The Awakening

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1899

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Before You Read

Summary

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Chapters 1-5

Chapters 6-9

Chapters 10-14

Chapters 15-19

Chapters 20-24

Chapters 25-29

Chapters 30-35

Chapters 36-39

Character Analysis

Themes

Symbols & Motifs

Important Quotes

Essay Topics

Tools

Discussion Questions

Essay Topics

How do themes of solitude, independence, and identity, apart from husband and children, connect with Chopin’s own life? Do they echo or contradict it?

Do the issues of gender and marriage brought up in The Awakening seem outdated to you, or do they remain just as relevant today?

Compare the story of Edna’s awakening with some other female characters in terms of their transformation. How is Edna different from them? How does their social status influence their struggle for independence?