Why you should read The Awakening…
Awakening…
1. Chopin creates a fascinating character study of a woman and her
unconventional choices that are still relevant.
2. Edna’s pervasive sense of dread is compelling – we want to know
what will happen next…
3. Chopin’s writing is beautiful and very “readable.”
4. Despite the 3rd person narration, the reader gets to know Edna
intimately.
5. Short and accessible!! It is possible to read the novel in one sitting
with an investment of only 3 or 4 hours.
Why you may struggle with The Awakening
Awakening…
ng…
1. None of the characters are particularly sympathetic – especially the
protagonist, Edna.
2. Edna’s choices were unconscionable to readers in 1899 and will
frustrate today’s readers as well.
Still interested? A few suggestions before you begin…
The novel is available on line, free of charge, at:
http://etext.virginia.edu/toc/modeng/public/ChoAwak.html
A little background on the setting:
http://www.literarytraveler.com/authors/kate_chopin_awakening_gra
ndisle.aspx
A little background on “Creole” and “Cajun” culture:
http://www.cajunculture.com/Other/creole.htm
http://www.cajunculture.com/Other/creole.htm
http://www.nathanielturner.com/livesandtimesofquadroons.htm
http://www.cajunculture.com/Other/cajun.htm
http://www.cajunculture.com/Other/cajun.htm
A little help pronouncing the names:
http://www.ielanguages.com/french1.html
Pontellier = Pon – tee – ay
Ratignolle = Ra – tuh – nol
Reisz = Ru – ees
Fast Facts – The Awakening
Pages – 190 (Avon Paperback Edition)
Author – Kate Chopin
Date Published – 1899
Setting – Grande Isle/New Orleans, Louisiana/1890’s
Point of view – third person omniscient
Genre – Drama
Issues/Conflicts – Coming of age/Gender/Social Class
Beyond
Beyond the Basics…
Wonderful article on Edna’s awakening:
http://www.articlemyriad.com/53.htm
Web resources on Chopin, context, allusions and symbolism:
http://www.vcu.edu/engweb/eng384/awake.htm
A couple of web sites on the setting:
http://www.grandhttp://www.grand-isle.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Isle,_Louisiana
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Isle,_Louisiana
The Awakening -- Author Information
Kate Chopin was born Catherine O’Flaherty in St. Louis, Missouri in 1851.
At the age of five her father died, and she spent the rest of her childhood
surrounded by only women role models. She married Oscar Chopin in 1870
and had six children in the first ten years of her marriage. In 1882, Oscar
died and Chopin moved back to Missouri, where her mother died shortly
thereafter. She began writing in order to support her family and quickly
gained popular success. She published numerous short stories and other
writings, in addition to two novels: At Fault and The Awakening. When
published in 1899, the reception to The Awakening was one of shock and
outrage, and the novel was only published once, until it was rediscovered in
1969. Chopin died of a brain hemorrhage in 1904.
More information on Chopin’s life and works:
http://www.wsu.edu/~campbelld/amlit/chopin.htm
http://www.angelfire.com/nv/English243/Chopin.html
http://www.pbs.org/katechopin/
Printable Bookmark! Please print and then cut to use as a reference as you read!!
Only basic information has been provided to avoid “spoilers.” The “Intro” column indicates the chapter in
which each character is first introduced. Enjoy!
Character
Leonce
Pontellier
Edna Pontellier
Mme Lebrun
Robert Lebrun
Farival Twins
Etienne
Pontellier
Raoul
Pontellier
Adele
Ratignolle
Monsieur
Farival
Janet
Margaret
Victor Lebrun
Montel
Monsieur
Ratignolle
Mme Reisz
Mariequita
Beaudelet
Mme Antoine
Tonie
Dr. Mandelet
Alcee Arobin
The Colonel
Colonel
Mr. and Mrs.
Merriman,
Miss Mayblunt,
and Mr.
Gouvernail
Celestine
Mrs. Highcamp
The Lovers
Lady in Black
Description
Edna’s husband;
successful, 40 year
old businessman.
Protagonist; married
to Leonce; 28 years
old at beginning.
Mother of Robert and
Victor; owns and
manages cottages.
Young, flirtatious
man.
14 year old twins
who entertain adults.
4 year old son of
Pontelliers.
5 year old son of
Pontelliers.
Happily married
friend of Edna’s.
Grandfather of twins.
Intro
I
Edna’s younger
sister.
Edna’s older sister.
Robert’s younger
brother.
Suitor of Mme.
Lebrun.
Married to Adele.
III
Independent pianist
who befriends Edna.
Pretty Spanish girl.
