A TEACHER’S GUIDE TO THE SIGNET CLASSICS EDITION OF THE AWAKENING BY KATE CHOPIN by LAURA REIS MAYER SERIES EDITORS: JEANNE M. McGLINN AND JAMES E. McGLINN TEACHER’S GUIDE 2 A Teacher’s Guide to the Signet Classics Edition of The Awakening by Kate Chopin TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................................3 LIST OF CHARACTERS .............................................................................................................3 SYNOPSIS OF THE NOVEL .....................................................................................................4 PREREADING ACTIVITIES .......................................................................................................6 DURING READING ACTIVITIES..........................................................................................12 AFTER READING ACTIVITIES .............................................................................................17 ABOUT THE AUTHOR OF THIS GUIDE ...........................................................................22 ABOUT THE EDITORS OF THIS GUIDE ...........................................................................22 FREE TEACHER’S GUIDES ....................................................................................................23 Copyright © 2011 by Penguin Group (USA) For additional teacher’s manuals, catalogs, or descriptive brochures, please email [email protected] or write to: PENGUIN GROUP (USA) INC. In Canada, write to: Academic Marketing Department PENGUIN BOOKS CANADA LTD. 375 Hudson Street Academic Sales New York, NY 10014-3657 90 Eglinton Ave. East, Ste. 700 http://www.penguin.com/academic Toronto, Ontario Canada M4P 2Y3 Printed in the United States of America A Teacher’s Guide to the Signet Classics Edition of The Awakening by Kate Chopin 3 INTRODUCTION On April 20, 2010, British Petroleum’s couple who have adopted an Asian baby, and Deepwater Horizon exploded, claiming 11 a multi-cultural, multi-generational marriage lives, releasing 170 million gallons of oil into with stepchildren. However, it is the show’s the Gulf of Mexico, and devastating miles of central family that parallels Chopin’s themes. Louisiana and Mississippi shoreline. One of Claire is a stay-at-home mom who constantly its victims was Grand Isle, Louisiana, a small laments that she is defined by motherhood Cajun community, population 1,500. Before and marriage, wondering if her best years are the oil spill, thousands of tourists would behind her. Is her dilemma a “modern” one, converge on the island each summer to enjoy as the show’s title implies? Perhaps, as Barbara its rustic habitat, warm waters, and abundant Solomon says in her introduction to The fishing. It is a tradition that dates back hun- Awakening, Kate Chopin was “a woman dreds of years, and it is the setting of Kate much ahead of her time.” Chopin’s The Awakening. In the classroom, The Awakeningwill serve to A highly controversial text since its publica- connect students to the classic themes of tion in 1899, Chopin’s novel explores the feminism, naturalism, and individualism, as spiritual and physical “awakenings” of a well as the patriarchal society of the late young married woman vacationing on Grand 1800’s. When students read Chopin’s novel, Isle. Returning to New Orleans at summer’s they will come away with an awareness of the end, Edna Pontellier struggles to establish an internal and external conflicts linking the identity outside her husband and children, author’s time to our own. but she is trapped by the confines of her This guide’s pre, during, and post instruc- gender and her culture. Confronted with the tional strategies incorporate Kate Chopin’s timeless conflict between society and self, other works and can be used in any combina- Edna seeks solace by creating her own per- tion as teachers design their individual goals sonal space and ultimately returns to the soli- and lessons. A focus on technology and liter- tude of Grand Isle. acy skills challenges students to actively Those who might say such struggles are over engage in reading, and activities are differen- need only look to contemporary television. tiated to appeal to various learning styles and Emmy Award-winning Modern Family illus- are easily adaptable to the leveled lessons trates the vastly different formats “family” today’s educators are looking for. can take in the 21st Century, including a gay LIST OF CHARACTERS Main Characters Edna Pontellier—young wife and mother Victor Lebrun—Madame Lebrun’s from New Orleans younger son Léonce Pontellier—Edna’s husband, Adèle Ratignolle—Edna’s close friend a wealthy, older businessman Monsieur Ratignolle—Adèle’s husband Etienne & Raoul Pontellier— Mademoiselle