Symbolism in 'The Story of An Hour' by Chopin
L6: How has Chopin used symbolism to help convey her ideas in
her short story ‘The Story of An Hour’?
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1.
What is Romanticism?
2.
What is Realism?
3.
What is Naturalism?
4.
How does Chopin’s work ‘The Story of an Hour’ reflect aspects of
romanticism, realism and naturalism?
5.
Based upon prior learning, why does she blend features of
romanticism with realism?
Do it now
Symbolism – the
use of symbols to
represent ideas
New knowledge
Symbol 1:
the heart
New knowledge
Knowing that Mrs Mallard
was afflicted with a heart
trouble, great care was
taken to break to her as
greatly as possible the
news of her husband’s
death.
When the doctors
came they said she
had died of heart
diseases – of the
joy that kills.
Symbol 2:
upstairs versus downstairs
New knowledge
She wept at once, with
sudden wild
abandonment, in her
sister’s arms.
She went away to her
room alone.
In the street below a
peddler was crying his
wares.
But she felt it, creeping
out of the sky, reaching
toward her through the
sounds, the scent,s the
color that filled the air.
She clasped her waist,
and together they
descended the stairs.
Richards stood waiting
for them at the bottom.
Symbol 3:
nature
New knowledge
The tops of trees
that were
acquiver with the
new spring life.
Countless
sparrows were
twittering in the
eaves.
There were
patches of blue
sky showing here
and there
through the
clouds that had
met and piled
one above the
other in the west
facing her
window.
Symbol 4:
closed versus open / outside versus inside
New knowledge
When the storm of grief
had spent itself she went
away to her room alone.
She would have no one
follow her.
There stood, facing the
open window, a
comfortable, roomy
armchair. Into this she
sank, pressed down by a
physical exhaustion that
haunted her body…
She could see in the
open square before her
house the tops of trees
that were all acquiver
with the new spring life.
But now there was a dull
stare in her eyes, whose
gaze was fixed away off
yonder on one of those
patches of blue sky.
But she felt it creeping
out of the sky, reaching
towards her through the
sounds, the scents, the
colours that filled the air.
Josephine was kneeling before
the closed door with her lips to
the keyhold, imploring for her
admission. “Louise, open the
door! I beg; open the door –
you will make yourself ill. What
are you doing, Louise? For
heaven’s sake open the door.’
Some one was opening
the front door with a
latchkey.
Symbol 5:
goddess of Victory
New knowledge
Nike – Greek
Known for her success in athletic
games.
Victoria – Roman
A symbol of victory over death and
determined who would be
successful during war.
Reflection
How has Chopin used symbolism to help
convey her ideas in her short story ‘The Story
of An Hour’?
Which symbol do you think is the most
effective in helping Chopin to convey her
ideas?
Chopin utilizes symbolism to convey deep emotions and ideas in her short story 'The Story of An Hour.' Through symbols like the open window and heart trouble, she explores themes of freedom, imprisonment, and societal expectations.
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Presentation Transcript
L6: How has Chopin used symbolism to help convey her ideas in her short story The Story of An Hour ?
Recap questions Recap questions 1. What is Romanticism? 2. What is Realism? 3. What is Naturalism? 4. How does Chopin s work The Story of an Hour reflect aspects of romanticism, realism and naturalism? 5. Based upon prior learning, why does she blend features of romanticism with realism? Do it now
Symbolism the use of symbols to represent ideas New knowledge
Symbol 1: the heart Knowing that Mrs Mallard was afflicted with a heart trouble, great care was taken to break to her as greatly as possible the news of her husband s death. When the doctors came they said she had died of heart diseases of the joy that kills. New knowledge
Symbol 2: upstairs versus downstairs She wept at once, with sudden wild abandonment, in her sister s arms. In the street below a peddler was crying his wares. New knowledge She went away to her room alone. But she felt it, creeping out of the sky, reaching toward her through the sounds, the scent,s the color that filled the air. She clasped her waist, and together they descended the stairs. Richards stood waiting for them at the bottom.
Symbol 3: nature There were patches of blue sky showing here and there through the clouds that had met and piled one above the other in the west facing her window. New knowledge The tops of trees that were acquiver with the new spring life. Countless sparrows were twittering in the eaves.
Symbol 4: closed versus open / outside versus inside When the storm of grief had spent itself she went away to her room alone. She would have no one follow her. There stood, facing the open window, a comfortable, roomy armchair. Into this she sank, pressed down by a physical exhaustion that haunted her body She could see in the open square before her house the tops of trees that were all acquiver with the new spring life. New knowledge Josephine was kneeling before the closed door with her lips to the keyhold, imploring for her admission. Louise, open the door! I beg; open the door you will make yourself ill. What are you doing, Louise? For heaven s sake open the door. But now there was a dull stare in her eyes, whose gaze was fixed away off yonder on one of those patches of blue sky. But she felt it creeping out of the sky, reaching towards her through the sounds, the scents, the colours that filled the air. Some one was opening the front door with a latchkey.
Symbol 5: goddess of Victory Nike Greek Known for her success in athletic games. New knowledge Victoria Roman A symbol of victory over death and determined who would be successful during war.
How has Chopin used symbolism to help convey her ideas in her short story The Story of An Hour ? Reflection Which symbol do you think is the most effective in helping Chopin to convey her ideas?
