Your homework is to read and annotate chapters 23-28 in The Awakening.
As you read, find a passage in the text that stands out as particularly effective. Think of DIDLS (Diction, Imagery, Details, Language, and Syntax). Write one analytical "chunk." Make sure to note chapter and page number. Comment to post your chunk here.
"The music penetrated [Edna's] whole being like an effulgence, warming and brightening the dark places of her soul," as she listened to Mademoiselle play the piano. Chopin uses diction to convey the immense serenity Edna felt as she was inundated by the dazzling song. The music temporarily warmed the dark places of her soul that longed for her husband to return.
ReplyDeleteChapter 26, page 81 in the older book.
Those who listened to Edna's creativity as it shone through "could feel the hot breath of the Southern night... the long sweep of the pirogue through the glistening moonlit water, the beating of birds' wings... see the faces of the lovers, pale, close together, rapt in oblivious forgetfulness, drifting into the unknown". Choplin utilizes detail and diction to reveal Edna's surreptitious craving to return to where she was truly happy; with her since gone Infatuation.
ReplyDeleteChapter 23, page 98
Edna shares her "pure invention" that Edna believed to be a dream but "seemed real to those who listened" of "oblivious" lovers "drifting into the unknown." Chopin's details impart Edna Pontellier's inner yearning for Robert. Edna denies the story of any truth, failing to realizer her own desires.
ReplyDeleteWhen Kate Chopin descriptively writes of when Enda was weaving the tale of the two lovers who eloped the alluring words crept from the page with a brilliant life like quality of their own that shows you how often and eagerly Enda has imagined the story for herself. Chopin uses exquisite phrases that paint the picture before you like “the faces of the lovers, pale close together, rapt in oblivious forgetfulness drifting into the unknown”, “ the long sweep of the pirogue through the glistening moonlit water” , and “ the beating of birds’ wings, rising startled from among the reeds in the salt-water pools.” to pull you into the story. The imagery startles you with it’s illusion of accuracy. This accuracy and life like quality of the tale Enda fabricates makes you wonder just how many times has she imagined herself, other than that night, to be one of those “ pale” “[faced] lovers”.
ReplyDelete"But among the conflicting sensations which assailed her, there was neither shame nor remorse" felt by Edna that night. Chopin provides detail to evoke an understanding in the reader of what Edna experiences. Because of this, the reader can develop a sympathetic attitude towards Edna's state of mixed emotions.
ReplyDeleteChapter 28.
Chopin's use of diction and anaphora when describing Edna and her father's argument at the beginning of chapter 24 shows how powerful and important a woman's feeling of freedom is. Edna has a "warm, and almost violent dispute" with her father regarding her "refusal to attend her sister's wedding." Edna doesn't just decline it as if it's an offer, she refuses to go. Family is supposed to be very important to a person, and refusing to support a sibling in a great time in their life for the sake of something else emphasizes the important of the "something else" in that person's life. Also, "Edna had offered [no]" excuse as to her refusal. When someone doesn't even give an excuse for her absence to an important event, it non verbally communicates a sense of un-importance of the event in that persons life to other people. This again shows how strongly Edna feels about her idea that "a wedding is one of the most lamentable spectacles on earth."
ReplyDelete-David Cox
"The afternoon was intensely interesting to her. The excitment came back upon her like a remittent fever." Copin uses diction to depict an immense feeling of fufillment Edna feels when she is with Arobin. This short walk they take allows Edna to return to a happiness she once knew.
ReplyDeleteEdna's father's hair and mustache was not only "white", but also "silky", contrasting with the "rugged bronze of his face". Chopin's use of imagery allows the reader to picture the physical characteristics of Edna's father, which hint to his inward characteristics as well. Edna's father protrays a hard man, like the texture of his face, with soft sides, like the texture of his hair.
ReplyDeleteChapter 23, page 113 in newer book
Ch.23 page 68
ReplyDeleteEdna's father's hair was "white and silky", along with the "bronze of his face". Chopin's use of imagery allows the reader to picture Edna's father's characteristics, which present his personality hidden inside of him. The imagery portrays her father to be a very distinguished and strict man, who sticks to the normal aspects of life.
Edna "was not thinking about her husband" when she was embarrassed at her scandel, rather "she though of robert lebrun's disaproval". Edna has completely detached herself from her emotion with Leonce. She has fallen even deeper into her downward spiral from quiet awkward wife to the passionate lover that she almost was with robert.
ReplyDeletepage 108 of prestwick copy
The "long sandy path" with its "acres of yellow camomile". The author's use of imagery gives the reader a pleasant image of the beach with yellow flowers growing in abundance. This use of imagery gives the scene a more peaceful and calming view of the beach.
