Theme Exploration

Task: 

In this week's post, you will be thinking and writing about U.T.s (themes) that Chopin is investigating in The Awakening. 

Choose one of the themes below, or one of your own that you can intelligently support with evidence to write three well-developed paragraphs about.

Themes:

• Society's convention and finding individuality within these constraints

• Women's role in society/women's rights

• Inner life and reflection verses the outer world and appearance

• The desire for freedom and the consequences of gaining freedom

Some things to consider as you write:

• Why is Chopin highlighting these themes?

• What techniques does she use to develop the themes? Think about tone, diction, syntax, etc, as well as the symbols and motifs that are mentioned in the front of your copy of The Awakening.

• Provide three quotes for each of the themes you are discussing and explain how they relate to the theme.

• How do these themes relate to life today? In other words, what makes these truths UNIVERSAL.

• Make a connection to another poem, short story, or novel we have read as a class, or to something you have read on your own. Be sure to thoroughly explain the connection.

Rubric:

Posted on time: 10 pts
Follows directions: 10 pts.
Thorough amount of information: 10 pts.
Organized and easy to read: 10 pts
Proofread: No errors in grammar, punctuation, or spelling: 10 pts

Total: 50 points
Due: 3/16/16

Character Exploration

Task

• To what extent do the female characters in The Awakening represent the Victorian woman? In other words, characterize Adele Ratignolle, Edna Pontellier, the Farival Twins, Mademoiselle Reisz and relate their characters to the norms expected of women in Victorian society.

• How does Chopin seem feel about the condition of women in Victorian society? Provide evidence from the novel to strengthen your answer.

• Please be sure that you address these questions THOROUGHLY. I expect this post to be at least 500 words, as you will be further examining the context in which Chopin was writing and how this helps you determine the issues she is exploring through this novel.

Rubric:

Posted on time: 10 pts
Follows directions: 10 pts.
Thorough amount of information: 10 pts.
Organized and easy to read: 10 pts
Proofread: No errors in grammar, punctuation, or spelling: 10 pts

Total: 50 points
Due: 2/26/16

Kate Chopin and Victorian Era Background Reading

Task:

In this first post, you will do background reading on the author of The Awakening, Kate Chopin, as well as what life was like for women during the Victorian era.

Questions to consider for reading on Victorian women:

• What were the different functions assigned to men and women? What were they based on?
• What was the role of marriage in a woman's life? Children?
• What happened to a woman after she married?
• How was the role of motherhood viewed during this time?
• How were mothers viewed by men?
• How was justice administered in regards to women?
• How was sex (yes that kind of sex) viewed in regards to women? 
• What were girls taught from an early age?

Questions to consider for reading on Chopin's background:

• Where were many of her stories published?
• Was her work well received during her life?
• What is something interesting about The Awakening?
• When did her work become known around the world?
• Briefly summarize her childhood.
• Who did she marry and where did she live?
• What happened to her and her husband?
• How did she die?
• What is she known as today?

Posting Criteria:

This post should do the following:

• Thoroughly answer all of the questions above (20 points)
• Be edited for clarity and writing conventions (20 points)
• Be turned in on time (20 points)
• Layout is aesthetically neat and appealing (20 points)

Total Homework Points Possible: 80

Due: Wednesday 2/8/17