Facts Today, one-third of American children are being raised by single mothers. According to the White House, full-time working women earn 77% of what their male counterparts earn. More than 16 million children in the United States – 22% of all children – live in families with incomes below the federal poverty level – $23,550 a year for a family of four. Research shows that, on average, families need an income of about twice that level to cover basic expenses. Women still face gaps in access to healthcare. Laws continue to be passed that limit this access.

Agree or disagree? In a marriage, one person should take the lead as “head of the household” making decisions for the family. When married, a spouse should hold back his or her negative feelings about the other person. Women and men often find themselves trapped in their marriages. Today, women are more independent than they were a hundred or even fifty years ago. Desiring independence while in a marriage is selfish; people should live for their spouses and children.

Wives and Lovers Although “The Good Wife’s Guide” is fabricated, it was based upon actual thoughts and opinions in pop-culture and other outlets. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rnvv53s_TUI Frank Sinatra 1964

Quick Write Think about the roles and duties of a “good wife” in 1955. Are they fair? Why or why not? Now, think of wives and mothers in your own life and of examples you see on television and in movies. What kind of expectations does our society have of modern wives and mothers today? Think about household duties, childcare, etc. In what ways are these expectations similar to the 1955 wife, and in what ways are the expectations different? Are the modern expectations fair to women? Why or why not?

THE ROLE OF WOMEN IN 19TH-CENTURY AMERICA (1800s)

Women were not allowed to vote. Very few women went to college. Education was considered only important for men. Women were expected to marry a man and bear his children. Married women could not hold their own bank account. Married women could not initiate a divorce.

Paragraph 1 : Think about what you know about heart disease Paragraph 1 : Think about what you know about heart disease. Think about what can happen when you break bad news to someone with heart disease. Paragraph 2: What new characters have been introduced. Summarize… Predict what will happen next… What is another interpretation of “heart troubles”?

Paragraph 3: How did Mrs. Mallard react Paragraph 3: How did Mrs. Mallard react? How would you react to news of the death of someone close to you? Paragraph 4: What does it mean to be “pressed down by a physical exhaustion that haunted her body and seemed to reach into her soul”? What type of figurative language is this?

Paragraph 5, 6, and 7: Imagery is the use of words and phrases that appeal to one of our 5 senses. What imagery is used in these paragraphs? What mood is being created with these images? What might the author be suggesting? Paragraph 8: What does repression mean? How can lines of repression and strength both be shown in one’s face. Why did her eyes focus on patches of blue sky? What can we infer about Mrs. Mallard at this point?

Paragraph 9: What is coming to her? Is it evil? Is it good? Paragraph 10: Why is she trying to ignore the thing that threatens to overtake her will? Paragraph 11: What do we learn?

Paragraph 12, 13, and 14: Let’s summarize here. What does it mean to “Impress his will”? How do you feel about Mrs. Mallard now? About her husband? Paragraph 15 and 16: What could possibly happen in the remainder of the story? Make a prediction… Paragraph 17 and 18: We finally learn Mrs. Mallard’s first name. Why might this be significant? Think about a time you have been worried about someone.

Paragraph 19: What does this paragraph infer? Paragraph 20: Louise Mallard finally emerges from the room she has closed herself into. She had been drinking in the “very elixir of life” in the previous paragraphs. Now she emerges like “a goddess of victory.” What can you infer from these words?

Paragraph 21: Make a prediction about what will happen after Brently Mallard walks in the door?

Paragraph 22-23: What does the author mean by “the joy that kills”? What might the theme of the story be? Is this story still relevant today?

Use pink highlighter to locate 2 examples of indirect characterization. Use your green highlighter to locate the line that foreshadows the ending of the story. Use your blue highlighter to locate three examples of irony and notate the type of irony. Use your yellow highlighter to locate the climax of the story.