The Story of an Hour

Does “The Story of an Hour” follow conventional Aristotelian tragic plot constructions? Identify the possible inciting incident, peripeteia (reversal of fortune), climax, and anagnorisis (discovery) among the emotional events of the story.

How does the story’s extremely short length and narrative timeframe emphasize its themes? Why did Chopin choose to tell “The Story of an Hour” rather than “The Story of a Day”?

Does Louise’s death indicate her ultimate rejection of a society defined by patriarchy or her ultimate submission to it? Support your answer with evidence from the text.

Why is it significant that Louise is a young woman? How would Louise being older alter the story’s themes?

Why is Chopin intentionally vague about where the story takes place?

“The Story of an Hour” was considered somewhat controversial when it was published in 1894, for its portrayal of a woman’s joyful liberation at the death of her husband. How controversial or uncontroversial does the story seem by modern standards? What has changed?

How many instances of misunderstanding can you identify in the story? How do misunderstandings motivate the action of the story and inform its themes?

How does the omission or inclusion of the word “her” change the meaning of this quote: “There would be no one to live for her during those coming years; she would live for herself” (Paragraph 14)? Explore how each version alters your understanding of Chopin’s themes.