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AP English Lit Name:

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Major Works Data Sheet: Do not cut/paste from a website, which is a form of plagiarism.
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Title: The Awakening Biographical information about the author:
Author: Kate Chopin
Date of Publication: April 22, 1899 o She was one of 5 children
Genre: Romance Novel o She was sent to a Catholic boarding
school, but a little while after her father
Historical information about the period of died in a train accident, she was sent
publication or setting of the novel: home to live with her other family
o Because she was constantly surrounded
by intelligent, independent women, she
o Set in New Orleans and the Gulf coast in the
grew to be independent.
1890s o She began writing fiction as a way to
o Reflects on creole culture during the 19th
develop and express her strong views on
century women, sex, and marriage while
o Social norms (such as women’s role in supporting her family
society) were being altered
o Louisiana Code stated that Creole women
were properties and a representation of their
husband’s wealth Characteristics of the genre:

o Emotional and optimistic ending

o Focus is the relationships
o Subgenres of romance include historical
romance and fantasy romance
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Plot Summary: Do not cut/paste from a website, which is a form of plagiarism.
The novel begins in Grand Isle, a place for the wealthy to go during the summer. During the day, the
women typically spend their time on the island while the men all attend work in the city. Edna then
meets a man named Robert Lebrun with whom she spends most of the summer, and a romantic
interest begins to develop. During the time she spends with Robert, she begins to realize her wants
and needs as an individual, and begins to yearn independence, which is contrary to her characteristics
at the beginning of the book in which she was regarded as an obedient wife. One day, Edna and Robert
decide to go on a day excursion to another island. This becomes a symbolic scene as Edna falls asleep
for a while on the island, representing a metaphorical rebirth of self-discovery. After some time,
Robert notices that he and Edna are spending too much time together and becoming too close, and he
leaves the island for Vera Cruz, which greatly upsets Edna. Edna and her husband return to the city at
the end of the summer. After noticing a change in Edna’s behavior, as she is not as obedient anymore,
Leonce consults a doctor, who tells him to leave her alone. Edna also becomes aware of the fact that
Robert had been writing letters to Mademoiselle Reisz about her, so Edna frequently visits her and
listens to her play the piano. Edna then meets Arobin, a man with whom she develops a sexual interest
in. Edna also begins to paint more as a way of expressing her individuality. One day she runs into
Robert at Mademoiselle Reisz’, and they confess their love to each other. Then, she receives a call from
Madame Ratignolle who is in labor, and Edna leaves to attend to her friend. When she comes back, she
finds that Robert is gone forever. At the end of the novel, Edna goes back to Grand Isle and drowns
herself.
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Major Works Data Sheet
Memorable Quotes at least 3 – more is better
Quotation Significance

“A feeling of exultation overtook her, as if some This quote relates back to the theme of women
power of significant import had been given her to and femininity in that Edna is wanting to break
control the working of her body and her soul. She the conventional ideals of the time regarding a
grew daring and reckless, overestimating her women’s role and preferred behavior in society.
strength. She wanted to swim far out, where no
woman had swum before.”

“Even as a child she had lived her own small life During this novel, Edna struggles with her outer
all within herself. At a very early period she had and inner personalities. The personality she
apprehended instinctively the dual life—that displays outwardly is one that conforms to
outward existence which conforms, the inward societal norms; however, on the inside she feels
life which questions.” confined following societal expectations. As the
novel progresses, Edna begins to embrace her
Outer self more and more.

“Edna looked straight before her with a self- This is an essential quote in that is marks that
absorbed expression upon her face. She felt no Edna now feels as society is her enemy, which
interest in anything about her. The street, the changes her actions/behavior throughout the rest
children, the fruit vender, the flowers growing of the novel.
there under her eyes, were all part and parcel of
an alien world which had suddenly become
antagonistic.”

