Themes of Chopin’s Writings

David Spencer Smith Mrs. Spears English 11 AP February 19, 2010 “The Storm” Title: The Storm Author:Kate Chopin Background: Chopin moved to Louisiana with her husband in 1870 and was immersed into the Creole culture. When her husband died suddenly in 1882, Chopin was left to raise six children. This gave her a huge sense of individualism from a woman’s prospective. The themes of many of her writings, including The Storm, involve topics to controversial for the time, and were never published. Conclusions:By the title “The Storm”, I would assume that the story was written about about a strong thunderstorm that had a lasting effect on a family.

However, after reading the background information, I had an more accurate hypothesis. Subject: Adultery Introduction:C- Kate Chopin begins the story with a strong description of the setting and two characters. P- The leaves were so still that even Bibi thought it was going to rain. Bibinot, who was accustomed to converse on terms of perfect equality with his little son, called the child’s attention to certain sombre clouds that were rolling with sinister intention from the west, accompanied by a sullen threatening roar. They were at Friedheimer’s store and decided to remain there till the storm had passed.

They sat within the door on two empty kegs. Bibi was four years old and looked very wise. W- Chopin wanted readers to notice the severity and the importance of the coming storm, and possibly note its symbolism. W- Chopin wanted the readers to be able to relate to Bibinot and Bibi, as a father-son relationship. Syntax and Effect: C- Kate Chopin uses long, complex sentences with clear descriptions of the setting and the characters actions. P- His voice and her own startled her as if from a trance, and she seized Bobinot's vest.

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Alcee, mounting to the porch, grabbed the trousers and snatched Bibi's braided jacket that was about to be carried away by a sudden gust of wind. He expressed an intention to remain outside, but it was soon apparent that he might as well have been out in the open: the water beat in upon the boards in driving sheets, and he went inside, closing the door after him. It was even necessary to put something beneath the door to keep the water out. W- Chopin wanted to create imagery so that the readers could connect to a further extent with the piece.

W- Chopin’s compound sentences carry the reader with story, building a solid base for the continuing plot line and future symbolism. C- Chopin uses dialogue throughout the The Storm. P- "Mama'll be 'fraid, yes, he suggested with blinking eyes. "She'll shut the house. Maybe she got Sylvie helpin' her this evenin'," Bobinot responded reassuringly. "No; she ent got Sylvie. Sylvie was helpin' her yistiday,' piped Bibi. W- Chopin uses dialogue to show the speech of the time, using the Creole influence of her past. W- Chopin also uses dialogue to show a passing of time, advancing not only the plot line, but the progression of the storm as well.

W- Chopin wanted to give the readers a further idea of the setting, and timeframe of the story. C- Chopin begins the paragraphs with short sentences in preparation to the storm and in the aftermath, then escalates to longer, more detailed sentences during the storm. P- Alcee Laballiere wrote to his wife, Clarisse, that night. It was a loving letter, full of tender solicitude. (after the storm) They did not heed the crashing torrents, and the roar of the elements made her laugh as she lay in his arms. She was a revelation in that dim, mysterious chamber; as white as the couch she lay upon. during the storm) W- Chopin wanted to show the reader the extent and the meaning of the storm through her wording. W- Chopin wanted the seriousness of the conflict to be compacted into long details. Diction and Effect:C- Chopin uses french exclamations in various points throughout the story. P- lf this keeps up, Dieu sait if the levees goin' to stan it! " she exclaimed.... "Bonte! " she cried, releasing herself from his encircling arm and retreating from the window, the house'll go next! If I only knew w'ere Bibi was! "... "Shrimps! Oh, Bobinot! you too good fo' anything! and she gave him a smacking kiss on the cheek that resounded, "J'vous reponds, we'll have a feas' to-night! umph-umph! " W- Chopin uses the french dialogue to pull an emphasis to the selected sentences. W- Chopin wants the readers to feel the seriousness of the tone through the foreign language. C- Kate Chopin uses dynamic verbs in The Storm. P-She went and stood at the window with a greatly disturbed look on her face. She wiped the frame that was clouded with moisture. It was stiflingly hot. Alcee got up and joined her at the window, looking over her shoulder.

