Characters drive the action in any story. Have students identify the characters of "The Story of an Hour" and use the description box to explain the character's role in a spider map. Have students choose an appropriate scene and any props that are important to that character. Students create a short bio for characters in the story, paying close attention to the feelings and actions of the characters. Students can also provide detailed information regarding the characters' actions, how they influence other characters, and how the main character changed over time.
Bently Mallard, the husband of Mrs. Louise Mallard, is reported to be the victim of a "railroad disaster." After Mrs. Mallard has realized she is happy he is dead, he walks in the door, shocking everyone (especially his wife) with the fact he's alive.
Louise Mallard is physically ill, but her heart is not the only problem she has. When she thinks her husband is dead, she realizes that it makes her extremely happy to think about living life without him.
Louise's sister, Josephine, and Mr. Bently Mallard's friend, Richards, are trying to gently support Mrs. Mallard while telling her about her husband's purported demise. They think she will be devastated by the news and worry about her heart condition.
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Student Instructions
Create a character map for the major characters.
Begin by asking the students to discuss the basic character traits of Mrs. Louise Mallard. Though it is a short story and there might not be much information available on her personality and other traits, students can analyze her character based on her feelings and reactions.
Compare and contrast characters present in the story to understand their relationship with Louise Mallard and how it is playing a significant role in the narrative. For instance, her relationship with her husband is not great hence the reason for her happiness when she hears the news. Students can use character maps to portray these relationships and present their analysis in an essay format.
Concentrate on when Mrs. Mallard is alone in her room and feels liberated. What precise feelings and thoughts does she convey? What social conventions are being challenged by this period of liberation? Ask the students why Mrs. Mallard’s character feels this way and helps them connect this part of the story with the setting, her personality, and themes.
Examine how the persona of Mrs. Mallard symbolizes the concepts of freedom and oppression. How does her fleeting time of freedom contrast with the demands made of her by society? Discuss the importance of these themes in the story and how they are impacting the main character of the story.
Encourage the students to think about the ways in which Mrs. Mallard's experiences speak to bigger societal themes, especially those that pertain to women's responsibilities and autonomy in the late 19th century. Students can perform research on these subjects to understand the historical context and read some more material based on similar settings and themes.
According to the short story, Mr. Brently Mallard is a nice and compassionate person. However, his character is a representation of complicated aspects of society, particularly those related to gender expectations and marriage.
Mrs. Mallard's sister is Josephine. She plays a supporting role in the story, especially when she informs Mrs. Mallard of Mr. Mallard's passing. She stands for the established support network and norms of society. Josephine remains unaware of her sister’s feelings and becomes worried about her health after delivering her the bad news.
Josephine and Richards are shown as compassionate characters who are worried about Mrs. Mallards’s health especially after she hears about her husband’s death. They represent the society that expects people to behave a certain way and conform to their gender roles.