The Awakening: While Reading - Chapters 20-39
The materials on this page are designed to support your students as they read Kate Chopin's novel, The Awakening. The materials include generic advice to your students as they read the novel and, for each chapter (20-39), there are questions and prompts, supporting your students’ understanding, and encouraging them to take detailed, meaningful notes, while thinking critically about the work.
Studying the Novel: General Advice
Studying the Novel: Chapter Guidance
Chapters 20-24
- In these chapters, Edna goes in search of Mademoiselle Reisz, although she has lost her address. Despite this, Edna is determined to find the pianist. Leonce has frequently told Edna that she is impetuous; that is, she is impulsive, behaving like a spoiled child. Is Leonce right, in your view?
- Edna embarks on a physical journey in these chapters to find Mademoiselle Reisz. During the journey, what does Edna learn, and what does the reader learn about Edna? Notice, in particular that there are many descriptions of Edna’s changing physical appearance. Victor Lebrun describes Edna as “ravishing”. Mademoiselle Reisz notices, too, that Edna looks beautiful. And, Doctor Mandelet describes Edna as a ”beautiful sleek animal waking up in the sun”. What do these physical descriptions suggest about Edna?
- Chopin describes Mademoiselle Reisz’s apartment in detail. Previously, Chopin has described Edna’s home and the home of Madame Ratignolle. How does she describe these homes and what do the descriptions reveal? It is worth noting that these descriptions and that which they suggest could become the basis of a well-focused Higher Level (HL) Essay.
- Edna receives a letter in these chapters. What does the letter reveal, and what effect does it have on Edna? As above, it is possible to identify where else in the novel letters serve an important function and, again, this could become the basis of a HL Essay.
- Leonce visits Doctor Mandelet in these chapters to discuss the state of his marriage. What evidence can you find to support the idea that the men cannot understand Edna’s desire for self-realisation?
- Doctor Mandelet asks Leonce if any of Edna’s family have peculiar traits. What do you think motivates this question? What does it reveal about Doctor Mandelet’s underlying assumptions about human behaviour?
- In these chapters, Edna meets Alcee Arobin. Later, Doctor Mandelet remarks, “I hope to heaven it isn’t Alcee Arobin.” Why does Doctor Mandelet say this?
- As these chapters come to a close, a number of characters – Leonce, Edna’s father (the Colonel), Doctor Mandelet, and Edna – share stories. What does each story reveal about the characters?
- Edna is eventually left alone. Her father leaves for home, Leonce departs on a lengthy business trip, and Edna’s children have gone to stay with their grandmother. Edna has a “big, genuine sigh of relief.” What does this gesture reveal?
Chapters 24-32
- As these chapters begin, Edna is restless. What explains her restlessness?
- In these chapters, Edna has an affair with Alcee Arobin. The reader is not surprised as this relationship has been signposted a number of times earlier in the novel. Nevertheless, the relationship eventually becomes sexual. What is your view of Arobin and of Edna’s infidelity? What is revealed about the characters? Signposting is commonplace in novels. It ‘lays the ground’, anticipating and preparing the reader for what will eventually take place. Signposting could be a basis for a HL Essay. What else is signposted in the novel?
- Edna visits Mademoiselle Reisz. Throughout the novel, the pianist fulfills the role of confidante, and she is a catalyst for Edna’s actions and moods. At the same time, the reader can certainly question whether Mademoiselle Reisz’s motivation is honourable. She is certainly perceptive. Why does she ask Edna if her “wings are strong”?
- Edna leaves the family home and moves into the “pigeon house”. Why do you think that the house is given this specific label?
- Edna organizes a party that is intended to be a celebration of her independence. The party, however, concludes with Edna having an emotional outburst. When the party is over, Edna says that, “something inside me had snapped.” What is suggested, do you think?
Chapters 33-39
- Following his departure for New York, Leonce has been referred to as “Mr. Pontellier”. Increasingly, he is referred to only as “Edna’s husband”. Edna tells Robert Lebrun that she is “no longer one of Mr. Pontellier’s possessions,” and referring to the previous summer at Grand Isle, Edna tells Robert that he “awoke (her) last summer out of a life-long stupid dream”. Robert admits his love for Edna. However, Edna finds the birth of Madame Ratignolle’s child distressing. What evidence can you find to suggest Edna’s understanding that she will always be a mother first and a woman second?
- Unlike Edna, Robert is concerned for his social reputation. While he loves Edna, he leaves Edna a note that reads, “I love you. Good-by – because I love you”. In the final chapter of the novel, Edna returns to Grand Isle. In the final scene, Edna returns to the water and to the freedom of the previous summer. For the first time in her life, she stands naked in the open air. Then, she swims out into the ocean taking long smooth strokes. Edna commits suicide. To what extent, do you think, is Edna in control of events? What explains the tragic taking of her own life?