The rain was coming down in sheets obscuring the view of far-off cabins and enveloping the distant wood in a gray mist. The playing of the lightning was incessant. A bolt struck a tall chinaberry tree at the edge of the field. It filled all visible space with a blinding glare and the crash seemed to invade the very boards they stood upon. W- Chopin uses the dynamic verbs to show direct actions of the characters, which are mean to be taken exactly as they were written. W- Chopin wanted to limit the story to these simple verbs so that the readers could follow.

W- Chopin wanted readers to focus on the descriptive adjectives, instead of the verbs. Vocabulary: Dieu sait: God knows Bonte: Goodness Sombre: gloomily dark; shadowy; dimly lighted. Solicitude: the state of being solicitous; anxiety or concern J’cous reponds: I tell you Resounded: to sound again Conclusion: C: In the conclusion to The Storm, Chopin uses a short, concise sentence. P: So the storm passed and every one was happy. W: Chopin wanted to bring the story to an end with the summation of the story’s major symbol. W: Chopin wanted to end the conflict of the affair by showing the peace within her family.

W: Chopin wanted to convey the story’s final message to the reader, that storms, just like problems, will pass. She leaves the lingering question as to wether or not there will be another storm. Other Literary Techniques Used:C- Chopin uses foreshadowing in The Storm. P- As she stepped outside, Alcee Laballiere rode in at the gate. She had not seen him very often since her marriage, and never alone... She was a little fuller of figure than five years before when she married; but she had lost nothing of her vivacity. Her blue eyes still retained their melting quality.

W- Chopin wanted to bring the readers a sense of what was going to come. W- Chopin wanted the readers to infer the choice that Calixta was going to make, a choice that could relate to all married woman. C- Chopin uses imagery through extreme details in The Storm. P- Calixta put her hands to her eyes, and with a cry, staggered backward. Alcee's arm encircled her, and for an instant he drew her close and spasmodically to him.... Alcee clasped her shoulders and looked into her face. The contact of her warm, palpitating body when he had unthinkingly rawn her into his arms, had aroused all the old-time infatuation and desire for her flesh. W- Chopin wanted to provoke the audiences sensory imaging. W- Chopin wanted the readers to feel as if they were there, and feel the connections between Calixta and Bobinot (husband and wife) and Calixta and Alcee (the adulterous relationship. ) Tone: C- Kate Chopin uses a serious, matter of fact, yet loving tone. P- He stayed cushioned upon her, breathless, dazed, enervated, with his heart beating like a hammer upon her. With one hand she clasped his head, her lips lightly touching his forehead.

The other hand stroked with a soothing rhythm his muscular shoulders. The growl of the thunder was distant and passing away. The rain beat softly upon the shingles, inviting them to drowsiness and sleep. But they dared not yield. W- Chopin wanted to let the readers know that the characters, while in the moment of love, were fully aware of their actions. W- Chopin wanted the female audience to feel both sides of the adulterous relationship. While there was love, she still had the responsibilities of her family. Style: C- Kate Chopin writes in a strict novelist style.

P- Chopin used a sequence of events and she is known as a novelist from previous works. W- Chopin uses a novelist style so that the story can proceed in a sequence of events. W- Chopin uses the style so she could portray the extensive detail to the readers. Thesis: C- Kate Chopin uses an implied thesis that shows the commitment and oppression, and at the same time, the love of being a wife. P- Implied throughout the entire plot as well as the major symbol of the story. W- To show that while wives may make decisions outside of a marital relationship, that they still have a strong relationship with their families.

W- To show that if the family weathered the storm apart, they could still come together in the end. Type: A narration, because it tells a story and it is in chronological order. Pattern:C: Kate Chopin writes in chronological pattern. P: Chopin tells the story in a series of events, covering the entire storm. W: Wanted to show the progress of the storm and the relationship within it. W: Wanted to help the readers relate to the story, through the change of time. Title: Kate Chopin titled the story based on the pieces biggest symbol, the storm.

Within the storm there are several different parts. Including the different relationships and the actions that took place. Purpose:C- Chopin wanted to entertain readers with a story about an affair. P- Although the short story was never published at the time it was written, Chopin wanted to tell an entertaining story about the feelings that married women face. W: To entertain people with a story of the feelings that women have during a marriage. W: To convey the message that people that sometimes act on adulterous feelings. W: To entertain the audiences emotions through the amount of detail.