“But the beginning of things, of a world especially, These lines are significant in that it describes the
is necessarily vague, tangled, chaotic, and start of Edna’s awakening when she realizes that
exceedingly disturbing. How few of us ever majority of people are stifled in life by simply
emerge from such beginning! How many souls following societal norms. Moreover, in this quote
perish in its tumult!” Edna highlights how so few people are able to
escape society’s confinements.
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Major Works Data Sheet
Characters
Name Role in the story Significance Adjectives

Edna Pontellier Edna is the main She is the character Independent, isolated,
character and who undergoes an private, free-thinking,
protagonist of the “awakening” whereby unorthodox
novel. she becomes more
independent and
however more isolated
which ultimately leads
to her suicide.

Léonce Pontellier He is Edna’s husband, Alcée is very concerned Charming, classic,

and he is a with his family’s wealthy, busy,
businessman who outward appearances materialistic
works majority of the and therefore is a major
time. contributor to Edna’s
awakening.

Alcée Arobin Arobin is the man who Arobin is also a

Edna has an affair with. contributor to Edna’s Seductive, independent,
He becomes her love awakening in that he alluring
interest, and Edna view allows Edna to see that
him as more exciting Alcée cannot control
and passionate than her her.
husband.

Mademoiselle Reisz She is a pianist who Mademoiselle is

befriends Edna and perhaps the largest Independent, pianist,
conveys to Edna that contributor to Edna’s artistic, unorthodox
living independently. awakening in that she
Perhaps the most lives independently and
important piece of serves as a confidante
evidence she gives to Edna.
Edna is that in order to
be independent, she
must be brave.
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Major Works Data Sheet
Setting Significance of the opening scene
The first half of the novel takes place in Grand The opening scene is significant for a number of
Isle, an island off of the coast of Louisiana. The reasons. The novel begins with a parrot shrieking
first half of the novel also takes place during theat Leonce, which establishes the first symbol. The
summer. After the summer vacation, the setting bird represents Edna and women, and because
becomes the city, specifically Esplanade Street, onthe bird is shrieking it is expressing Edna’s
which Edna and her husband’s house is. discontent with her husband and her standard of
life in being an obedient wife. The opening scene
is also significant in its setting. The first scene
takes place on Grnad Isle, an island, and the ocean
plays a major role in the novel. Furthermore, Edna
returns to this very island at the end of the book
and drowns herself.
Symbols or Motifs (at least three) Significance of the ending / closing scene
o Birds: Birds represent Edna and all women The closing scene portrays naked Edna wading
and their struggle for their individuality. into the water, reflecting on the fact that no one
For example, the opening scene opens with will be able to claim her anymore after her
a caged bird, expressing Edna’s caged decision to drown herself. Edna then swims until
feelings in which society confines her role she is exhausted and can swim no more, then
as a woman. drowns. This is significant because Edna has
o Ocean: This is a symbol that represents finally come to means with herself as an
Edna’s desire of freedom and individuality. individual and the fact that she does not want to
The first significant time the author notes please anyone anymore or succumb to society’s
on her self-discovery is when she learns to role for women. In the water, she realizes that
swim, and in the end, Edna wades into the nobody is in control of her but herself, and she
ocean and drowns herself as she does not drowns.
want to succumb to anybody’s standards
but her own anymore.
o Painting: Painting represents Edna’s newly
discovered individuality as it is an activity
that she does purely for herself throughout
the novel, and only partakes in it after her
“awakening.”
Possible Themes – Topics of Discussion (elaborate) minimum of 3
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 Love- Love is not always confined to marriage, as it can extend far beyond that and can differ
with the individual’s wants in life. This is established through Robert an Edna’s relationship,
who are not married but come to love each other. However, they do not end up with each other
as Edna wants individuality while he wants marriage.
 Women and Femininity- A women’s role extends far beyond the tasks society has defined for
them such as to take care of the house and the family—women can be ambitions in their own
ways and create their own paths. This is established throughout the novel namely through
Edna’s love of painting, as this is an activity she does for herself and is outside of society’s
explicit roles for women.
 Individuality- Although society has a confining role for women, an individual does not have to
succumb to those roles and may do what pleases himself or herself. This is establishes
throughout the novel as this novel is a story of self-discovery.