AP Lang and Composition-The Awakening

Answer the following questions on your own paper:

  1. In section XXII, Dr. Mandelet compares Edna to “some beautiful sleek animal waking up in the sun.” Discuss the figurative language. What type of ‘awakening” is referred to here?
  2. In section XXIV, When Edna finally has the house to herself, she sits in the library and reads Emerson. What might be Chopin’s purpose in having Edna read this particular author(a Transcendentalist and one of Thoreau’s inspirations)?
  3. After the dinner at the Highcamp's home in section XXV, Edna returns home and raids the pantry. How is her “hunger” symbolic?
  4. Why does Edna continue to visit Mademoiselle Reisz if she finds the pianist “offensive”? Does Edna actually dislike the woman or is she fearful of what the artist represents?
  5. In section XXXI Edna hosts a dinner party. Describe the atmosphere. How is color significant in the scene?
  6. In section XXXIII, is Madame Ratignolle justified in her comparison of Edna to a child who acts “without a certain amount of reflection which is necessary in this life”? Is Adele only referring to societal expectations? Should Edna reflect on other considerations?
  7. When Edna admits she has been thinking of their time at Grand Isle, why does Robert say “Mrs. Pontellier, You are cruel”? IS Edna cruel or is she naïve? Explain.
  8. In section XXXIV we have the statement that Edna feels Robert “seemed nearer to her off there in Mexico”. How does this indicate Edna’s sense of reality?
  9. Describe the irony of in Robert’s desire to make Edna his wife, as stated in section XXVI.
  10. In the final chapter, what is the significance of the broken-winged bird circling down to the water? How does this symbol relate to the previous warning of Mademoiselle Reisz?

AP Lang and Composition-The Awakening

Answer the following questions on your own paper:

  1. In section XXII, Dr. Mandelet compares Edna to “some beautiful sleek animal waking up in the sun.” Discuss the figurative language. What type of ‘awakening” is referred to here
  2. In section XXIV, When Edna finally has the house to herself, she sits in the library and reads Emerson. What might be Chopin’s purpose in having Edna read this particular author(a Transcendentalist and one of Thoreau’s inspirations)?
  3. After the dinner at the Highcamp's home in section XXV, Edna returns home and raids the pantry. How is her “hunger” symbolic?
  4. Why does Edna continue to visit Mademoiselle Reisz if she finds the pianist “offensive”? Does Edna actually dislike the woman or is she fearful of what the artist represents?
  5. In section XXXI Edna hosts a dinner party. Describe the atmosphere. How is color significant in the scene?
  6. In section XXXIII, is Madame Ratignolle justified in her comparison of Edna to a child who acts “without a certain amount of reflection which is necessary in this life”? Is Adele only referring to societal expectations? Should Edna reflect on other considerations?
  7. When Edna admits she has been thinking of their time at Grand Isle, why does Robert say “Mrs. Pontellier, You are cruel”? IS Edna cruel or is she naïve? Explain.
  8. In section XXXIV we have the statement that Edna feels Robert “seemed nearer to her off there in Mexico”. How does this indicate Edna’s sense of reality?
  9. Describe the irony of in Robert’s desire to make Edna his wife, as stated in section XXVI.
  10. In the final chapter, what is the significance of the broken-winged bird circling down to the water? How does this symbol relate to the previous warning of Mademoiselle Reisz?