English 10

Quarter 3 Week 8
Critique a literary selection based on the
following selection:
Formalist, Moralist, Marxist,
Feminist, Historical, & Reader-response
Literary
Criticism
Remember ME!
Identify which approach in critiquing a literary
selection is being presented.
Remember ME!
Identify which approach in critiquing a literary
selection is being presented.
Remember ME!
Identify which approach in critiquing a literary
selection is being presented.
Remember ME!
Identify which approach in critiquing a literary
selection is being presented.
Remember ME!
Identify which approach in critiquing a literary
selection is being presented.
Remember ME!
Identify which approach in critiquing a literary
selection is being presented.
STORY OF AN HOUR by KATE CHOPIN

VIDEO
 What is the author's purpose in "The
Story of an Hour"? Is it to persuade,
to inform, to entertain, or to teach?

 How does the author in "The Story of

an Hour" use literary devices to
contribute to the theme?
FORMALIST - This approach
focuses on form. The analysis
stresses items like symbols,
images, and structure and how
one part of the work relates to
other parts and to the whole.
Elements to examine:
• Word Analysis
• Word derivation
• Sentence syntax
• Rhythm & Meter
• Figures of Speech
• Imagery
• Symbolism
 Analyze the “Story of an Hour” using the guide
questions below.

- What figures of speech are used?

- What symbolisms are shown?
- What recurring patterns (repeated or related
words, images, etc.) can you find? What is the
effect of these patterns or motifs?
Formalist Analysis
 How does Mrs. Mallard change from
beginning to end in "The Story of an
Hour"?

 In "The Story of an Hour," what

motivates Mrs. Mallard to action? What
has shaped her, her feelings, thoughts,
philosophies?
FEMINIST - it is used for the
variety of beliefs, movements, and
ideas regarding a common goal,
which is to define and achieve
equal rights for women in terms of
personal, political, cultural,
economic, and social concerns.
Elements to examine:
• to understand the representation from a
woman’s point of view and analyze
women’s writing strategies in the context
of their social conditions.

• to create a perspective that considers

feminist issues.
 Analyze the “Story of an Hour” using the guide
questions below.
- What stereotypes of women do you find?
- How do the female characters act toward
the male characters?
- How do the male characters treat the
female characters?
- Is the sexuality of the characters affected
by the experience of race and class?
Feminist Analysis
 In "The Story of an Hour," when Mrs.
Mallard goes to her room, she undergoes
a change. How is she both the
protagonist and antagonist?

 Why does Mrs. Mallard feel so “Free!

Body and soul free” in "The Story of an
Hour"?
MORALIST - also called
Christian humanism, examines
literature against civil and ethical
criteria. It judges works based on
their ethical teachings or morals.
Elements to examine:
• It is ethically sound and encourages
virtue to be praised.

• It evaluates the maturity, sincerity,

honesty, sensitivity, and courage to
literary text.
 Analyze the “Story of an Hour” using the guide
questions below.
- What view of life does the story present? Which
character best articulates this viewpoint?
- What moral statement, if any, does this story make?
Is it explicit or implicit?
- What does the work say about human nature?
Moralist Analysis
 The “Story of an Hour” was published
in 1894, what was the disposition of
women during that time, that was also
depicted in the story?

 - How was the status of women during

that time affected Mrs. Mallard’s
reaction towards her husband’s death?
HISTORICAL - analyzes
literary text by using historical
events and evidences, that include
information about the author’s
life, historical and social
circumstances.
Elements to examine:
• when the work was written
• events occurring at the time of writing
• ideas circulating at the time of writing
• author’s biography and social
background
• what the work meant to the people
who first read it
 Analyze the “Story of an Hour” using the guide
questions below.
- What social issues were important to the writer?
- What were the major cultural and historical
events of the period? What connections do they
have with the text?
- What are the social rules observed in the text?
- How does the text support or challenge the
values, beliefs, and/or practices of the culture
it depicts?
 Historical Analysis
"The Story of an Hour" was published in 1894, an era in which
many social and cultural questions occupied Americans' minds.
One of these, referred to as the "Woman Question," involved
which roles were acceptable for women to assume in society. 
In the 19th century, women were expected to live under the
financial and social control of their husbands. In this moment,
Louise recognizes the rare opportunity she now has to escape this
patriarchal dynamic. The fact that she identifies her freedom of
will as strong—“the strongest impulse of her being”—once more
challenges the previously established notion that she is weak.
 Historical Analysis
Whereas before, under marriage’s oppressive control, she
was viewed as dependent on others, now her self-assertion
renders her both physically and emotionally free, as evidenced
by her exclamation, “Body and soul free!”
In keeping with nineteenth-century society’s stifling nature,
well-intentioned attempts to protect Louise end up further
invading her personal freedom and independence. Josephine’s
overprotective worry risks interfering with Louise’s emotional
process, ultimately demonstrating to readers that the people
around Louise are more concerned about controlling her
emotional response than with helping her.
 What are the social, political, and
economic issues that made up the story?

 What view of marriage is portrayed in

the story?
…
MARXIST - emphasizes economic and
social conditions. It examines the literature
to see how it reflects in society.
Elements to examine:
 the way in which dominant groups exploit
the subordinate groups.
 concerned with understanding the role of
power, politics, and money in literary texts
 Analyze the “Story of an Hour” using the guide
questions below.
- What social classes do the characters
represent?

- What is the relationship between the characters and their

society?

- What does the work say about economic or

social power? Who has it and who does not?
Marxist Analysis
Marxist Analysis
 Describe Mrs. Mallard’s reaction to the
death of her husband. Why do you think
she feels this way?

 What is your realization about Mrs.