Audience: C: “The Storm” was meant for an audience of women. P: It was written by a woman at a time where the idea of adultery was one of the most blasphemous crimes that could be committed. W: Because most women are able to relate to other women, better than opposite sexes are able to relate. W: To set an appropriate mood for the story, from a woman to a woman. Write the first sentence of each paragraph: The leaves were so still that even Bibi thought it was going to rain. - The introduction to create the setting. "Mama'll be 'fraid, yes, he suggested with blinking eyes. - Dialogue, to set the characters. "She'll shut the house. Maybe she got Sylvie helpin' her this evenin'," Bobinot responded reassuringly. -Dialogue, to set the characters and show relationships. "No; she ent got Sylvie. Sylvie was helpin' her yistiday,' piped Bibi. -Dialogue, to set the characters and show relationships. Bobinot arose and going across to the counter purchased a can of shrimps, of which Calixta was very fond. - To show the relationship between the husband and wife. Calixta, at home, felt no uneasiness for their safety. - To show the relationship between husband and wife.

Out on the small front gallery she had hung Bobinot's Sunday clothes to dry and she hastened out to gather them before the rain fell. - A sequence, moving the plot "May I come and wait on your gallery till the storm is over, Calixta? " he asked. - Introduction of a new character. “Come 'long in, M'sieur Alcee. " Dialogue. His voice and her own startled her as if from a trance, and she seized Bobinot's vest. - Foreshadowing future events "My! what a rain! It's good two years sence it rain' like that," exclaimed Calixta as she rolled up a piece of bagging and Alcee helped her to thrust it beneath the crack. Sequence of events She was a little fuller of figure than five years before when she married; but she had lost nothing of her vivacity. - Foreshadowing The rain beat upon the low, shingled roof with a force and clatter that threatened to break an entrance and deluge them there. - Setting Alcee flung himself into a rocker and Calixta nervously began to gather up from the floor the lengths of a cotton sheet which she had been sewing. - Foreshadowing lf this keeps up, Dieu sait if the levees goin' to stan it! " she exclaimed. - Dialogue "What have you got to do with the levees? - Dialogue "I got enough to do! An' there's Bobinot with Bibi out in that storm—if he only didn' left Friedheimer's! " - Dialogue, relationship. "Let us hope, Calixta, that Bobinot's got sense enough to come in out of a cyclone. " - Dialogue. She went and stood at the window with a greatly disturbed look on her face. - Action Calixta put her hands to her eyes, and with a cry, staggered backward. - Action "Bonte! " she cried, releasing herself from his encircling arm and retreating from the window, the house'll go next! - Foreshadowing "Calixta," he said, "don't be frightened. - Dialogue. "Do you remember—in Assumption, Calixta? " he asked in a low voice broken by passion. They did not heed the crashing torrents, and the roar of the elements made her laugh as she lay in his arms. - Actions, advancement of the plot The generous abundance of her passion, without guile or trickery, was like a white flame which penetrated and found response in depths of his own sensuous nature that had never yet been reached. - Detail to convey symbolism When he touched her breasts they gave themselves up in quivering ecstasy, inviting his lips. - Detail

He stayed cushioned upon her, breathless, dazed, enervated, with his heart beating like a hammer upon her. - Detail. The growl of the thunder was distant and passing away. - Action, after the climax The rain was over; and the sun was turning the glistening green world into a palace of gems. - Recovery from conflict. Bobinot and Bibi, trudging home, stopped without at the cistern to make themselves presentable. - Action Alcee Laballiere wrote to his wife, Clarisse, that night. - Action As for Clarisse, she was charmed upon receiving her husband's letter. - Action

So the storm passed and every one was happy. - Conclusion Opposite of “The Storm” Tone: Happy, Fresh Thesis: Marriage is a complete unity. Effect: To show the exclusive relationship between husband and wife. Purpose: To express a belief about marriage. Audience: Everybody, mainly focused towards other women. Implied from “The Storm” Tone: Hatred, Outcast Thesis: Society condemns women who commit adultery. Effect: There’s only one protection from the world. Purpose: To show the public thoughts of adulterous women. Audience: Everybody, although directed mainly at women and religious types.

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