Ethan Frome
Chapter Seven
1. Explain Ethan’s difference between “troubles” and “complications.”
2. What was Zeena’s view on surgery?
3. Describe Zeena’s and Ethan’s change of tones during their conversation in the bedroom about her visit with Dr. Buck.
4. What does Zeena report to Ethan were the doctor’s orders?
What is his reaction?
Explain the fight that follows.
5. What previous words of Ethan’s come back to haunt him during his and Zeena’s feud?
What happens as a result?
6. How does Zeena propose the two of them will “make out?”
What is Ethan’s reactions?
What is Zeena’s response to Ethan’s reaction?
7. What puts a stop to their quarrelling?
8. What metaphors does Ethan mentally use to compare Zeena?
What is it about Mattie that makes Ethan abhor Zeena for wanting to send her away?
9. Describe the dinner conversation/events between Mattie and Ethan.
Symbolically, what interrupts their conversation?
10. What snide remark does Zeena make to Mattie before returning upstairs?
11. What literary device is the following line an example of: “ No, they’re in a place you don’t know about,” Zeena answered darkly, with one of her secret looks.”
Explain why?
12. How does Ethan explain the breaking of Zeena’s dish?
How is his story not a complete lie?
13. How do Zeena’s final words to Mattie about the dish prove her completely selfish?
Chapter Eight
1. After the quarrel over the dish, Ethan retreats to ______.
What does he contemplate there?
What stops him from acting out his contemplation?
2. What second idea does he contemplate?
What stops him from acting out this idea?
3. Ethan considers himself a “prisoner for life.” How does this support the narrator’s conclusion of him looking “dead in hell now”?
4. When Ethan awakes, he thinks to himself that “this is Matt’s last day.” To what other time in his life is this awakening similar?
What might this possibly say about Ethan Frome?
5. How do Zeena’s mood/temperment contradict her actions and words toward Mattie the morning Mattie is to leave?
6. What does Ethan resolve to do in regards to Mattie’s leaving?
What stops him from going through with his idea?