The Story of an Hour
by Kate Chopin
The Story of an Hour by Kate Chopin | Summary & Analysis
"The Story of an Hour" গল্পের সারাংশ:
গল্পের শুরুতেই জানা যায়, ব্রেন্টলি ম্যালার্ড, লুইসের স্বামী, একটি রেল দুর্ঘটনায় মারা গেছেন। লুইসের হৃদরোগ থাকায়, খবরটি তাঁকে খুব সাবধানে জানানো হয়। তাঁর বোন জোসেফিন ও পারিবারিক বন্ধু রিচার্ডস মিলে বিষয়টি জানান।প্রথমে লুইস হতাশায় ভেঙে পড়েন। তিনি কাঁদেন, কিন্তু কিছুক্ষণ পর একা থাকতে চান এবং নিজের ঘরে চলে যান।
ঘরের জানালার দিকে মুখ করে বসে, তিনি লক্ষ্য করেন বসন্তের আবহ—নতুন পাতায় ভরা গাছ, পাখির ডাক, দূরে মানুষের চলাফেরা। এই সবকিছু যেন জীবন ও মুক্তির প্রতীক। এই দৃশ্য দেখতে দেখতে, তাঁর মনে এক অদ্ভুত অনুভূতি জন্ম নিতে থাকে। তিনি প্রথমে সেটিকে ঠেকানোর চেষ্টা করেন, কিন্তু পরে বুঝতে পারেন—এটি মুক্তির অনুভূতি।
তিনি অনুভব করেন, ব্রেন্টলি যতই ভাল মানুষ হোন না কেন, তাঁর বিয়ের সম্পর্কটি তাঁকে দমিয়ে রেখেছিল। এখন, স্বামীর মৃত্যুর ফলে, তিনি নিজেকে সম্পূর্ণভাবে নিজের ভাবতে পারছেন। তিনি ভবিষ্যতের কথা ভাবেন—কোনো বাধা ছাড়াই, নিজের ইচ্ছায় বাঁচার দিন। তাঁর এই মুক্তির অনুভূতিই তাঁকে মানসিকভাবে শক্ত করে তোলে।
কিন্তু হঠাৎই গল্প মোড় নেয়। দরজার সামনে ব্রেন্টলি ম্যালার্ড নিজেই ফিরে আসেন, জীবিত, সুস্থ। তিনি দুর্ঘটনার খবরই জানতেন না। এই দৃশ্য দেখে লুইস মাটিতে লুটিয়ে পড়ে এবং মারা যান। ডাক্তাররা বলেন, তিনি "অতিরিক্ত আনন্দে" মারা গেছেন। কিন্তু আনন্দের মৃত্যু নয়—বরং সেই আকস্মিক মুক্তির হারানোর আঘাতেই তাঁর মৃত্যু হয়েছে।
Summary of "The Story of an Hour" by Kate Chopin
The story takes place in the late 19th century, primarily inside a house, over the course of just one hour. The story begins with the shocking news that Brently Mallard, Louise’s husband, has been killed in a train accident.
Because of her heart condition, the news is delivered gently by her sister Josephine, with the help of a family friend Richards. At first, Louise reacts as expected—she weeps bitterly in her sister’s arms.
After some time, she goes to her room alone, asking not to be disturbed. There, she sits facing an open window. As she looks outside, she notices signs of new life and freedom: trees full of spring leaves, the smell of rain, birds chirping, and people going about their day. Suddenly, she becomes aware of a new and strange feeling growing inside her. At first, she tries to fight it, but soon realizes what it is: a sense of freedom.
Rather than feeling devastated by her husband’s death, she feels relieved and hopeful. She remembers how Brently had been kind and loving, but their marriage—like most marriages of that time—had limited her freedom and individuality. Now, with Brently gone, she imagines a future where she can live for herself. She envisions long years ahead where she will be able to make her own decisions, free from her husband’s influence, expectations, or control. She feels empowered, almost reborn.
Eventually, her sister Josephine knocks on her door, worried. Louise opens the door and descends the stairs with a new sense of strength. But just as she comes down, the front door opens—and in walks Brently Mallard, alive and well. It turns out he was nowhere near the accident and didn’t even know about it. Upon seeing him, Louise collapses and dies on the spot. The doctors later say she died of “heart disease—of joy that kills.” But is it "joy" that killed her? You know the answer.
"The Story of an Hour" MCQs
Who is the author of The Story of an Hour?
