Self-study
P1
The literary development of Kate Chopin, author of . ███ █████████ ███████ ████ ███ ███████ ███████ ██████ ██ ██████████████████ ███████ ████████ ███
Intro Topic ·
Chopin's literary development
Background ·
Chopin grew up with sentimental novels
Features of sentimental novels.
Intro Group ·
Local Colorists (L.C.)
Chopin initially modeled her work on local colorists. Who were they?
P2
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L.C. Social Context ·
Expanding opportunities for women
Local colorists liked that traditional "women's culture" was dissolving.
L.C. Attitude ·
Local colorists neutrally observed these changes
L.C. Attitude Change ·
Local colorists mourn the loss of "women's culture"
Illustrate L.C. Attitude ·
House as female nurturing, etc.
P3
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Contrast to L.C. ·
Chopin writes about different subjects
Loneliness, isolation, frustration... not traditional "women's culture."
Similar to L.C. ·
Chopin uses the same conventions
Callback to "scientific detachment" of the L.C. to tell melodramatic tales
P4
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Evolution ·
Chopin discards L.C. in favor of New Women (N.W.)
Moved past L.C.'s nostalgia (for "women's culture"). Modeled later work on N.W.
N.W. Details ·
Innovation in form and content
Unlike both sentimental novels and L.C.'s short stories, N.W. explores fantasy; parable; different worlds; and uses impressionistic methods to explore female consciousness
The Awakening ·
Took N.W. approach further
Used impressionistic methods to render the female consciousness.
Passage Style
Single position
Spotlight
11.
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a
domestic experiences
The author says that “women’s culture” was a traditional notion that was ending as new educational, professional, and political opportunities opened up for them. This suggests that those kinds of opportunities were absent from, and contrary to, “women’s culture.” So “women’s culture” probably refers to a culture in which women were constrained to more traditional and domestically focused roles.
b
regional customs
Misdirection. Regional customs were of interest to the local colorists, as was “women’s culture.” But that doesn’t mean “women’s culture” was primarily expressed through regional customs. They were just two things that the local colorists paid attention to. Also, keep the question stem in mind: we’re looking for what “women’s culture” means in the context of the first sentence of P2. Nothing in that first sentence involves regional customs.
c
artistic productions
The author says that “women’s culture” was a traditional notion that was ending as new educational, professional, and political opportunities opened up for them. This suggests that those kinds of opportunities were absent from, and contrary to, “women’s culture.” But the absence of those opportunities doesn’t tell us anything about whether artistic productions were ever a part of “women’s culture.”
d
educational achievements
Anti-supported. The author says that “women’s culture” was declining as educational opportunities for women were expanding. In other words, “women’s culture” and education were on opposite sides of the fence.
e
political activities
Anti-supported. The author says that “women’s culture” was declining as political opportunities for women were expanding. In other words, “women’s culture” and political involvement were on opposite sides of the fence.