Reisz—Edna’s confidant, the Pontelliers’ young sons a gifted pianist Madame Lebrun—owner of the Grand Isle Alcée Arobin—Edna’s lover cottages where the Pontelliers vacation The Colonel—Edna’s father Robert Lebrun—Madame Lebrun’s older son and Edna’s love interest Doctor Mandelet—The Pontelliers’ physician 4 A Teacher’s Guide to the Signet Classics Edition of The Awakening by Kate Chopin Grand Isle Guests Island Inhabitants New Orleans Acquaintances The Lady in Black Madame Antoine The Two Lovers Tonie Mrs. Highcamp The Farival Twins Mariequita Mr. and Mrs. Merriman Miss Mayblunt Mr. Gouvernail SYNOPSIS OF THE NOVEL GRAND ISLE Madame Ratignolle and Mademoiselle Reisz play piano for the guests. Edna realizes that The novel opens on Grand Isle, Louisiana, Adèle plays to entertain family and friends, where Léonce Pontellier and his family are but Mademoiselle Reisz is an artist whose vacationing. Léonce pursue his own interests, music awakens deep passion within her. allowing his wife Edna to fill her time as she Robert suggests a night swim, and several pleases. One evening, returning late from a guests agree. Though she has been struggling game of billiards, Léonce asks Edna to stay to learn all summer, Edna is able to swim for up with him. When she declines, Mr. Pontel- the first time that night. Exulted, Edna lier criticizes her lack of mothering skills, returns to her cottage with Robert. She is leaving Edna crying and lamenting her place alone on the hammock when Mr. Pontellier in the world. The next morning, Mr. Pontel- returns home, demanding that she come lier returns to his work in New Orleans. inside. When Edna refuses, Léonce insists on Edna stays on Grand Isle where she visits staying with her. After a restless night, Edna with Robert Lebrun, twenty-six year old son sends for Robert to accompany her to mass of the resort owner, and Adèle Ratignolle, a on the Cheniere Caminada, a nearby island. wealthy young Creole woman. Edna sketches Adèle feels stifled and drowsy during the while considering how different she is from service, so they retire to Madame Antoine’s the motherly Adèle. When Robert talks Edna house where she entertains the couple with into a swim, she feels the voice of the sea her Acadian tales. After they return to Grand calling to her. She begins to recognize herself Isle, Edna cannot stop thinking about as an individual, one who has been leading a Robert. Several days later, Edna is dining dual life. Several days later Edna and Adèle with resort guests when she learns that go to the beach, where they see two young Robert is planning to leave for Mexico. Upset lovers followed by a lady in black who is he has not shared this news with her, Mrs. reading her morning devotions. Edna shares Pontellier returns to her cottage. Robert that she feels like she did as a young girl, stops in on his way out, and Edna realizes wandering aimlessly and unguided through a how much she has come to care for him. green meadow. As Adèle comforts her, Edna Seeing no harm in her obsession, Edna recalls thinks about the young men she loved before sharing with Adèle her refusal to sacrifice marrying Léonce, and her children, whom herself for her children or anyone else. Made- she loves but does not feel suited to mother. moiselle Reisz understands Edna’s plight, and When Robert and Adèle visit the Ratignolle invites the younger woman to visit her upon cottage, Adèle warns Robert not to toy with returning to the city. Edna’s affections. Several weeks later, both A Teacher’s Guide to the Signet Classics Edition of The Awakening by Kate Chopin 5 ESPLANADE STREET out of her family home on Esplanade Street and into a small house around the corner. Back home in New Orleans, Mrs. Pontellier Mademoiselle Reisz presses Mrs. Pontellier finds herself unable to return to her house- for the real reason, and tells Edna that Robert hold and societal duties. Léonce warns her is in love with her but is trying to forget her that her refusal to observe appearances could because she is not free. Edna admits she is in affect his business relationships and their love with Robert, and the pianist confides societal standing. To Edna her children and that Robert is returning soon to New Orleans. home feel like an “alien world.” Edna visits Mademoiselle warns the younger woman Madame Ratignolle and shares her decision that she must have “strong wings.” That to start painting again. Observing the conge- night, Edna allows Arobin to kiss her. Feeling nial relationship Adèle shares with Monsieur conflicted though not guilty, Edna wishes the Ratignolle, Edna is depressed rather than kiss was more than physical. The next morn- soothed. She isolates herself even further, ing Edna advances her plans to move into