The Story of an Hour [Questions]

1) “Veiled hints that revealed in half concealing.” I chose this phrase, because I really like the elaborate wording, to describe something so minute. Instead of describing them as secrets, they are termed as veiled hints, which in turn is very poetic, and helps add to the suspenseful tone.

2) “As a child who cried itself to sleep to sleep continues to sob in its dreams.” This quote appealed to her inner feeling of vulnerability. Like an infant, they are helpless and very often cry themselves to sleep. When they “cry in their dreams” in a sense of speaking they are taking their innocence into sleep with them. I feel the author is saying that she cannot escape her problems through her dreams, because your dreams are the essence of your life.

3) “Free, free, free”. This phrase is very impacting, but yet comes off as a lighthearted joyous emotion. The feeling of oppression has left her and she is now free to be her own person. Although simple this simplistic phrase carries much meaning, and importance.

4) “She was beginning to recognize this thing that was approaching to possess her, and she was striving to beat t back with her will.” This phrase foreshadows the ending to the story. Here she is recognizing that something is going to come upon her, but her want for freedom is what keeps her striving to stay alive.

5) “They said she died of heart disease-- of the joy that kills.” This phrase is the closing of the story. It was very impact to relate a medical problem as the joy that kills; I felt that it was ironic, because joy is not something that is supposed to lead your downfall. In the end she was killed by
the overwhelming excitement of her joy.

Questions:
1) Why did she die when she saw her husband?
2) Why was her death, the joy that kills?
3) When the character was saying “free, free, free” was she saying that she is being freed from her body?
4)Why was the story mainly focused on the character’s actions, more than the emotions.