THE AWAKENING - Kate Chopin
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The Awakening Discussion Questions
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awakening essay prompts
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Choice 1. A recurring theme in literature is “the classic war between a passion and responsibility.” For instance, a personal cause, a love, a desire for revenge, a determination to redress a wrong, or some other emotion or drive may conflict with moral duty. Choose a work from the list above in which a character confronts the demands of a private
passion that conflicts with his or her responsibilities.
In a well-written essay show clearly the nature of the conflict, its effects upon the character, and its significance to the work.
Choice 2
Chose a complex and important character in a novel from the list above who
might—on the basis of the character’s actions alone—be considered evil or
immoral. In a well-organized
essay, explain both how and why the full presentation of the character in the
work makes us react more sympathetically than we otherwise might. Avoid plot
summary.
Choice 3:
The eighteenth-century British novelist Laurence Stern wrote, “No body, but he
who has felt it, can conceive what a plaguing thing it is to have a man's mind
torn asunder by two projects of equal strength, both obstinately pulling in a
contrary direction at the same time.” From a novel or a play choose a character
(not necessarily the protagonist) whose mind is pulled in conflicting
directions by two compelling desires, ambitions, obligations, or
influences. Then, in a
well-organized essay, identify each of the two conflicting forces and explain
how this conflict within one character illuminates the meaning of the work as a
whole.
Choice 4: Writers often highlight the values of a culture or a society by
using characters who are alienated from that culture or society because of
gender, race, class or creed. Choose a play or novel in which such a character
plays a significant role and show how that character’s alienation reveals the
surrounding society’s assumptions and moral values.
Choice 5: A critic said: “The writers, I do believe, who get the best and most
lasting response from the readers are the writers who offer a happy ending
through moral development. By a happy ending, I do not mean mere fortunate
events--a marriage or last minute rescue from death--but some kind of spiritual
or moral reconciliation, even with the self, even at death.” Choose a novel or a
play that has the kind of ending described, and identify the “spiritual
reassessment or moral reconciliation” evident in the ending and explain its
significance in the work as a whole.
passion that conflicts with his or her responsibilities.
In a well-written essay show clearly the nature of the conflict, its effects upon the character, and its significance to the work.
Choice 2
Chose a complex and important character in a novel from the list above who
might—on the basis of the character’s actions alone—be considered evil or
immoral. In a well-organized
essay, explain both how and why the full presentation of the character in the
work makes us react more sympathetically than we otherwise might. Avoid plot
summary.
Choice 3:
The eighteenth-century British novelist Laurence Stern wrote, “No body, but he
who has felt it, can conceive what a plaguing thing it is to have a man's mind
torn asunder by two projects of equal strength, both obstinately pulling in a
contrary direction at the same time.” From a novel or a play choose a character
(not necessarily the protagonist) whose mind is pulled in conflicting
directions by two compelling desires, ambitions, obligations, or
influences. Then, in a
well-organized essay, identify each of the two conflicting forces and explain
how this conflict within one character illuminates the meaning of the work as a
whole.
Choice 4: Writers often highlight the values of a culture or a society by
using characters who are alienated from that culture or society because of
gender, race, class or creed. Choose a play or novel in which such a character
plays a significant role and show how that character’s alienation reveals the
surrounding society’s assumptions and moral values.
Choice 5: A critic said: “The writers, I do believe, who get the best and most
lasting response from the readers are the writers who offer a happy ending
through moral development. By a happy ending, I do not mean mere fortunate
events--a marriage or last minute rescue from death--but some kind of spiritual
or moral reconciliation, even with the self, even at death.” Choose a novel or a
play that has the kind of ending described, and identify the “spiritual
reassessment or moral reconciliation” evident in the ending and explain its
significance in the work as a whole.