Mallard’s journey in the story?
READER-RESPONSE – A
literary work may be judged according to
how the reader perceives it instead of what
the author intends. The reader creates the
meaning.
It recognizes that different people view
works differently and that people's
interpretations change over time.
Elements to examine:
• flaws in the plot
• the theme and purpose of the text
• what you like or don’t like in the text
• why you agree or disagree with the
writer’s perspective
 Analyze the “Story of an Hour” using the guide
questions below.

- What does the title suggest to me?

- How do I feel about reading this piece?

- Where do I experience confusion, disagreement,

approval, or any other attitude or feeling?
 Reader-response Analysis
This story was very interesting to read, and the story included a major
theme throughout. It caught my attention because there were several shocking
actions that took place. For example, in the beginning, I did not expect Mrs.
Mallard to be happy that her husband was killed. However, as the story went
on, I started to understand why she may be somewhat happy about her
husband’s death. In that time, women did not have many rights, and Mrs.
Mallard’s rights were limited even more because she was married. Therefore,
she was able to have freedom when her husband was killed, and it brought
her great joy. However, if the story had been set in a more recent time, Mrs.
Mallard may have been more upset by her husband’s death because women
have more rights now than they did then.
 Reader-response Analysis
Another action that took place that shocked me was Mr. Mallard
showing up at their house because he was thought to be dead. In the end,
when Mrs. Mallard dies, the major theme in the story is completed. The
theme in the story is freedom. Mrs. Mallard gets the freedom taken away
from her almost as soon as she realizes she has freedom because, in the
end, her husband is not dead, and he shows back up at their house.
Freedom did not kill Mrs. Mallard, the thought of being free then getting
the freedom taken back from her kills her. Overall, this story was very
attention grabbing and held the theme of freedom
 Literary Criticism is meant to offer and
investigate an interpretation of the work. It is NOT
Formalist a summary. It is understanding the texts in
different aspects.
(How does the language or style used affect the reader?)
Marxist
(Are there social classes and economic exploitation in a story?)
Moralist ( Does the story gives any moral sense?)
Historical (How did or does the time period affect the writer or
reader?)
Feminist (Does the work have a feminist or homosexual level of
meaning?)
Reader-Response (Consider your personal reactions to the work.)
ACTIVITIES
 Arrange the order of events that took place in the story by
numbers (1-5).
____1. While alone, she does some hard thinking and decides that she’s
kind of glad her husband died, because she's so scared and excited
about getting to be an independent individual again.
____ 2. Ms. Mallard dies.
____ 3. As soon as she's come to terms with this new feeling of
freedom, she leaves the room, only to see her husband and receive the
shock she was protected from at the beginning.
____ 4. Mrs. Mallard has a bad heart, but survives learning the news of
her husband's death.
____ 5. She cries a lot and wants to be by herself in a locked room.
Read each sentence and choose the letter of the correct
answer.

1. What is the response of Mrs.

Mallard to her husband’s death?

A. joy B. anger C. sorrow

Read each sentence and choose the letter of the correct
answer.

2. "When the doctors came they said she had

died of heart disease- of joy that kills." What is
the figure of speech or literary device used in
the last sentence of the story?

A. Hyperbole B. Foreshadowing C. Irony

Read each sentence and choose the letter of the correct
answer.

3. How important is the story’s setting?

A. The setting takes place in a huge house where

the protagonist feels trapped.
B. The story is set in a time where women have few
rights.
C. The setting does not make any difference in the
totality of the story.
Read each sentence and choose the letter of the correct
answer.
4. Why do you think the writer did not mention the first name of
Mrs. Mallard?
A. The author thinks that the first name of the protagonist was
not important.
B. The author wants to show that Mrs. Mallard’s identity was
denied for a long time.
C. The author does not want to recognize the first name of
Mrs. Mallard.
Read each sentence and choose the letter of the correct
answer.
5. How would you evaluate the story in a moralistic
aspect?
A. Each individual has the right to choose what he/she
wants to do and there should be no limitation as to what
he/she can do.
B. Every person should feel free despite of the challenges
encountered in life.
C. No one has the right to be deprived of the freedom that
one wishes to have.
 Identify the literary approach based on the
statement given.

1. “The connections between and

among women are the most feared, the
most problematic, and the most
potentially transforming force on the
planet.” – Adrienne Rich, Poet
 Identify the literary approach based on the
statement given.

2. “Right is right and wrong is wrong,

and a body ain’t got no business doing
wrong when he ain’t ignorant and
knows better.” – Mark Twain, Author
 Identify the literary approach based on the
statement given.

3. “A window of opportunity can also

turn into a disaster if large numbers of
ill-trained young people enter a labor
market that is unable to absorb them.” –
Bruce Campbell, Entrepreneur
 Identify the literary approach based on the
statement given.

4. “While I nodded, nearly, napping,

suddenly there came a tapping…” – The
Raven, Edgar Allan Poe
 Identify the literary approach based on the
statement given.
5. “The bigger the government, the less the
citizens do for one another. If the state will take
care of me and my neighbors, why should I?
This is why Western Europeans, people who
have lived in welfare states for longer than
Americans have, give less to charity and
volunteer less time to others than do Americans
of the same status.” -Dennis Prager, Author
 ANSWER KEY

ACTIVITY ACTIVITY 3
1 1. Feminist
ACTIVITY 2 2. Moralist
1. 3 3. Marxist
1. A
2. 5 4. Structuralist
2. C
3. 4 3. B 5. Marxist
4. 1 4. B
5. 2 5. A
 GROUP
ACTIVITY
Write an acrostic poem about
literary approaches.
FORMALIST
MORALIST
MARXIST
FEMINIST
HISTORICAL
READER-RESPONSE
 Complete the CRITIQUE
MAP of the Story of an Hour
by answering the
given questions in each part
of the map.