ReplyDelete-Hannah Lewis
As Madame Antoine "welcomes" Edna and Robert into her home she is described as being "fat" and having a "heavy and clumsy" way about her. Chopin's use of imagery helps to picture a hospitable woman who offers her home to Edna so she can sleep. The description of Madame Antoine explains with the description that is it perfectly acceptable for someone to sleep in someone else's bed when welcomed.
ReplyDeleteIn chapter twenty-five Edna is only able to "languorously sleep" because the memory of Alcee's "lips" haunt her, as does the taunting memory of "his presence, his manners, and the warmth of his glances". The connotation of uncertaintity helps the reader to more fully understand the emotionally confused state that Alcee has left Edna in after his visit. Chopin also uses a provacative connotation to portray the budding of Edna's forbidden love for Alcee.
ReplyDeleteIn chapter twenty-six, Alcee is described as 'genuine', extremely genuine that he would 'often decieve himself'. Though, is it not known that most who are "too genuine" often prove otherwise later on down the road? Sad to think society have caused these feelings and "knowledge" to be surfaced at a time of meeting a person as him.
ReplyDeleteArobin's kiss was the "first kiss" she "responded" to, the first that was a "flaming torch that kindled desire." Chopin's use of imagery reveals that this is the first time a man has ever sparked this feeling inside her. It also shows the reader that Edna is experiencing new feelings that were dormant in her old, conformed life.
ReplyDeleteOnce Edna was home alone she seemed to be content with a "genuine sign of relief". Seems that Edna really does not love her husband and would rather live alone then with him. Although she still wants to find love with another man.
ReplyDeleteAs Edna started feeling "[irresponsibile]" but not "[shameful]," and the "mist" evaporated in front of her and she began to "comprehend the significance of life." Chopin's diction reveals Edna's sudden "awakening" and helps the reader relate to her unique situation. Edna feels kinda bad about what happened, but still thinks that it was meant to be.
ReplyDelete"She felt somewhat like a woman who in a moment of passion is betrayed into an act of infidelity." Edna feels that her feelings of infatuation are somewhat heretical in how they differ from what is expected of her. Even though nothing transpired, she feels that her feelings make her culpable.
ReplyDeleteEdna refuted Arobin's praise and insisted that she was "a devilishly wicked specimen of the sex." Her diction emphasizes the severity of her behavior. Although her mind recognizes that her actions are deplorable, her heart is not guilt-ridden.
ReplyDeletep. 115 (chapter 27)
Edna thinks she is a "devilishly wicked" woman and "can't convince" herself otherwise. The diction shows how strongly she is going against the expectations of that time. It also shows that she knows people think she is wrong but doesn't care.
ReplyDeleteKate Chopin's portreys Edna's "cheeks and eves [inflaming]" with excitment as a "fever" flowed through her like and "intoxicant." The horse races are the fondest of memories Edna has from her childhood. Chopin's use of imagery shows the reader Edna's passion for the game.
ReplyDeleteChapter 25, Page 104
Chopin's diction portrays Edna's feeling of "irresponsibility" and "unexpected" "shock" and thought of the "[reproaches]" of her husband and Robert. She knows that what she did is wrong, and regrets her decision. However, she feels this regret for the wrong person and for the wrong reason. She feels as if she betrayed Robert rather than Mr. Pontellier, and she regrets that her actions were based on lust rather than the actions of that night as a whole.
ReplyDeleteAs Edna reflects over her "multitudinous emotions", which bring about "overwhelming [feelings] of irresponsibility", she is left to face the "shock of the unexpected and unaccustomed" and the "conflicting sensations" of "overpowering love, which had awakened whithin her." The diction used portrays the strong passion Edna feels toward the complex situation she has brought upon herself. She is torn between the realization of love she has come to know and the commitment of obedience to her husband.
ReplyDelete"It was no labor to become intimate with Arobin."
ReplyDeleteChopin uses diction here to showcase the compatibility that Edna has with Arobin. Unlike with her actual husband, Edna can be happy around Arobin.
pg. 105, Chapter 25
Alcee Arobin's "hair is brown" and grew "from his temples," and "he opens and suts his eyes," and "he has two lips and a square chin is the description of a normal person. Chopin used this description of Alcee to explain why Edna loved Alcee. It was because she does. That"s it. She has never felt this way about her husband, but Edna can't break the commitment she has to her husband so she loves him, but there is no action in that love. Yet.
ReplyDeletePg 112 ch 26
"The music penetrated [Edna's] whole being", "warming and brightening the dark places of her soul", as Mademoiselle played the piano.
ReplyDeleteChopin's diction expresses the short-lived peacefulness Edna felt as Mademoiselle plays the piano. Mademoiselle's music calmed the intense longing for her husband that Edna felt.
Chapter 26, Page 81