Prompts for Analytic Paragraph-The Awakening
Choose one of the following prompts to organize your analytic paragraph. You might not be able to answer the question fully in such a short space, so use the prompt to develop your own focused thesis and to organize a coherent and analytic paragraph. You might focus on a particular scene or passage from the novel, especially if the prompt addresses a large portion of the text. Do try to connect that scene or passage to the novel's overarching themes. You may quote from Barbara Welter's "The Cult of True Womanhood" or from a contextual document, in addition to quoting from the novel. Remember to include at least one quote from the novel.
• What is the significance of swimming and/or the ocean to Edna's awakening?
• What is the relationship between Edna's awakening and her relationship with Robert?
• What does Edna mean by claiming that she would give her life for her children but not herself (Ch. XVI)?
• What does Mr. Pontellier's alarm that Edna went out on her reception day indicate about the relationship between men's public sphere and women's private sphere (Ch. XVII)?
• Why does Edna stomp on her wedding ring and break a vase after Leonce rebukes her for going out on her visiting day and not managing the cook (Ch. XVII)?
• If, according to Mlle. Reisz, "the artist must possess the courageous soul," is Edna an artist (Ch. XXI)? And, if she is, what is her artistic medium?
• If Edna does not care for Alcee Arobin emotionally, why does she pursue an affair with him?