Word List
elusive
forestall
repression
tumultuously
A. DIRECTIONS: Each question consists of a related pair of words in CAPITAL LETTERS,
followed by four lettered pairs of words. Choose the lettered pair that best expresses a
relationship similar to that expressed in the numbered pair. Circle the letter of your choice.
___ 1.
A.
B.
C.
D.
___ 2.
A.
B.
C.
D.
FORESTALL : DELAY ::
hurry : rush
worry : disregard
despair : believe
deserve : forgive
SERENELY : TUMULTUOUSLY ::
precisely : accurately
possibly : remotely
recklessly : cautiously
strictly : resentfully
___ 3.
A.
B.
C.
D.
___ 4.
A.
B.
C.
D.
DICTATOR : REPRESSION ::
dancer : music
judge : justice
actor : theater
student : school
ELUSIVE : VAGUE
stout : harmless
sincere : delicate
resourceful : troubled
scholarly : studious
B. DIRECTIONS: Select the Word List word that relates best to each situation, and write the word
on the line.
1. Mrs. Mallard’s previous actions regarding her feelings about her marriage
2. the way Mrs. Mallard’s imaginings about the free days ahead of her went through her mind
3. Richards’s attempt to keep the shock of seeing her husband alive from Mrs. Mallard
4. the mysterious, unsolvable nature of love
Unit 3 Resources: Division, Reconciliation, and Expansion
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Name
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“The Story of an Hour” by Kate Chopin
Enrichment: Social Studies
DIRECTIONS: Form a group with some classmates to discuss “The Story of an Hour.” First,
research society’s attitudes toward love and marriage in the late 1800s. Then, prior to your
discussion, answer the first three questions, using an extra sheet of paper if needed.
1. In what ways, if any, is the story dated?
2. In what ways, if any, does it represent universal feelings and attitudes?
3. Imagine that the roles are reversed—the husband is told that his wife has been killed. How
might he react to the message?
Hold the discussion with your group. Start by comparing your answers to the questions
above. Share your research with other group members. Try role-playing some of the ideas about
the relationship that come out of the discussion. After the discussion, answer these questions:
1. What were the group’s consensus answers to the first three questions?
2. How did your own answers differ from the group’s answers?
3. Were there any gender differences in the responses? If so, what were they?
4. What insights did reading and discussing the story give you into the relationship of marriage and what it takes to make it succeed?
Unit 3 Resources: Division, Reconciliation, and Expansion
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