Student_________________
Mrs. Glucksman
AP English 3
November 2012
Vocabulary and Focusing Questions for Chopin’s
The Awakening
Directions: these questions are meant to help you interpret the chapters. Answer them. Also, look for ironic situations and language. Impress me with your understanding!
Chapter 1
chamomile – a calming herb; gaunt – thin, bony; lugger – a small boat with a sail; quadroon – a person who has one African-American grandparent
1.Why would an author begin book with a bird? Write down the details about the bird? What is it saying? (Take out your cellphones!) Hypothesize about the bird’s purpose.
2.Chopin does not tell us exactly what M. Pontillier looks like. What details does she give us? What do we surmise Chopin means to emphasize about him? (What is her tone?)
3.Okay—take out your smart phones: what is Zampa?
What do you think it prefigures?
4.What are M. Pontillier’s first words to his wife?
5.Who is Mme. Lebrun? Who is Robert Lebrun?
7. Where is this scene set?
a.Draw a picture of the latter part of the chapter to note the juxtaposition of the characters.
b.Eh bein, mes amis: Wht do you think is going on?!
8.How does this chapter end?
Chapter 2
1.In chapter 1, Leonce smoked a cigar; in chapter 2, Robert smokes a cigarette. Why?
2.Where was Edna born? Why is this important?
3. What do Edna and Robert look like?
4.About what do Edna and Robert talk?
5.Where and when does this chapter take place?
Chapter 3
1.When and where does this chapter open?

2.What had Mr. Pontiller been?
3. WHAT HAD MRS. PONTILLIER BEEN DOING? (Caps. Intended!)
4.Why do you think refers to Leonce as Mr. Pontillier ?
5.The Pontilliers fight. What is each spouse’s contention? (List the facts of the fiction.)
6.What is Edna’s reaction?
7.How does the chapter end?
Chapter 4
1.In whose viewpoint (not point of view) does the chapter open?
2.What is Leonce’s view of his wife?
3.How are the women of this area described?
4.How does Chopin use Mme. Ratignole (Adele) as a foil to define Edna? Make a list of comparisons.
5.What do we learn about the society of the area?
6.What more do we learn about the characters?
Chapter 5
1.What is Edna’s talent?
2.What are details that reveal relationships—even before the characters may understand the relationships?
3.What do the presence of children reveal about the characters? What are the details?
4.What’s the deal with going for a swim?
Chapter 6