Please prepare a formal analytical essay, discussing what you believe to be the
theme of the Kate Chopin short story The Story of an Hour. Please be sure to
make use of methods of literary analysis and some particular theoretical approach
to prove your argument regarding the storys theme. In other words, consider what
you think the story means, by analyzing Narrative Voice (and/or layers of
narrative), Plot, Setting, Character, Image, Diction, and/or Tone/Mood, but
also in reference to one key question, such as
How does the text represent economic class, ownership, money, or work as a
factor in its theme? Why is this issue important to the storys theme?
How does the text represent gender, gender-specific jobs, or gender identity
as a factor in its theme? Why is this issue important to the storys theme?
How does the text represent disability, or issues of physical health, as a
factor in its theme? Why is this issue important to the storys theme?
How does the text represent psychological motivators, or emotional states,
as a factor in its theme? Why is this issue important to the storys theme?
How does the text represent a particular historical or social situation as a
factor in its theme? Why is this issue important to the storys theme?
How does the text represent the availability and reliance (or suspicion of)
information as a factor in its theme? Why is this issue important to the
storys theme?
Your introductory paragraph should feature your main idea and mention the
pertinent author and text, and this idea should be developed in the succeeding body
paragraphs through the analysis of examples drawn from the pertinent text.
Whatever examples you use, be sure to relate clearly and thoroughly HOW
your analysis develops an understanding of the material. The focus of your
argument should be clear and organized, but your treatment of the text is only
limited by your own intelligence and ingenuity. Get creative! Go wild! The
concluding paragraph should summarize key points and remind us about what we
have learned.