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Study Guide – The Awakening
Student Copy
Chapter I
Vocabulary
chamomile — a plant gaunt — thin, bony lugger — a small boat with a sail quadroon — a person who has one African-American grandparent
1. Explain how the parrot and the mockingbird are used to introduce this chapter.
2. Describe Léonce Pontellier.
3. What does the following quotation tell you about Léonce’s attitude toward his wife? He looked “at his wife as one looks at a valuable piece of personal property which has suffered some damage.” (Pg. 12)
4. Who is Robert Lebrun?
5. Discuss the use of the following sounds in Chapter I: the other birds, the piano,
Madame Lebrun, the children, Edna, and Robert.
6. How do these sounds indicate something about the setting of the novel?
7. What indications are there that the Pontellier marriage is strained?
Chapter II
Vocabulary
countenance — the look on a person’s face incessantly — never stopping infusion — the act of putting or mixing one thing into another languor — listlessness, a lack of vitality
1. Describe Edna Pontellier.
2. What kind of person is Robert Lebrun?
3. What shift in point of view is evident in Chapter Two?
4. What do you learn about Robert and Edna from their conversation at the end of this chapter?
Chapter III
Vocabulary
composure — the state of being calm dispelling — causing to vanish foregoing — that which came before habitual — much seen or done, usual impaired — damaged imploring — begging indiscriminately — done haphazardly lamenting — regretting, feeling deep sorrow luscious — delicious, sweet monotonous — tiresome; unvarying mournful — sad oppression — burden, a feeling of being weighed down toothsome — pleasing to the taste upbraiding — scolding
1. How does Léonce’s behavior when he returns from the Klein Hotel reveal his attitude toward his wife?
2. What shows the reader more signs of the marital conflict between the Pontelliers?
3. Discuss how sounds are used as a backdrop to
Student Copy
Chapter I
Vocabulary
chamomile — a plant gaunt — thin, bony lugger — a small boat with a sail quadroon — a person who has one African-American grandparent
1. Explain how the parrot and the mockingbird are used to introduce this chapter.
2. Describe Léonce Pontellier.
3. What does the following quotation tell you about Léonce’s attitude toward his wife? He looked “at his wife as one looks at a valuable piece of personal property which has suffered some damage.” (Pg. 12)
4. Who is Robert Lebrun?
5. Discuss the use of the following sounds in Chapter I: the other birds, the piano,
Madame Lebrun, the children, Edna, and Robert.
6. How do these sounds indicate something about the setting of the novel?
7. What indications are there that the Pontellier marriage is strained?
Chapter II
Vocabulary
countenance — the look on a person’s face incessantly — never stopping infusion — the act of putting or mixing one thing into another languor — listlessness, a lack of vitality
1. Describe Edna Pontellier.
2. What kind of person is Robert Lebrun?
3. What shift in point of view is evident in Chapter Two?
4. What do you learn about Robert and Edna from their conversation at the end of this chapter?
Chapter III
Vocabulary
composure — the state of being calm dispelling — causing to vanish foregoing — that which came before habitual — much seen or done, usual impaired — damaged imploring — begging indiscriminately — done haphazardly lamenting — regretting, feeling deep sorrow luscious — delicious, sweet monotonous — tiresome; unvarying mournful — sad oppression — burden, a feeling of being weighed down toothsome — pleasing to the taste upbraiding — scolding
1. How does Léonce’s behavior when he returns from the Klein Hotel reveal his attitude toward his wife?
2. What shows the reader more signs of the marital conflict between the Pontelliers?
3. Discuss how sounds are used as a backdrop to