A) Edith Wharton
B) Katherine Anne Porter
C) Joan Didion
D) Kate Chopin
Who is the main character of the story?
A) Josephine
B) Louise
C) Eliza
D) Kate
What is the explanation for Louise's husband's death?
A) He drowned
B) He died in a railroad accident
C) He was struck by lightning
D) He was murdered
Why is Louise's family concerned about her?
A) She is hysterical
B) She doesn't have any money
C) She has heart trouble
D) She is a woman
When was The Story of an Hour first published?
A) 1894
B) 1895
C) 1897
D) 1994
What is the name of Louise's sister?
A) Sarah
B) Josephine
C) Joyce
D) Emily
What does Louise do when he hears that her husband's name is on the list of "killed?"
A) She kills herself
B) She weeps and goes to her room
C) She says "He's gone"
D) She simply says his name, then faints
What does Louise realize after her initial grief?
A) Her dependence on her husband
B) Her newfound freedom
C) Her love for her husband
D) Her hatred for her husband
Why does Josephine tells Louise about her husband's death as calmly as possible?
A) Josephine is afraid of showing her emotions
B) Josephine doesn't want to worsen Louise's weak heart
C) Richards told Josephine to speak calmly
D) Josephine doesn't want Richarts to overhear what she is saying
What is Louise Mallard suffering from?
A) Lung disease
B) Heart disease
C) Kidney disease
D) Cancer
How does Louise initially react to the news of her husband’s death?
A) She is relieved
B) She grieves
C) She is angry
D) She is indifferent
Who informs Louise about Brently’s alleged death?
A) Richards
B) Josephine
C) Brently himself
D) A stranger
Who learns of Brently’s supposed death and shares the news with Josephine?
A) Richards
B) Josephine
C) Louise
D) Brently
The author wrote the story in the ______ century.
A) 19th
B) 18th
C) 20th
21st
The fact that Louise had a heart condition ________ her death from a heart attack.
A) paradoxes
B) double entendre
C) foreshadows
flashbacks
The story is written in ______ person narration.
A) first
B) second
C) third
fourth
Who breaks the news of Mr. Mallard's death?
A) Friar John
B) Josephine
C) Richards
Roberts
How does Louise's heart condition relate to 19th-century societal expectations of women?
A) It contrasts the expectation that women should be strong and independent
B) It supports the expectation that women should be career-oriented
C) It challenges the expectation that women should be emotional and nurturing
D) It reinforces the expectation that women should be passive and delicate
When Louise learns of her husband's death she first sobs with grief. What does Louise do after her crying subsides?
A) She allows Josephine and Richards to comfort her
B) She goes outside to get some fresh air
C) She locks herself in her bedroom and sits by an open window
D) She immediately starts planning her husband's funeral
What is Louise's desire to be alone with her grief an indication of?
A) Her inability to handle her emotions
B) Her inclination toward freedom and independence
C) Her desire for protection from trauma
D) Her need for social support during difficult times
What does Louise initially experience while looking out the window of her room?
A) The sights and sounds of spring and a new feeling she can't describe
B) The comfort of a crowd gathering to mourn her husband's death
C) A storm approaching that seems to symbolize her bleak future ahead
D) People going about their lives in the streets and a sense of isolation
After she sits in front of the window for some time resisting her growing feelings, what is the word that Louise finally utters?
A) Alone
B) Brently
C) Why
D) Free
What does Louise consider a small price to pay for her newfound freedom and independence?
A) Feeling grief at her husband's death
B) Having to find a new home
C) Losing her social status
D) Being ostracized by her friends and family
Why does Louise come to feel joy after her husband's death?
A) She realizes she always disliked Brently as a person
B) She knows she can find someone even wealthier to marry
C) She will now be independent and free
D) She can devote herself to helping her sister
What does Louise come to realize about marriage in general?
A) It is only good when founded on true love
B) It takes good communication work for it to be successful
C) It is important to maintain for the good of society
D) It causes people to impose themselves on each other
When Josephine begs Louise to open the door so Louise won't make herself sick, what do her attempts to protect Louise suggest?
A) The importance of emotional support for an individual's wellbeing
B) That 19th-century society equated controlling women with helping them
C) That Josephine actually felt personally jealous of Louise's independence
D) That 19th-century society was supportive of women's emotional wellbeing
How does Louise appear when she finally opens the door to her sister?
A) Distraught and heartbroken
B) Defeated and submissive
C) Angry and resentful
D) Triumphant and radiant
Which of the following is ironic about the doctors' pronouncement of Louise's cause of death?
