AP Short Story Project

Introduction

Created By:

Katherine Chu
Nicholas Portugal
Ryan Linton

AP English Literature & Composition P8

-------------------------
Story of an Hour by Kate Chopin

The Open Window by Saki (H.H. Munro)

SS Project Introduction

Interactive Word Clouds & Important quotes

The Story of an Hour

"She did not hear the story as many women had heard the same, with a paralyzed inability to accept its significance."

"...There was a dull stare in her eyes, whose gaze was fixed away off yonder on one of those patches of blue sky."

"There would be no one to live for during those coming years; she would live for herself."

"No, she was drinking in the very elixir of life through that open window."

"She breathed a quick prayer that life might be long. It was only yesterday she had thought with a shudder that life might be long."

"When the doctors came they said she had died of heart disease – of the joy that kills."

The Open Window

"You may wonder why we keep that window wide open on an October afternoon."

"Do you know, sometimes on still, quiet evenings like this, I almost get a creepy feeling that they will all walk in through that window..."

"They've been out for snipe in the marshes to-day, so they'll make a fine mess over my poor carpets. So like you men-folk, isn't it?"

"It was certainly an unfortunate coincidence that he should have paid his visit on this tragic anniversary."

"In the deepening twilight three figures were walking across the lawn towards the window; they all carried guns under their arms, and one of them was additionally burdened with a white coat hung over his shoulders."

Building Background

Author Biographies, Historical/Cultural Context, Genre/Literary Movement, Setting

Vocabulary terms / Quotes

Ten Vocabulary Terms/Expressions, Part of Speech, Definition/Interpretation, Image, & Corresponding Quote from Story

Story of an Hour by Kate Chopin

Heart Trouble (n.)

Quote: "Knowing that Mrs. Mallard was afflicted with a heart trouble, great care was taken to break to her as gently as possible the news of her husband's death." (Pg. 1)

Interpretation: In "How to Read Literature like a Professor" by Thomas Foster, this phrase relates to how Mrs. Mallard is confined to only the spaces of her home, and didn't experience much of the outside world due to an eminent heart condition she had, at the same time trying to remain subservient to her husband. While this is in the literal sense, symbolically it could mean loneliness, cruelty, disloyalty, which is revealed later in the story.

"Paralyzed Inability" (n.)

Quote: "She did not hear the story as many women have heard the same, with a paralyzed inability to accept its significance." (Pg. 1)

Interpretation: This phrase denotes rigidity, or the inability to stray from one's opinions or idealized perception of something. In the story, Mrs. Mallard simply could not believe that her husband died and she wouldn't have ever thought that her loyal partner would end up dying and leaving her to face the challenges of the world by herself.

Aquiver (adj.)

Quote: "She could see in the open square before her house the tops of trees that were all aquiver with the new spring life." (Pg. 1)

Denotation: In a state of trepidation or violent agitation; trembling; quivering; etc. Symbolic in the sense that just outside the Mallard house is a whole other world.

"Elixir of Life" (n.)

Quote: "No; she was drinking in a very elixir of life through that open window." (Pg. 2)

Interpretation: The Elixir of Life is said to be a substance which could make a person immortal and live forever. In the case of Mrs. Mallard, believing that her husband died and that she will discover newfound freedom symbolizes how the essence of 'life,' as she hasn't lived it to the fullest, has been unlocked for her.

Importunities (n.)

Quote: "She arose at length and opened the door to her sisters importunities." (Pg. 2)

Denotation: The quality or state of being importunate; making repeated or annoying requests or demands. This word describes Josephine's actions, as she was repetitively knocking on Louise's door to understand what she was going through. This shows how much Josephine cares about her sister.

The Open Window by Saki (H.H. Munro)

Self-Possessed (adj.)

Quote: "'My aunt will be down presently, Mr. Nuttel,' said a self-possessed young lady of fifteen."

Interpretation: Calm, composed, and in control of one's feelings. In a way, this shows how good of an actress Vera is and trying to impress Mr. Nuttel with her personality. This is contrary to her change in emotion later in the story, to "falteringly human."

Rectory (n.)

Quote: "'Hardly a soul,' said Framton. 'My sister was staying here, at the rectory, you know, some four years, and she gave me letters of introduction to some of the people here.'"

Denotation: The house in which a parish priest or rector dwells. This offers a historical corollary in the sense rectors would traditionally entertain and accommodate guests in their homes and if they moved from the rectory, it would be converted into inns, home restaurants, etc. In relation to the story, the house is located in the countryside of England, it isn't expected that there would be fancy hotels in close proximity, so rectories would serve that purpose.

Falteringly (adv.)

Quote: "Here the child's voice lost its self-possessed note and became falteringly human."

Denotation: Waveringly, unsteadily, or hesitantly. Since Vera's first impression came as stuck-up and self-possessed, she suddenly changed emotions to "human," or back down to Earth. This demonstrates how Vera skillfully manages to switch emotions to fit the current mood of the situation, a technique commonly used in theater.

Infirmities (n.)

Quote: "...Who laboured under the tolerably wide-spread delusion that total strangers and chance acquaintances are hungry for the least detail of one's ailments and infirmities, their cause and cure."

Denotation: Physical or mental weakness. It is suggested that Framton has a nervous illness, but it's most likely a loss of desire to be with Mrs. Sappleton, after hearing and believing that false story Vera told him, and Mrs. Sappleton still believing that they were alive.

Spaniel (n.)

Quote: "A tired brown spaniel kept close at their heels."

Denotation: A dog of a breed with a long silky coat and drooping ears.

TExt to Text & text to society/world Connections

- The Story of an Hour and The Open Window relates to other texts such as To Kill a Mockingbird and The Great Gatsby in how deception and trustworthiness can make a tremendous difference in how a story is interpreted. When Mrs. Mallard sees her husband walk into the house normally, she collapses of happiness, knowing that he didn’t actually die. At the same time, in The Open Window, Mr. Nuttel is deceived by Vera’s impressively believable account of her uncles.

- “The Story of an Hour” and “The Open Window” relate to society in that the plots and solutions to the stories are similar to society now including that in life we experience train crashes, and losses of loved ones and society requires a satire of women and men that include class rank in which Mr. Nuttel and Louise Mallard are considered troubled and the others such as Mr. Mallard and Mrs. Sappleton’s niece are considered to be of higher class and rank among society.

- Throughout the setting of the story, the ideas of feminist movements and ideas of corruption among society are brought up a lot throughout the stories and was a key feminism time throughout the world with the addition of women voting, the ideas of women with property and more rights, and the ability to gain leverage over men in the workforce.

APA Works Cited

Foster, T. (2003). How to read literature like a professor. New York, NY: HarperCollins Publishers Inc.

Reyes, K. (n.d.). The open window. Retrieved from http://kevinmreyes.tripod.com/id21.html

Smith, N. (2011, December 6). Literary analysis of "story of an hour" by kate chopin. Retrieved from http://www.articlemyriad.com/literary-analysis-story-hour-chopin/