Owns boat on island.
Cares for Edna after
Sunday service.
Mme. Antoine’s son.
Pontellier’s doctor
who reaches out to
Edna.
Infamous womanizer
who pursues Edna.
Edna’s father.
Guests at Edna’s
dinner party at “the
pigeon house.”
Edna’s servant.
Introduces Edna to
Arobin.
Lovers at Grand Isle.
Solitary widow at
Grand Isle.
I
I
I
I
I
I
IV
IV
VII
VIII
VIII
XII
XII
XII
XII
XIII
XIII
XXII
XXIII
XXIII
XXX
XXX
XXV
VII
VII
Menu Ideas – The Awakening
Near the end of the novel, Edna has a lavish dinner party that Arobin calls
her “coup etat.” Here are a few menu ideas from Diana Rattray which
highlight Louisiana cuisine:
Louisiana Crunch Cake:
http://southernfood.about.com/od/lemoncakes/r/blbb249.htm
INGREDIENTS:
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2 3/4 cups flour, sifted
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 3/4 cups granulated sugar
1 cup shortening
3/4 cup milk
1 teaspoon orange extract
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
3 eggs, unbeaten
.
Topping
2 tablespoons flour
3 tablespoons brown sugar
3 tablespoons confectioners' sugar
1/4 teaspoon orange extract
1/4 teaspoon finely grated orange peel
1/2 cup chopped pecans
PREPARATION:
Sift together 2 3/4 cups flour, baking powder and salt into large mixing bowl. add granulated sugar and stir.
Cut in shortening. Add milk, 1 teaspoon orange extract, almond extract, and eggs.
Beat thoroughly.
Combine 3/4 cup of the batter with 2 tablespoons flour, brown sugar, confectioners' sugar, orange extract, and
orange rind. Mix well. Spread topping in bottom of well-greased tube pan. Pour remaining batter over top and
bake at 375° for 45 minutes to 1 hour. Remove cake from pan immediately so topping won't stick.
Pain Perdu, or Lost Bread:
http://southernfood.about.com/od/pancakesandwaffles/r/bl90214e.htm
INGREDIENTS:
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8 slices day-old bread
2 eggs, lightly beaten
dash salt
2 tablespoons sugar
1/2 cup milk
2 to 3 drops vanilla extract
8 tablespoons melted butter
honey or syrup
PREPARATION:
PREPARATION:
Remove crusts from bread slices; discard or reserve for another use. Set bread aside.
In a small bowl, beat the eggs with salt, sugar, milk, and vanilla. Pour into flat bottomed glass dish.
Put bread slices into the dish to soak, a few at a time.
Turn with a spatula and allow to soak on the other side, but not too long, or they will be difficult to
turn. Lightly butter a baking sheet; gently remove the soaked bread slices to the baking sheet, and
continue with the remaining bread slices. Spoon any remaining egg mixture over the slices.
Place the baking sheet in a preheated 400 degree oven; bake for 15 to 20 minutes, turning after the
first 10 minutes to brown on both sides. Serve immediately with melted butter and your favorite honey
or syrup.
Serves 4.
Shrimp Fritters:
http://southernfood.about.com/od/deepfryerrecipes/r/bl20512a.htm
INGREDIENTS:
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3 tablespoons butter
1 pound medium shrimp, peeled and deveined
4 green onions, finely chopped (include tops)
1 bell pepper, seeded and finely chopped
1 small hot or mild chile pepper, seeded and finely chopped
2 cups mashed potatoes
2 eggs, beaten
salt and pepper, to taste
1 cup fine dry bread crumbs
vegetable oil, for deep frying
PREPARATION:
Melt butter in skillet over medium heat; add the shrimp and cook until pink (2 to 3 minutes depending
on size). Remove shrimp from skillet with a slotted spoon, cool slightly, then chop. Set aside.
Add the green onions, bell pepper and chile pepper to the butter remaining in the skillet. Saute over
medium heat until vegetables are just softened, about 3 minutes. Add mixture to the mashed potatoes
and mix well. Stir in the chopped shrimp and beaten eggs. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Stir in
some of the bread crumbs, if needed to make the dough stiff enough to form into balls. Shape mixture
into 2-inch balls. Put the bread crumbs in a shallow bowl. Roll the shrimp/potato balls in the crumbs.
Cover and chill for at least 30 minutes or up to 4 hours. Heat oil in a deep fryer or heavy pot to about
360 degrees. Fry the balls 3 or 4 at a time for about 4 minutes, or until browned and crispy on the
outside. Remove balls to paper towels; drain and serve immediately.
Makes about 2 dozen small fritters.