A) They assume she died of sudden joy rather than the loss of it
B) They think her weak heart gave out when in fact it didn't
C) They attribute her death to Brently's appearance when it was actually unrelated
D) They believe that her marriage was oppressive and harmful
What does Josephine believe that Louise is doing behind her closed door?
A) Nothing
B) Making herself ill
C) Looking at photographs
D) Killing herself
What happens when Louise sees Brently?
A) She runs to him
B) She thinks he is a ghost
C) She tells him she is leaving him
D) She dies
What triggers a fatal heart attack in Louise?
A) The news of her husband’s death
B) The return of her husband
C) Her newfound freedom
D) Her grief
What is the cause of Louise’s death, according to the story?
A) Heart disease
B) Grief
C) The “joy that kills”
D) Shock
Who plays a crucial role in comforting Louise during her grief?
A) Richards
B) Brently
C) Josephine
D) A stranger
What is Brently’s role in the story?
A) The protagonist
B) Louise’s husband
C) The antagonist
D) A stranger
What is Richards’ relationship to Brently?
A) Brother
B) Friend
C) Father
D) Stranger
What is the ultimate fate of Louise Mallard?
A) She lives happily ever after.
B) She dies of a heart attack.
C) She becomes a widow.
D) She runs away.
When was “The Story of an Hour” written by Kate Chopin?
A) December 6, 1894
B) January 5, 1895
C) April 19, 1894
D) None of the above
Where was “The Story of an Hour” originally published?
A) St. Louis Life
B) Harper’s Bazaar
C) Vogue
D) The New York Times
What was the original title of “The Story of an Hour” when it was published in Vogue?
A) "One Hour Story"
B) “The Dream of an Hour”
C) “The Hour of Freedom”
D) “The Joy of Death”
Why was great care taken to break the news of her husband’s death to Mrs. Mallard?
A) She was old and frail.
B) She was afflicted with a heart trouble.
C) She was young and strong.
D) She was pregnant.
What does the open window symbolize in “The Story of an Hour”?
A) Sense of vacancy
B) Sense of loneliness
C) Sense of possibility
D) Sense of rejection
What was Richards’ role in the story?
A) He was Mrs. Mallard’s brother.
B) He was Brently Mallard’s friend.
C) He was a doctor.
D) He was a stranger.
What does Mrs. Mallard’s ‘heart trouble’ symbolize?
A) Heart disease.
B) Emotional upliftment.
C) Emotional vulnerability.
D) Feeling of freedom.
What did Mrs. Mallard see from her window?
A) A park
B) A garden
C) Tops of trees
D) A river
What was Mrs. Mallard feeling as she sat in her armchair?
A) Sadness
B) Anger
C) Fear
D) A sense of freedom
What was the “something” that Mrs. Mallard felt was coming to her?
A) Death
B) Freedom
C) Love
D) Fear
What did Mrs. Mallard whisper to herself repeatedly?
A) “sad”
B) “angry”
C) “free”
D) “scared”
Who was kneeling before the closed door, imploring for admission?
A) Richards
B) Brently Mallard
C) Josephine
D) A stranger
What did Mrs. Mallard say to Josephine when she asked her to open the door?
A) “Go away, I am not making myself ill.”
B) “Come in, I need your help.”
C) “I am busy, come back later.”
D) “I am tired, leave me alone.”
What was Mrs. Mallard drinking in through the open window?
A) Fresh air
B) A cup of tea
C) An elixir of life
D) A glass of water
What did Mrs. Mallard pray for?
A) A short life
B) A long life
C) A happy life
D) A sad life
Who entered the house with a latchkey?
A) Richards
B) Brently Mallard
C) Josephine
D) A stranger
Why was Richards trying to screen Brently Mallard from Mrs. Mallard’s view?
A) He was trying to protect Brently.
B) He was trying to protect Mrs. Mallard.
C) He was trying to hide something.
D) He was trying to surprise Mrs. Mallard.
What did the doctors say was the cause of Mrs. Mallard’s death?
A) Heart disease
B) Heart disease – of the joy that kills
C) A broken heart
D) Old age
What was the name of Mrs. Mallard’s husband?
A) Brently Mallard
B) Josephine
C) Richards
D) Louise Mallard
What was Josephine afraid of?
A) Louise would commit suicide
B) Louise would have a heart attack
C) Louise would kill Richards
D) Louise would become mad
What does the term, ‘monstrous joy’ refer?
