Have your students create a plot diagram of the events from a story on Storyboard That. Not only is this a great way to teach the parts of the plot, but it reinforces major events and help students develop greater understanding of literary structures.
In a five-cell storyboard, have students represent the major plot points of this story in sequence using exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution. They should use the description boxes to explain what is happening during each part. Facial expressions and different coloring can really bring out the drama of these moments!
Mrs. Mallard is sickly and suffers from a weak heart. Her sister, Josephine comforts her, concerned that the news she is about to hear will kill her.
Josephine and Richards, a friend of Mr. Brently Mallard, gently reveal that Mr. Mallard has been killed in a railroad disaster.
Mrs. Mallord, though grieving, realizes that she is now free from a marriage in which she wasn't truly happy. So though she mourns the death of her husband, secretly she's elated.
After Mrs. Mallard comes to the conclusion that she is now free to live a happy life, she and Josephine walk down, just as Mr. Mallard, unharmed by the tragic accident, comes through the door.
Mrs. Mallard collapses, dead. The Doctor said "that she had died of heart disease - of joy that kills." He thought she was so overjoyed to see him that she died. In reality, she realized her "freedom" was never to be, and that killed her.
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Student Instructions
Create a visual plot diagram of "The Story of an Hour".
Students can analyze the setting of the story and perform some research to analyze if it is based on fiction or reality. It can be a little complex to research these specific details so students can talk with experts, for instance, people who have been studying gender roles or have generally more knowledge regarding the culture and society of that time period.
Ask the students to analyze how the narrative develops over the course of the story. Students can reflect on the role of the setting in this development and how without this plot the narrative could have taken a different direction. Encourage the students to discuss alternate settings and how they can impact the resolution and other elements of the narrative.
The Mallard home is the setting for a large portion of the narrative. Examine how the household environment reflects the pre-feminist gender norms and expectations. Students can also look at sample pictures of these houses to understand the point of view of the characters.
Consider how the environment contributes to the themes of freedom and repression. Encourage the students to focus on the comparison between confined house walls and an open window and their representation in the story. Students can analyze all these themes, symbols, and motifs present in the story and link these concepts with the theme to gain a deeper understanding.
Encourage the students to reflect on all the information they have gathered so far and present their analysis in the form of a report or a presentation in front of the class. Students can even work on this analysis in groups and different groups can analyze different aspects for a collaborative learning environment.
The most important part of the story focuses on Mrs. Mallard's response to learning of her husband's passing, her feelings of realization, and her moment of liberation after sorting out her feelings.
The turning point is when Mrs. Mallard discovers she has the ability to live independently and autonomously when by herself in her room. She is overjoyed by this realization and already starts to dream of a free life despite her husband’s death.
The falling action depicts the irony of the situation when Mrs. Mallard has sorted her feelings and is being comforted but when she later discovers her husband is alive and well, she falls to the ground and everyone else is unaware of the reason behind this reaction.