Banana Crepes:
http://southernfood.about.com/od/bananarecipes/r/bl90214a.htm
INGREDIENTS:
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12 dessert crepes, purchased or homemade
3/4 cup sour cream
1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese
3 tablespoons granulated sugar
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1/4 cup chopped pecans
6 medium bananas
1/2 cup light brown sugar, packed
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 cup butter
juice of 1/2 lemon, about 1 to 1 1/2 tablespoons
PREPARATION:
Combine sour cream and cream cheese; mix until well blended and smooth. Add granulated sugar,
vanilla and pecans; blend well. Spoon cream cheese mixture evenly on the crepes and roll up with the
ends left open.
Place on a shallow serving tray. At this point, the prepared crepes may be refrigerated. Bring to room
temperature before serving.
Peel and slice bananas crosswise into approximately 1/2-inch thick rounds; arrange in a casserole.
Combine brown sugar and cinnamon; set aside. Melt butter and pour evenly over bananas in casserole.
Sprinkle with the lemon juice and tope with the brown sugar-cinnamon mixture. Bake at 350° for 20
minutes. Remove from oven and spoon bananas with spiced syrup over the crepes. Serve immediately.
Serves 6.
Chicken Louisiana:
http://southernfood.about.com/od/skilletchicken/r/bl30221i.htm
Chicken with tomatoes, garlic, and other ingredients. Serve this chicken with hot cooked rice.
INGREDIENTS:
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2 tablespoons butter
broiler-fryer chicken, about 3 to 3 1/2 pounds, cut in serving pieces
1 medium onion, sliced
2 cloves garlic, smashed and minced
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 can (14.5 ounces) diced tomatoes, undrained
1 teaspoon leaf thyme, crumbled
2 teaspoons dried parsley leaves
1 bay leaf
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon Tabasco sauce
2 cups chopped green bell pepper
1 cup chopped red bell pepper
hot cooked rice
PREPARATION:
In a large skillet, melt butter. Sauté chicken until nicely browned on all sides. Remove chicken as it
browns. Add onion and garlic to chicken drippings and sauté until onion is tender, or about 5 minutes.
Blend in flour, stirring until smooth. Remove skillet from heat. Stir in tomatoes, thyme, parsley, bay
leaf, salt, and Tabasco. Add chicken pieces. Return to heat and cook over low heat, stirring
occasionally, for 15 minutes. Add green and red bell pepper. Cover and continue to cook over low heat
for about 25 minutes longer, or until chicken is tender and done. Serve Louisiana chicken with hot
cooked rice. Chicken recipe serves 4.
And one CajunCajun-inspired recipe!!
Bread Pudding with Whisky Sauce:
http://www.czdance.com/CajunCulture/Recipes/BreadPudding.html
Ingredients
15 oz of stale french bread
2 Tbs vanilla
4 cups milk
1 cup raisins
2 cups sugar
1 stick butter, melted
1 cup shredded coconut
1 cup chopped pecans
3 eggs
1 Tsp cinnamon
1 Tsp nutmeg
Crumble bread and mix all ingredients (mixture should be very moist but not soupy).
Pour into a buttered 9"x12" baking dish. Place in a non-preheated oven and bake
at 350 degrees for 1 hour and 15 minutes. Serve warm with whiskey sauce.
Whiskey Sauce
Ingredients
1 stick butter, melted
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
2 egg yolks
1/2 cup bourbon whiskey
Combine butter and sugar over medium heat until all butter is absorbed. Remove
from heat and blend in egg yolks. Pour in bourbon to taste, stirring constantly.
Sauce will thicken as it cools. Serve warm over warm bread pudding.
Interesting article about the difference between Creole and Cajun food:
http://www.gumbopages.com/food/about
http://www.gumbopages.com/food/aboutumbopages.com/food/about-food.html
The Awakening – Creating the Mood!!
Here is an idea to set the mood. Enjoy!
Introductory Game Idea:
The Awakening has been controversial since its inception, largely due to
Edna’s incompatibility with and ultimate rejection of the Victorian ideals of
womanhood. The novel is still relevant today since women must balance the
demands of individual fulfillment with the demands of the community – a
partner, children, or modern conceptions of womanhood. Due to her
ultimate decision, it may be easy to judge Edna and her choices. Since
women everywhere are confronted with Edna’s challenges, consider
conducting the following discussion before addressing Edna as a character.
1. As a child, did you imagine your future as married with children?
How has your adulthood reflected your dream?
2. What has been the best surprise about marriage or remaining single?
3. What has been the hardest challenge about marriage or remaining
single?