A) Her feeling of elation at her husband’s death
B) Her feeling of grief
C) Her feeling of love
D) None of these
What did Mrs. Mallard feel was approaching her as she sat in her armchair?
A) Death
B) Freedom
C) Love
D) Fear
What did Mrs. Mallard whisper to herself repeatedly as she felt the approach of freedom?
B) “I am free”
C) “Body and soul free”
D) “I am scared”
How did Mrs. Mallard’s sister Josephine try to get her attention?
A) By knocking at the door
B) By calling out her name
C) By kneeling before the closed door and imploring for admission
D) By sending her a message
What was Mrs. Mallard’s physical state after hearing the news of her husband’s death?
A) She was energetic and lively
B) She was exhausted and weak
C) She was angry and aggressive
D) She was relieved and happy
What did Mrs. Mallard see beyond the bitter moment of her husband’s death?
A) A life of loneliness and isolation
B) A life of freedom and independence
C) A life of poverty and struggle
D) A life of happiness and fulfillment
What was the “monstrous joy” that Mrs. Mallard felt?
A) The joy of being reunited with her husband
B) The joy of being free from her husband’s control
C) The joy of being wealthy and prosperous
D) The joy of being famous and successful
What was the ultimate cause of Mrs. Mallard’s death?
A) Heart disease
B) Shock
C) A broken heart
D) Old age
What tragedy is thought to have befallen Mr. Mallard?
A) Shot in a bar
B) Drowned when his ferry sank
C) Fatal heart attack
D) Dies in a railway disaster
What has actually happened to Mr. Mallard?
A) He has left is wife and fled the country
B) Trolley car flipped over
C) He has amnesia and can’t find his home
D) Nothing
What happens to Louise when Mr. Mallard suddenly returns?
A) She dies
B) She clings to him
C) She cries
D) She laughs
How does Louise Mallard initially react when she hears the bad news about her husband?
A) Excitement at her newfound independence
B) Starts blaming everyone
C) Hysterical weeping
D) No reaction
Where does Louise go upon hearing the news of her husband?
A) To the South of France
B) To the market
C) To her bathroom
D) To her bedroom
In “The Story of an Hour,” how does Mrs. Mallard react initially to the news of her husband’s death?
A) with a paralyzed inability to accept its meaning
B) with a sigh and a dull stare in her eyes
C) with sudden, wild weeping
D) with a shriek of joy and relief
Which of the following best expresses the themes of Kate Chopin’s “The Story of an Hour”?
A) Unhappy marriages are all too common.
B) Nineteenth-century marriages were often oppressive to women.
C) Taking joy in the death of a spouse is immoral.
D) Society once punished women for contemplating independence.
In “The Story of an Hour,” how does Mrs. Mallard’s reaction to the news of her husband’s death change after she has sat alone for a while?
A) She begins to feel calm acceptance of her loss.
B) She begins to feel bitter sorrow over her loss.
C) She begins to feel growing joy about her freedom.
D) She begins to feel growing dismay about her debts.
Which event leads most directly to the conclusion of “The Story of an Hour”?
A) Mr. Mallard, who has been traveling, is killed in a railroad disaster.
B) Richards tells Mrs. Mallard that her husband has been killed in a railroad disaster.
C) Mrs. Mallard wishes Mr. Mallard had been killed in a railroad disaster.
D) Mr. Mallard returns home alive, having been nowhere near the railroad disaster.
In “The Story of an Hour,” what can you infer about Mrs. Mallard’s feelings for her husband?
A) She has conflicting feelings.
B) She is fiercely angry at him.
C) She clearly dislikes him.
D) She clearly dislikes him.
Kate Chopin's 'The Story of an Hour' can be categorized as all of the following, EXCEPT:
A) Regionalist writing
B) Nonfiction
C) Feminist writing
D) A short story
In Kate Chopin's 'The Story of an Hour,' what does Louise discover after her husband's death?
A) Her husband's death brings her a sense of freedom.
B) She discovers that there was never any love in her marriage.
C) She finds independence frightening.
D) She discovers that her husband has huge amount of debt.
What is Mrs. Mallard's response to her husband's death in "The Story of an Hour"?
A) Joy
B) Sadness
C) Annoyance
D) Anger
What is Mr. Mallard's first name in "The Story of an Hour"?
A) Brently
B) John
C) Charles
D) Richard
What occurs at the end of "The Story of an Hour"?
A) Louise Mallard falls down the stairs.
B) Mr. Mallard returns home.
C) Josephine reveals that she lied.
