English 1001—Great American Authors

Discussion Questions for Kate Chopin's The Awakening, chapters XXXIV-end.

  1. Chopin does not tell us at all what goes through Robert's mind when he finds a photo of Arobin in Edna's apartment. What might he be thinking at that moment? What about when he meets Arobin in Edna's house?

  2. Why does Edna retreat to the little garden in the suburbs?

  3. What does Robert reveal about himself in ch. XXXVI?

  4. What happens to Edna at Mrs. Ratignolle's apartment in ch. XXXVII?

  5. How does Edna regard her children at the end of the story?

  6. What does the bird imagery tell us about Edna's development at the very end of the story?


John D. Schwetman
February 13, 2001