4. What has been the best aspect of having children? Or of choosing not
to?
5. What dreams do you feel are unfulfilled in your present life?
An informational site on Victorian ideals of womanhood:
http://www.victorianweb.org/gender/socialhistov.html
http://www.victorianweb.org/gender/socialhistov.html
Literary Terms – The Awakening
Exposition – the introduction of the setting, characters, conflict(s) at the
beginning of a novel. Many of the questions focus on the exposition since
our first impressions are so influential to our enjoyment and impressions of
the novel. After finishing a novel, skim the first chapter again to see how
the author shaped and influenced your first impressions. Focus question: 2
Diction – word choice. Notice how formal, colloquial, or archaic the word
choice is and how that influences your reading speed as well as enjoyment
level. Notice how Chopin initially addresses the protagonist and her
husband as “Mr. and Mrs. Pontellier” and does not disclose their first names
until the end of chapter IV. Focus questions: 3, 14
Syntax – style of sentence structure. Does the author employ complex,
verbose, formal, or simplistic sentences? How does the author’s crafting of
syntax affect your engagement as a reader? Complexity of syntax does not
determine literary merit; the pairing of syntax to meaning does. Even the
most strident critics of Chopin’s subject matter acknowledged the lyricism of
her writing.
Tone – author’s attitude toward subject.. Think “tone of voice.” Tone is
created through diction and can be very subtle, but is extremely important.
If you misinterpret the tone, you most likely misinterpret the meaning or
theme of the narrative. Notice how Madame Ratignolle is afraid that Edna
will misinterpret the tone of Robert’s flirting in chapter VIII since she is
“not one of us.” Focus questions: 4, 9
Mood – emotional atmosphere of novel. Mood is considered an aspect of the
setting (time, place, atmosphere). When we read a novel, we “read
ourselves,” so think about what type of mood your favorite novels tend to
have and how different moods may influence your enjoyment level. There is
a pervasive mood of dread and foreboding in The Awakening; did this affect
your enjoyment? Focus question: 4
Theme – main idea that runs through and unifies novel. Theme should be
stated as a complete thought and not one word, which would instead be a
topic of the novel: instead of “love,” consider what the author is saying
about the nature of love in the novel. In classics, themes are frequently not
“morals” of the novel; they may or may represent the ideal.
Focus questions: 4, 9, 11
Irony – the opposite of what it expected. Dramatic irony is when the reader
has more information than the character does, providing the reader with an
all-knowing perspective. Situational irony is when a situation turns out
differently than expected. Consider how the final scene of the novel is ironic.
Verbal irony is when the speaker means the opposite of what is said, so
correctly interpreting tone becomes crucial to the reader’s understanding of
the events and particularly of the themes.
Focus question: 10
Imagery – the use of words that engage the senses. Notice the language that
addresses the sense of sight in the following passage describing Edna’s
appearance:
“Mrs. Pontellier’s eyes were quick and bright; they were a yellowish brown,
about the color of her hair…Her eyebrows were a shade darker than her hari.
They were thick and almost horizontal, emphasizing the depth of her eyes. She
was rather handsome than beautiful.”
Symbolism – when an element of the story (object, character, color, etc.) is
both literally present in the novel and has significance or represents
something beyond itself. The ocean develops great significance for Edna, as
do birds. Focus question: 13
Foil – when two characters contrast each other. The characters do not need
to be enemies – or even be aware of one another. In The Awakening, Edna
and Madame Ratignolle are friends yet foils in their reaction to domesticity.
Focus question: 1, 8
Foreshadowing – when the author provides hints to future events. Edna’s
earlier swim in the ocean, when she felt liberated yet beyond her comfort
zone, foreshadows her final swim at the end. The opening of the novel, when
the parrot calls to Leonce, “Get out! Get out!” foreshadows the eventual
dissolution of his marriage. Focus question: 4
The Awakening Discussion Questions
The following questions approach the novel from a number of different
angles, i.e., how the novel
novel functions as a work of art, how it reflects the time
period, how it addresses fundamental questions of humanity, and how it
engages the reader. A good discussion tends to start with our “heads” and
subjective
tive opinions of taste
end with our “hearts.” So, you may want to save subjec
until after you have discussed the more objective elements of why this work
is considered a classic. It is tempting to begin with, “What did everyone
think?” But if a number of people really didn’t like the novel, their opinions
may
may derail a discussion of the novel’s merits. On the other hand, I
recommend starting with a few accessible questions and asking every member
to respond to ensure that all voices are present and heard from the beginning.
Just a few suggestions! Enjoy…
1. We are presented with three distinctly different models of
womanhood:
womanhood Edna Pontellier, Madame Ratignolle, and Madame
Reisz. Which of these women did you like / relate to the most?