D) Louise Mallard revels in her room.
Why is Louise Mallard sick in "The Story of an Hour"?
A) Cancer
B) Extreme old age
C) Heart trouble
D) Memory loss
In "The Story of an Hour," what word does Louise repeat to herself in her room?
A) Death
B) Free
C) Life
D) Why
What does NOT characterize Mrs. Mallard's face in "The Story of an Hour"?
A) Calmness
B) Strength
C) Depression
D) Repression
How did Mr. Mallard supposedly die in "The Story of an Hour"?
A) Stroke
B) Heart attack
C) Car accident
D) Train accident
What emotion does Louise NOT feel over the course of "The Story of an Hour"?
A) Anticipation
B) Exhaustion
C) Ire
D) Grief
In what season does "The Story of an Hour" occur?
A) Autumn
B) Winter
C) Summer
D) Spring
How does Louise Mallard characterize human relationships in "The Story of an Hour"?
A) As a puzzle
B) As a crime
C) As a necessity
D) As a gift
What emotion does Louise feel toward her husband in "The Story of an Hour"?
A) Love
B) Fear
C) Hatred
D) Companionship
From where does Louise Mallard's revelation come in "The Story of an Hour"?
A) The bedroom
B) Her grief
C) Her sister
D) Nature
What might Mrs. Mallard's ailment symbolize?
A) her inability to see things as they are
B) her inability to filter out less important things in life
C) her unhappiness and troubling emotions
D) a raging desire for pig flesh
What is the main theme of "The Story of an Hour"?
A) The oppression of women in society.
B) The importance of marital happiness.
C) The value of personal freedom.*
D) The consequences of deceit.
How does Mrs. Mallard initially react to the news of her husband's death?
A) She is devastated and inconsolable.
B) She is relieved and experiences a sense of freedom.*
C) She is in denial and refuses to believe the news.
D) She is indifferent and unaffected by the news.
Which literary device does Kate Chopin use to create suspense in the story?
A) Foreshadowing*
B) Simile
C) Metaphor
D) Alliteration
What does Mrs. Mallard feel after realizing her husband is alive?
A) Anger and betrayal
B) Fear and anxiety
C) Relief and disappointment*
D) Joy and sorrow
How does Mrs. Mallard die?
A) She has a heart attack.*
B) She falls down the stairs.
C) She is hit by a car.
D) The story does not specify.
What is the significance of the open window in the story?
A) It symbolizes Mrs. Mallard's longing for escape and freedom.*
B) It represents the outside world intruding on Mrs. Mallard's private grief.
C) It foreshadows the tragic ending of the story.
D) It provides a source of natural light in the room.
What does the story suggest about the institution of marriage?
A) It is a source of happiness and fulfilment.
B) It is an oppressive and limiting institution.*
C) It is necessary for social stability.
D) It is a choice that individuals should make for themselves.
What does Mrs. Mallard's sister, Josephine, symbolize in the story?
A) The confidante and supporter of Mrs. Mallard's desires.
B) The voice of reason and caution.
C) The embodiment of societal expectations and norms.*
D) The rival for Mrs. Mallard's husband's affections
Which of the following best describes the narrative perspective of the story?
A) First-person limited
B) Third-person limited*
C) Third-person omniscient
D) Second-person
What is the mood of the story?
A) Melancholic*
B) Joyful
C) Suspenseful
D) Angry
How does the story depict Mrs. Mallard's marriage?
A) As a happy and fulfilling union.
B) As a loveless and oppressive relationship.*
C) As a complicated and tumultuous partnership.
D) The story does not provide details about the marriage.
What role does Mrs. Mallard's heart condition play in the story?
A) It is a red herring, not affecting the plot.
B) It symbolizes Mrs. Mallard's emotional vulnerability.
C) It represents the physical toll of an unhappy marriage.
D) It heightens the sense of suspense and impending doom.*
What is the central conflict in the story?
A) The conflict between Mrs. Mallard and the doctors.
B) Mrs. Mallard's conflict with her sister Josephine.
C) Mrs. Mallard's conflict with her husband Brently.
D) Mrs. Mallard's internal struggle between societal expectations and personal desires.*
How does the story present the concept of freedom?
A) As something to be feared and avoided.
B) As a temporary respite from the burdens of life.
C) As an essential and inviolable right.*
D) The story does not explicitly address the concept of freedom.
What is the overall tone of the story?
A) Bitter
B) Hopeful
C) Tragic*
D) Comedic
