Kate Chopin's The Awakening

Day #1 Group Work

Directions:

In groups of 3 or 4, discuss the first 39 pages of the novel -- ask and answer questions of each other -- while compiling a list of "patterns" or "recurring elements." Things that show up repeatedly in a novel, things that are mentioned, see, or heard more than once, however insignificant they may appear to be at the time, might become important later on. As careful readers and critical thinkers, we should be looking for things like this and taking notes on what we see.

Example:

Group Members' Names: ______________________________

Possible Patterns or Recurring Elements

and Possible Meaning(s)

1.) The novel begins with birds, and birds appear throughout the first 39 pages -- pp. 3 (parrot; mocking-bird), 7 (old owl), 9 (mother-women as birds; wings; brood; angels), 23-24, 26 (naked man watching bird), 31 (the old owl again; represents her husband?)

2.)

3.)

4.)

5.)

6.)

7.)

8.)

9.)

10.)

Etc.