Which the least? Why? Did you empathize with Edna?
2. The point of view of the narration is third person, mostly omniscient
(all-knowing). Did this affect your view of any of the characters? If
the point of view had been in 1st person, from Edna’s perspective, do
you think we would sympathize with her more?
3. In chapter 33, M. Ratignolle says to Edna:
“In some way you seem to me like a child, Edna. You seem to act
without a certain amount of reflection which is necessary in this
life…”
Do believe that Edna is naive or immature in her actions?
4. At the beginning of chapter 8, Mlle Ratignolles tells Robert:
“…let Mrs. Pontellier alone…she is not one of us; she is not
like us. She might make the unfortunate blunder of taking you
seriously…You speak with about as little refection as we might
expect from one of those children down
down there playing…”
What is Mlle Ratignolles’ motivation? How had she perceived
Edna’s true feelings?
5. At one point, Leonce wonders
“…if his wife were not growing a little unbalanced mentally. He
could see plainly that she was not herself. That is, he could not see
that she was becoming herself and daily casting aside that fictitious
self which we assume like a garment with which to appear before the
world.”
Many times throughout the novel Edna appears to experience what
the French call “ennui
ennui,”
ennui weariness or discontent with life. Do we
sympathize with Edna’s ennui? Has she broken an “unspoken”
covenant with her husband by becoming dissatisfied with her
marriage?
6. Leonce Pontellier is not a “monster” – i.e., he is not physically or
verbally abusive of Edna and appears to love his wife and children.
Why doesn’t Chopin make him less likeable? What are his “crimes,”
in Edna’s opinion? In what ways are Edna and Leonce
incompatible?
7. Are Edna and Robert compatible?
8. Did you find Leonce Pontellier or Robert Lebrun more attractive?
9. When Robert declares his love, in chapter 36, Edna retorts:
“You have been a very, very foolish boy, wasting your time dreaming
of impossible things when you speak of Mr. Pontellier setting me free!
I am no longer
longer one of Mr. Pontellier’s possessions to dispose of or not.
I have myself where I choose. If he were to say, ‘Here Robert, take
her and be happy, she is yours,’ I should laugh at you both.’”
Robert blanches at this. Do you believe that Edna’s belief that she
has been objectified is valid?
10. Since Edna is already married to one man and in love with another,
why does she enter into an affair with Arobin?
11. Why does Edna choose to end her life? Up until the end, she seems
to be exploring alternate options for her life. Did her suicide seem
abrupt? Does her suicide seem to be an act of rebellion or defeat?
12.What other ending would be possible / realistic for Edna considering
the time period? Do you believe that Edna could have found a way
to balance the demands of motherhood with her need for selfdetermination?
13.Reread the last paragraph:
“She looked into the distance, and the old terror flamed up for an
instant, then sank again. Edna heard her father’s voice and her sister
Margaret’s. She heard the
the barking of an old dog that was chained to
the sycamore tree. The spurs of the cavalry officer clanged as he
walked across the porch. There was the hum of bees, and the musky
odor of pinks filled the air.”
Why does Chopin end the novel in this way? Some have likened
Edna’s suicide in the sea as a return to the womb. How does this last
paragraph support this theory?
14.Contemporary feminists have criticized Edna’s failure to recognize
the subordinate status of African Americans,
Americans referred to as “darkys”
and “Quadroons”, in the novel. Is this a valid complaint? Should we
judge her or Chopin?
15.Could Dr. Mandelet have been able to understand Edna’s
frustrations? Could he have helped her?
WrapWrap-up Questions…
Which character did you relate to the most?
Would you recommend the novel?
If you could change anything, what would it be?
What adjective comes to mind when you reflect on the novel?
Do you believe this novel should be considered a classic?
Do you think The Awakening would be as significant to male
readers?
The Awakening – the film
At least two film versions have been made of The Awakening, but
under different names. The most recent version was titled Grand
Isle and was made in 1991, starring Kelly McGillis. Your group
could watch a version of the movie together and discuss your
impressions, or group members could watch it before the meeting and
then discuss impressions as a group. Here are a few possible movie
questions:
While viewing the movie, which characters were most
unlike how you pictured them while reading the novel?
Which characters seemed “right on” in their portrayal?
What plot elements were left out or changed in the movie?
How was your enjoyment affected by what was left
out/changed?
If this movie were remade today, who would you cast as
Edna, Robert, etc.?
Does this movie capture the spirit of Chopin’s novel?
More information on the film(s):
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0101970/
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0083884/