21 pages • 42 minutes read
A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Vogue magazine first published American author Kate Chopin’s “The Story of an Hour” in 1894. It was published under the alternate title “The Dream of an Hour.” Some contemporary readers consider the story an early example of flash fiction, a term used for very short prose narratives. The story exemplifies psychological fiction, in which the action of the plot concerns the emotions and thoughts of the protagonist. One of Chopin’s best-known and most popular works, “The Story of an Hour” was adapted for the 1984 film The Joy that Kills. “The Story of an Hour” is widely available online, as it is now in the public domain. This guide references the version of the story found at KateChopin.org, a website overseen by the Kate Chopin International Society of scholars and educators.
In the mid-1890s, in an undisclosed city, Mrs. Louise Mallard’s sister, Josephine, cautiously tells Louise of her husband Brently Mallard’s unexpected death. Although young, Louise has “heart trouble,” and Josephine does not want the bad news to adversely affect her sister’s health. Brently’s friend Richards works at the local newspaper, where a telegraph reporting a “railroad disaster” was first received, listing Brently as a casualty.
Unlock all 21 pages of this Study Guide
Plus, gain access to 8,850+ more expert-written Study Guides.
Including features:
By Kate Chopin