Art of Reading - "The Story of an Hour" Reading Response

1) Tumultuously – “Now her bosom rose and fell tumultuously” (157).
Tumultuously means giving rise to a tumult. A tumult, as used in this context, would be best defined as a violent agitation up of mind or feelings or a violent outburst. In this sentence tumultuously seems to indicate that Mrs. Mallard’s heart is pounding so hard that her chest is visibly beating.

Bespoke – “She was young, with a fair, calm face, whose lines bespoke repression and even a certain strength” (157).
In this passage bespoke is the past tense form of the verb bespeak which is defined as to indicate, to signify. Bespeak can also mean to speak with especial formality. Depending on the definition one chooses to use for bespeak, the last clause of the sentence takes on a different meaning. If one were to read the passage with bespoke meaning indicated, then it is an obvious characterization of Mrs. Mallard. However, if one were to read this bespoke with the latter meaning, then it carries a more subtle meaning with a layer of formality to the character of Mrs. Mallard.

2) I found word choice, personification, and also irony most helpful in understanding “The Story of an Hour.” Chopin writes with deep, quality metaphors which allow the reader to appreciate her work. Chopin’s sentences carry multiple layers of meaning because her word choice is so complex. Also the dramatic irony she uses turns the reader on one’s head in revealing that Mr. Mallard is not dead.

3) “The Story of an Hour” is about repressive husbands dashing the hopes of freedom from repression and abuse of young wives. Chopin uses this story to emphasize that not all women were content with their marriages during the late nineteenth century. Feminine equality is an important motif throughout her works as it is in “The Story of an Hour.”

Work Cited:
Gioia, Dana; Gwynn, R.S.. Art of the Short Story, The. (Chopin, Kate. “The Story of an Hour”). New York, New York: Pearson Longman, 2006